Allelic variations of human TCR V gene products

Abstract

D.N. Posnett (Immunol. Today, 1990, 11, 368-373) reviewed the allelic polymorphism of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and T-cell receptor (TCR) molecules. He argued that "The species may avoid extinction by avoiding 'holes' in the species-wide repertoire of MHC molecules" and "... while this system can increase the available TCR V gene elements within an individual's TCR repertoire, it is not apparent how the species benefits". Since Darwinian selection processes mainly operate at the level of individual organisms and/or genes, and hardly at the level of a whole species, I would like to discuss the same findings in terms of the survival of individuals and genes.