Ray D. Owen, Ph.D. 



METHODS in 



MAMMALIAN IMMUNOGENETICS 



Antigen-antibody reactions depend on mutual complementarity of structure 

 between the antigen, which induced the antibody to be formed, and the antibody, 

 which reacts only with the antigen that induced its formation and with other sub- 

 stances having a sufficient degree of configurational similarity to it. Antibody re- 

 actions therefore provide ways of studying individual similarities and differences on a 

 molecular level, less precise but easier than detailed structural-chemical analysis. 

 Because the molecular differences so defined are generally found to relate in rather 

 direct ways to particular genie differences, in almost any species investigated im- 

 munogenetics taps a reservoir of genetic characteristics amenable to straightforward 

 genetic analysis. Thus, many of the best genetic markers for studies on either natural 

 populations or laboratory mammals are those identified by serologic methods. This 

 aspect of genetics is one of only a few to which mammals as experimental material have 

 contributed in unique and basic ways. Even in studies of other kinds of animals and 

 plants, it is usually the antibody response of a mammal, most often a rabbit, that is 

 used in providing tools for immunogenetic study. And as a source of genetically 

 regulated antigens, easily obtained and tested, probably nothing at present rivals the 

 mammalian red blood cell. As a demonstration of individuality, probably nothing is 

 so impressive as the regular incompatibility encountered when tissues are exchanged 

 between individuals, to be rejected by the immunologic mechanisms of the host. 



Because the genetic qualities dealt with in immunogenetics are generally simple 

 ones, the methodology of the genetics side of this kind of study is mainly simple, straight- 

 forward, and traditional ; for the most part, these methods need not be exploited here. 

 It will be assumed that it is the methodology of immunology that will be unfamiliar to 



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