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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