Biology GCSE
Antigen
What Antigen means in Biology GCSE, as defined for Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of Antigen
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
A unique protein on the surface of a cell or pathogen that induces an immune response.
A specific protein on the surface of a pathogen that stimulates an immune response.
A unique protein on the surface of a pathogen that triggers an immune response.
Topics that use Antigen
- Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- Topic 3 – Genetics (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
- Topic 5 – Health, disease and the development of medicines (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
Related terms
Using Antigen in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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