How does innate immunity differ from adaptive immunity?

Why

Innate defenses include epithelial barriers, complement, phagocytes, innate lymphoid cells and sensors that recognize common microbial or damage patterns. Adaptive responses involve B-cell antibodies and T cells whose antigen receptors are generated through somatic recombination. Following antigen presentation and appropriate costimulation, antigen-specific clones can expand, differentiate and form memory populations.

For example, dendritic cells respond to a pathogen with innate receptors, process its antigens and present peptides to T cells in the context of MHC and co-stimulatory molecules. T-cell help can then shape antibody responses and recruit innate effector functions. The timing distinction is useful but incomplete.

Innate responses can be regulated or trained and some adaptive cells respond rapidly after previous exposure. Avoid saying innate cells lack specificity altogether or that adaptive immunity acts without innate signals. An interview answer should explain recognition, kinetics, clonal specificity and the practical interaction between the two arms.