Evolution of Immunity in Invertebrates

Pretty Thorough Summery of the Article - 'Article Summery' Name: 'Immunity and the Invertebrates' Periodical: Scientific American Nov, 1996 Author: Gregory Beck and Gail S. Habicht Pages: 60 - 71 Total Pages Read: 9         The complex immune systems of humans and other mammals evolved over quite a long time - in some rather surprising ways. In 1982 a Russian zoologist named Elie Metchnikoff noticed a unique property of starfish larva. When he inserted a foreign object through it's membrane, tiny …showed first 75 words of 1165 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1165 total…humans.         The potential of these peptide antibiotics only now being discovered is a rather considerable thing to ponder. For that reason it is surprising that such little attention has been paid to invertebrate immune responses. In the end, the complexity of vertebrate immune systems can only be understood by studying the less complex systems of invertebrates. Further studies look to explain immunity evolution as well as aid in the solving of problems of human health.