On the Emergence of Intraspecific Differences in the Protein Antigens of Human Beings

Abstract

Antigenic components as subfractions of serum gamma₂ globulin were demonstrated by the immunoelectrophoretic reactions of certain chicken antisera. These components were found in some human beings but not in others, and their analogous nature to the "organismal differentials" of Loeb was pointed out. A two part hypothesis concerning the effects of protein antigenicity on human evolution was presented. The first part showed how the maternal immune system could act as a selective agency against mutant genes expressing themselves early in ontogeny and thus account for the law of parallel embryological development. The second part of the hypothesis showed how a delayed epigenesis of protein types, due to selection in favor of mutant genes expressing themselves postnatally, would cause man to have an imperfect immunological tolerance to his own proteins. That such intolerance would be a potent factor underlying degenerative disease was discussed.