Our immune cells do not fight for our survival. They don't know us and don't
care. They just eat ! Properties of alimentary chains in the cellular world
are sufficient to explain the evolution and organization of the immune
system.
A little tale :
Mr Immunologist (talking to one of his activated lymphocyte through a new
communication device he has just designed) : Hello Mr Lymphocyte. Do you
hear me. Please answer. I am testing a new machine.
Mr Lymphocyte : Hi !
Mr Immunologist : MY dear Mr Lymphocyte, I am so thankful for your marvelous
activity. You have been so well instructed during MY development to
distinguish ME from non-ME and to develop efficient mechanisms to defend MY
integrity against aggressive microbes and cancers. I am amazed by the
perfection and complexity of your interactions with MY other cells to build
MY immune system, thanks to evolution that adapted you to MY survival, using
MY complex and finely regulated molecular apparatus. Can you tell me all the
details of your activation status ?
Mr Lymphocyte : Silence, don't you see I am eating !
Mr Immunologist (terribly disappointed) : Please tell me, I promise to
recognize your contribution.
Mr Lymphocyte : You are just a stupid egocentric ecosystem. You are proud to
have consciousness ! What you call awareness of yourself corresponds exactly
to my definition of egocentricity. Does the forest ask how its animal or
vegetal components manage to detect its self from its non self and fight for
its existence ?
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