Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

“Self-recognition” in Colonial Marine Forms and Flowering Plants in relation to the Evolution of Immunity

Abstract

Compatibility in colonial tunicates and coelenterates and self-incompatibility in flowering plants are primitive examples of “self” and “not-self” recognition which are not analogous to the immunological processes of vertebrates and which shed light on the way in which adaptive immunity may have evolved.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Thomas, L., in Cellular and Humoral Aspects of the Hypersensitive States (edit. by Lawrence, H. S.), 529 (Hoeber-Harper, New York, 1959).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Billingham, R. E., New Engl. J. Med., 270, 667 and 720 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Currie, G. A., van Doorninck, W., and Bagshawe, K. D., Nature, 219, 191 (1968).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Burnet, F. M., Brit. Med. Bull., 20, 154 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hellström, K. E., and Möller, G., Prog. Allergy (Karger), 9, 158 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Klein, G., Ann. Rev. Microbiol., 20, 223 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Prehn, R. T., Ann. NY Acad. Sci., 164, 449 (1969).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Burnet, F. M., Immunological Surveillance (Pergamon, Oxford, London, New York, Toronto, Sydney, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Finstad, J., and Good, R. A., J. Exp. Med., 120, 1151 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Marchalonis, J. J., and Edelman, G. M., J. Exp. Med., 127, 891 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Papermaster, B. W., Condie, R. M., and Good, R. A., Nature, 196, 355 (1962).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Acton, R. T., Weinheimer, P. F., Hildemann, W. H., and Evans, E. E., J. Bact., 99, 626 (1969).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Hildemann, W. H., and Thoenes, G. H., Transplantation, 7, 506 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Oka, H., in Profiles of Japanese Science and Scientists (edit. by Yukawa, H.), 198 (Kodansha, Tokyo, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Theodor, J. L., Nature, 227, 690 (1970).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Jerne, N. K., in Immune Surveillance (edit. by Smith, R. T., and Landy, M.), 343 (Academic Press, New York and London, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Howell, J. H., in Phylogeny of Immunity (edit. by Smith, R. T., Miescher, P. A., and Good, R. A.), 263 (University of Florida, Gainesville, 1966).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Ritchie, A., Palaeontology, 11, 21 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Burnet, F. M., Acta Pathol. Microbiol. Scand., 76, 1 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. East, E. M., and Mangelsdorf, A. J., Proc. US Nat. Acad. Sci., 11, 166 (1925).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Crane, M. B., and Lawrence, W. J. C., The Genetics of Garden Plants, third ed., 185 (London).

  22. Lundqvist, A., Genetics Today (edit. by Geerts, S. J.), 3, 637 (Pergamon, Oxford, 1965).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Linskens, H. F., Genetics Today (edit. by Geerts, S. J.), 3, 629 (Pergamon, Oxford, 1965).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Lewis, D., Proc. Roy. Soc., B, 140, 127 (1952).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Knox, R. B., Heslop-Harrison, J., and Reed, C., Nature, 225, 1066 (1970).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Lewis, D., Genetics Today (edit. by Geerts, S. J.), 3, 657 (Pergamon, Oxford, 1965).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

BURNET, F. “Self-recognition” in Colonial Marine Forms and Flowering Plants in relation to the Evolution of Immunity. Nature 232, 230–235 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/232230a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/232230a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing