Page 39 - The Miracle in the Immune System

Intelligent Weapons: The Antibodies 37

The human body can produce a compatible anti-
body for almost every enemy it encounters. Antibodies
are not of one type only. According to the structure of
every enemy, a specific antibody powerful enough to
deal with it is produced. This is because an antibody
produced for one disease may not be effective on an-
other.
Manufacturing a specific antibody for each enemy is
rather an unusual process, which deserves closer atten-
tion. This process can be realised only if the B cells
know their enemies and their structures very well.
There are, however, millions of enemies (antigens) in
nature.
This is like manufacturing a compatible key for each
of millions of locks straight away. What is important is
that the manufacturing agent does this without examin-
ing the lock or using any mould. It knows the formula by
heart.
It is quite difficult for a human being to memorise
the shape of even a single key. So, is it possible for a
person to keep in mind the three-dimensional designs
of millions of keys that are to open millions of locks?
Definitely not. However, a B cell so small as to be
imperceptible by the eye keeps millions of bits of infor-
mation in its memory, and uses them in correct combi-
nations in a conscious way.
The storage of millions of formulae in a miniscule
cell is a great miracle presented to man. No less mirac-
ulous is the cell's using this information to protect man's
health.
It is obvious that the secret of the tremendous suc-