Skip to main content

Conceptualizing the Self-Nonself Discrimination by the Vertebrate Immune System

  • Chapter
In Silico Immunology

Abstract

A Preamble: In the end, biological phenomena are best understood in terms of evolution, which implies among other things, interactive selection on variants such that the selector and the selectee evolve as lineages [Hull et al. 2001]. The formulation of the concept should precede any attempt at modeling or simulation of any family of observations. The construction of a computer web around a random collection of facts is of marginal interest. Abstractions must be heuristic implying a testable output accompanied by a sharpening of the concept. This essay is an effort to conceptualize the most divisively discussed segment of immunology, namely, the Self-Nonself discrimination.

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

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Cohn, M. (2007). Conceptualizing the Self-Nonself Discrimination by the Vertebrate Immune System. In: Flower, D., Timmis, J. (eds) In Silico Immunology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-39241-7_18

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics