What fundamental immunological concept was identified by Peter Medawar regarding tissue grafts?
Answer
Acquired immunological tolerance
Peter Medawar discovered that the body's rejection of foreign tissue is not a technical failure of the surgery, but an active, biological response by the immune system. He identified that the immune system recognizes foreign tissue as an invader, triggering a complex attack. By observing skin grafts, he realized the immune system develops a memory and response to foreign material, a concept he termed acquired immunological tolerance. This discovery shifted the entire scientific focus from mere surgical mechanics to the necessity of modulating the body's immune response to accept transplanted organs.
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