The history of immunology

[Giacomo]

Hi all, found this interesting article on changing attitudes to immunology - http://www.unregisterednews.com/content/view/163/58/ Personally I disagree with the conclusion that we no longer look at the body as a "defended self", any opinions?

[CharonY]

Actually I do not find anything disagreeable there. It is essentially a matter of perspective. Cells within our body are not really a perfect machine functioning in perfect harmony towards a common goal. It is really a bunch of cells all doing their thing and just happen to function together (or not in cases e.g. of autoimmune diseases or cancers). Of course this function is scripted (for a large part in genetic information, but also by other subcellular parameters). As one goes into the cell or subcellular level it becomes harder and harder to acknowledge the organism as a whole, given the many interactions between and within cells that have to work out (or not).