Metchnikoff and the Origins of Immunology - From Metaphor to Theory

Zusatztext a very important work ... a fascinating glimpse into the world of geology and immunology in Russia since the end of the last century ... a welcome addition to the growing English language sources on this neglected field of scientific endeavour Klappentext This fascinating scientific biography is the first critical study of the work of Elie Metchnikoff! the founding father of modern immunology. Metchnikoff authored and championed the theory phagocytic cells actively defend the host body against pathogens and disease. It was the first theory of active immunity! but only a segment of an encompassing theory of self hood achieved through self-defining! dynamic processes. Zusammenfassung This fascinating intellectual history is the first critical study of the work of Elie Metchnikoff, the founding father of modern immunology. Metchnikoff authored and championed the theory that phagocytic cells actively defend the host body against pathogens and diseased cells.In this scientific biography, Tauber and Chernyak explore Metchnikoff's development as an embryologist, showing how it prepared him to propose his theory of host-pathogen interaction. They discuss the profound impact of Darwin's theory of evolution on his progress, and the influence of 19th century debates on vitalism, teleology, and mechanism. As a case study of scientific discovery, this work offers lucid insight into the process of creative science and its dependence on cultural and philosophic sources. Inhaltsverzeichnis Foreword; Preface; Introduction; Metchnikoff's early embryology; Metchnikoff's embryological studies after 1872; The problem of evolution in Metchnikoff's works; Metchnikoff's emerging concept of inflammation; The phagocytosis theory and its reception; The phagocyte eclipsed; Epilogue: From metaphor to theory; Notes and references; Appendix A: Morphologists vs. Darwinians! the modern debate; Appendix B: Current views of phagocyte function. ...

Product details

• Authors: Leon Chernyak, Leon (Research Associate of Professor Tauber) Chernyak, Leonid Chernyak, Chernyak Leon, Alfred I. Tauber, Alfred I. (Professor of Medicine and Patho Tauber, Alfred I. (Professor of Medicine and Pathology Tauber, Alfred I. Chernyak Tauber, Tauber Alfred I.
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 25.07.1991
• EAN: 9780195064476
• ISBN: 978-0-19-506447-6
• No. of pages: 266
• Series: Monographs on the History and Philosophy of Biology; Monographs on the History & Ph; Monographs on the History and Philosophy of Biology
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Medicine > General; Immunology, Biography: general, BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / General, MEDICAL / Immunology, SCIENCE / History, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Biochemistry, MEDICAL / History, biochemistry, History of Medicine, History of Science, Biochemical immunology