What process allows for the selection of which lymphocyte will replicate?

The correct choice is clonal selection, which refers to the process where specific lymphocytes with receptors that can bind to a particular antigen are identified and activated. This process begins when an antigen enters the body and is recognized by lymphocytes that have receptors specific to that antigen. Once binding occurs, the selected lymphocyte undergoes activation and starts to replicate, resulting in a clonal expansion of that specific lymphocyte, which can then mount an effective immunological response.

This process is critical for the adaptive immune system because it ensures that only those lymphocytes capable of recognizing and responding to a specific pathogen are amplified, thereby creating a targeted and efficient immune response. The other options, while related to immune functions, do not specifically describe the mechanism through which lymphocytes are selected for replication in response to an antigen.