Today,wegotoaspotthatmaybeoneofthemostphilosophicalplacesintheuniverse:thethymus,anorganthatknowswhatisyou,andwhatisnotyou.Itsmoodmaybeexistential,butitsroleispractical—thethymusisthebiologicaltraininggroundwherethebodylearnstoprotectitselffromoutsideinvaders(think:bacteria,coronaviruses).Butthistrainingisnotthehumdrumbitofscienceyoumightexpect.It’samagicalshadowlandwithdireconsequences. 

Then,we’llleavethethymustovisitateamofdoctorswhoareusingthisorganthatprotectsyouasawaytoprotectsomeone…else.Theirworkcouldchangeeverything.

SpecialThanks: 

OnethousandthankstoHannahMeyer,SaloméCarcy,JoshTorres,andColdSpringHarborLaboratoryforshowingusareal-life(mouse)thymusforthisepisode.SpecialthanksalsogotoDianeMathisandKateWebb.

Furtherreading:

Wannadoalittlelightreading?Here’stheimmunologytextbookJenniPuntandSharonStranfordhelpedwrite,includingawholesectiononthatfunnylittlethingcalledAIRE!KubyImmunology 

Thesciencepaperthatfirstdescribedwhathappensinsidethethymusasan,“immunologicalselfshadow”.

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