The biology of recognitive repertoires

Abstract

By examining immunoglobulin (Ig) and T-cell receptor (TCR) gene loci and their rearrangement patterns in many species, and by imposing evolutionary principles, we can determine fundamentals regarding the behavior and properties of recognitive repertoires. A recent meeting* addressed the opposing selection pressures that determine the size of the repertoire, the characterization of specificity and the rules for effector function.