
Immune System Modelling and Simulation
6
Figure 2 . The lamprey captured near the coast of New Jersey (left) and its unusual
mouth (right). Reproduction with permission from the author Doug Cutler.
Colour image of this figure appears in the Colour plate section at the end of the book.
1.6 Blood Brothers
A solution to the puzzle (How could the adaptive immune
system enjoy an evolutionary advantage long before the
conquest of dry land made it vital for the vertebrates?) comes to
mind after considering the lamprey’s lifestyle and the structure
of its mouth (right panel of Figure 2). This animal has a most
effi cient way to vacuum-connect to the ...