The answer is that the study of the immune system is multiply realized at the physical level.
Interestingly, different science disciplines, such as biology, chemistry, and physics, rarely invade each other’s territory. A biologist seldom worries about an uprising physics law or theory, or vice versa. Even though cells are made up of atoms and atoms are physical entities that obey physical laws, using the Laws of Thermodynamics and Law of Relativity to explain how T cells develop in the thymus is unlikely. But why?
The fact that not all cells are the same plays a significant role in this question because to use physical laws to explain cells, the definition of T cells should follow this format, “X is a cell if and only if Y…” given Y is whatever physical laws that are applicable. However, as we know, not all T cells in every individual in this world are the same, regardless of the subclasses of T cells. Using the language of physics, we cannot define what we know are T cells in biology. This concept of multiple realization is why biology cannot be reduced to physics.
Knowing multiple realization, I was fascinated by how this also explain other fields. For example, even though economics is made up of the decisions f humans and humans are made up of cells, the laws of physics would not be able to explain why a higher interest rate will reduce inflation over time. Further, it also applies to a question that has been filling my head for a while, clinical investigations on CAR-T cell therapies are certainly a different field than molecular research on T cells. Applying the concept of multiple realization here also works. In the context of clinical science, even the same type of cancer would not have the definite same cancer cells and tumor microenvironment in all patients. Hence, even though we know the features of the tumor microenvironment, such as hypoxia, immune suppression, and how to activate a T cell in the lab so it would be able to kill the cells, investigating a new therapy is an entirely new field. It is called translational medicine because clinical research cannot be reduced to molecular biology. Settling this question helps me not just clearly separate the field of immunology and clinical science but also have equal respect for them.
Interestingly, different science disciplines, such as biology, chemistry, and physics, rarely invade each other’s territory. A biologist seldom worries about an uprising physics law or theory, or vice versa. Even though cells are made up of atoms and atoms are physical entities that obey physical laws, using the Laws of Thermodynamics and Law of Relativity to explain how T cells develop in the thymus is unlikely. But why?
The fact that not all cells are the same plays a significant role in this question because to use physical laws to explain cells, the definition of T cells should follow this format, “X is a cell if and only if Y…” given Y is whatever physical laws that are applicable. However, as we know, not all T cells in every individual in this world are the same, regardless of the subclasses of T cells. Using the language of physics, we cannot define what we know are T cells in biology. This concept of multiple realization is why biology cannot be reduced to physics.
Knowing multiple realization, I was fascinated by how this also explain other fields. For example, even though economics is made up of the decisions f humans and humans are made up of cells, the laws of physics would not be able to explain why a higher interest rate will reduce inflation over time. Further, it also applies to a question that has been filling my head for a while, clinical investigations on CAR-T cell therapies are certainly a different field than molecular research on T cells. Applying the concept of multiple realization here also works. In the context of clinical science, even the same type of cancer would not have the definite same cancer cells and tumor microenvironment in all patients. Hence, even though we know the features of the tumor microenvironment, such as hypoxia, immune suppression, and how to activate a T cell in the lab so it would be able to kill the cells, investigating a new therapy is an entirely new field. It is called translational medicine because clinical research cannot be reduced to molecular biology. Settling this question helps me not just clearly separate the field of immunology and clinical science but also have equal respect for them.