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Bob,
After reading your answer, and seeing how different your answer was from mine, I am of the opinion that it is impossible to take the statement at face value. The statement will be analyzed by each person based on the definition of “Immune System” that they think is appropriate for the situation. As time goes on I am beginning to believe that all nucleated cells play an integral role in the immune system (Examples - interferon and Toll-like receptor function in many, if not all, nucleated cells). Because of that, I don’t view the immune system as definable of an entity as say the muscular system (skeletal muscle).
Without further information I would give Activia (I know nothing about them) the benefit of the doubt as to their intentions. In order to stay in business they need to advertise and their target audience probably is NOT focused on instructors of science. If I am honest with myself I simplify the truth quite often, and yet I would be offended if someone “in the know” jumped to the conclusion that I was purposefully trying to distort the truth.
It would be interesting to find out where Activa got the “70% of the immune system” statistic and if they have thought about their definition of “immune system.”
(This is me musing and reflecting on some of my experiences as an instructor – ones where I learned a lot from my students) It is pretty easy to decide that someone else is “wrong” because they don’t explain things the same way you do or use the same numbers that you would. It is more demanding to evaluate if they could be “right” even if they describe things differently and use different numbers.
Daniel Brouse From:
HAPS-L-owner@xxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:HAPS-L-owner@xxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Rawding, Robert S
Jason,
If you take the statement at face value, it is preposterous. If you are talking about the sheer bulk or dispersion of lymphoid TISSUE alone, then it might be of some merit, albeit 'shaky'..
When one considers MCHC classes, 'self' markers for body tissues, overwhelming numbers of WBC's in the billions, complement, immunoglobulins, the roles of the liver and bone marrow, etc., then the ad is a "joke", at best. They are utilizing the term 'immune system' which is clearly - to us - way more than the GI tract and the 'ALT's (MALT, GALT, etc.)
Just another company with a $$$-rooted propaganda campaign?
Bob
Robert S. Rawding, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Biology Gannon University 109 University Square Erie, PA 16541 Phone: (814) 871-5872
From:
HAPS-L-owner@xxxxxxxxxxx on behalf of Lapres, Jason H I noticed on the yogurt commercial for Activia that they mentioned “70% of your immune system is in the wall of your GI tract”. I know there is an abundance of lymphatic tissue in the mucosa and submucosa of the GI tract, but I question the “70% of you immune system” stat.
Can anyone shed some light on this?
Jason LaPres Associate Professor of Biology Human Anatomy and Physiology North Harris College 2700 WW Thorne Winship 210E Houston Texas 77090 281-618-7132
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