g Type I diabetes is caused by destruction of the beta cells of the pancreas, the cells that produce insulin. In most cases, the beta cells are destroyed by an immune response. Both genetic and environmental factors are involved in triggering the immune response. A. The immune system usually does NOT destroy the beta cells. If the cells are destroyed, it is a failure of (memory) (specificity)(tolerance) (any one of these) (none of these).

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease caused by the selective destruction of β cells that are involved in the production of insulin in the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes can be classified into two types: Type 1A diabetes (the immune form of the disease) and Type 1B diabetes (the non-immune form of the disease). Type 1A diabetes is considered an autoimmune disorder where immune responses against pathogens suffer a failure of tolerance to antigens in the β-cells of the pancreatic islets. Thus, Type 1A diabetes is characterized by the process of recognition of β-cell antigens (autoantigens) by the immune system. This disease is often caused by genetic factors associated with mutations in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II region located on chromosome 6.