The Japanese scientist Susumu Tonegawa received the 1987 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for revealing the clever way in which a relatively small number of genes could create so many possible antibodies. Working in the Basel Institute of Immunology in the 1970s (which at the time was headed by Nils Jerne), he found that individual antibodies are assembled on a biological ‘production line’ from several genes. Each gene that encodes the heavy and light protein chain components are unlike regular, single genes; they are instead made up of many units, like a string of pearls. To create an antibody, one unit or 'pearl' from each component gene is selected randomly and stuck together to form the finished product. As a result of this selection and assembly process, millions of possible combinations can be produced.
John McMurtry on 08 Aug 12David, check this out as you work through the topic pages. Lessons showing not hours needs to be replaced on the subtopic and teaching strategies pages; spacing is not consistent I have reduced the spaces between teaching strategies activities, practicals, revision details; "experiment 2", "activity 2" need to be replaced; spacing of Aim 8 text should be like the other texts. We really need to make a final cleanup and check as we go to peer review so by 1 Sept?
david faure on 10 Aug 12Yes, I must get him to show me how to do it.