In which location do B-lymphocytes develop immunocompetence?

B-lymphocytes develop immunocompetence in the bone marrow. This is the primary site where B-lymphocytes mature and undergo a selection process that enables them to produce specific antibodies in response to antigens. During their development in the bone marrow, they gain the ability to recognize specific foreign substances, a crucial function of the adaptive immune response.

After achieving immunocompetence, B-lymphocytes migrate to peripheral lymphoid organs such as the spleen and lymph nodes, where they can encounter antigens and initiate immune responses. The thymus is primarily involved in the maturation of T-lymphocytes, not B-lymphocytes, making it irrelevant for B-cell immunocompetence.