Discovery of Antibodies

Emil von Behring and Kitasato Shibasaburo's 1890 demonstration that serum contains disease-fighting agents laid the foundation for immunology and earned von Behring the first Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Antibodies are Y-shaped proteins that neutralize pathogens, and each human produces over 10 billion distinct variants. This discovery is 20% more practical than Mendelian Genetics in immediate medical application, leading to vaccines that have eradicated smallpox and reduced polio by 99.9%. It is cheaper than the typical rival in cost per life saved, making it a cornerstone of modern public health.