Skip to main content
Log in

A set theoretical approach to immunotaxonomy: Analysis of species comparisons in modified ouchterlony plates

  • Published:
The bulletin of mathematical biophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The precipitin spurs formed in Ochterlony comparisons of corresponding antigens in different species can be defined using the notation of set theory. A computer program based on this set theory definition can then be applied to Ouchterlony data so as to list the various species employed in the comparisons in order of increasing divergence, from an homologous species. Such a computer program concisely captured conclusions, previously drawn in a more discursive manner, from data obtained with chicken and rabbit antisera to purified human serum proteins and produced results highly correlated with those of the more quantitative method of micro-complement fixation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature

  • Fitch, W. M. and E. Margoliash. 1967. “Construction of Phylogenetic Trees.”Science,155, 279–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodman, M., 1962a. “Evolution of the Immunologic Species Specificity of Human Serum Proteins.”Human Biol.,34, 104–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, 1962b. “Immunochemistry of the Primates and Primate Evolution.”Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.,102, 219–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, 1963a. “Serological Analysis of the Systematics of Recent Hominoids.”Human Biol.,35, 377–436.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, 1963b. “Man's Place in the Phylogeny of the Primates as Reflected in Serum Proteins.” InClassification and Human Evolution, S. L. Washburn. Ed. Aldine Press, Chicago, pp. 203–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, 1967. “Deciphering Primate Phylogeny from Macromolecular Specificities.”Am. J. Physical Anthrop.,26, 255–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • —, 1967. “Effects of Evolution on Primate Macromolecules.”Primates,8, 1–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hafleigh, A. S. and C. A. Williams, Jr. 1966. “Antigenic Correspondence of Serum Albumins among the Primates.”Science,151, 1530–1535.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoyer, B. H., E. T. Bolton, B. J. McCarthy and R. B. Roberts. 1965. “Evolution of Polynucleotides.” InEvolving Genes and Proteins, V. Bryson and H. J. Vogel, Eds. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy, B. J. and E. T. Bolton, 1963. “An Approach to the Measurement of Genetic Relatedness among Organisms.”Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., U.S.,50, 156–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarich, V. M. and A. C. Wilson. 1966. “Quantitative Immunochemistry and the Evolution of Primate Albumins: micro-complement fixation.”Science,154, 1563–1566.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

William Moore, G., Goodman, M. A set theoretical approach to immunotaxonomy: Analysis of species comparisons in modified ouchterlony plates. Bulletin of Mathematical Biophysics 30, 279–289 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02476695

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02476695

Keywords

Navigation