Immune System Genetics
Overview Of The Immune System, The Puzzle Of Antibody Diversity, Antibody Structure, Gene Segments Combine Randomly To Generate Diversity
The immune system is the set of cells and glands that protects the body from invasion and infection by viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens. The immune system must be able to recognize any foreign target, or antigen, of which there are potentially millions. Pathogenic organisms change over time, and new antigens evolve that must also be targeted. At the same time, the immune system must distinguish pathogenic antigens from the body's own tissues, attacking the former and sparing the latter. The key to the scope and specificity of the immune system response is in the genes that give rise to it.
Additional topics
- Imprinting - Gene Expression In Imprinted And Nonimprinted Genes, Timing And Mechanism Of Imprinting, Example Of Imprinting: The Igf2 Gene
- Human Genome Project - Origins Of The Human Genome Project, Competition Between The Public And Private Sectors, Progress In The Human Genome Project
- Immune System Genetics - Overview Of The Immune System
- Immune System Genetics - The Puzzle Of Antibody Diversity
- Immune System Genetics - Antibody Structure
- Immune System Genetics - Gene Segments Combine Randomly To Generate Diversity
- Immune System Genetics - Other Sources Of Diversity
- Immune System Genetics - T Cell Receptors
- Immune System Genetics - The Major Histocompatibility Complex
- Other Free Encyclopedias