by the lymphocyte includes both plasma and memory cells genetically identical to the original lymphocyte. Each plasma cell may transcribe up to 20,000 mRNA molecules for the needed antibody enabling each plasma cell to produce around 2000 antibody molecules per second. The memory cells, each capable of producing as large a clone of cells as the original lymphocyte produced, insure that on subsequent attacks by the same antigen the immunological response will be even faster often times offering an immediate response instead of the several days required by the original lymphocyte to generate sufficient immunity during the first attack.
