Comments on The Origins of Infectious Disease

Comments

• 1. At 4:25pm on 09 Jun 2011, Dan Price wrote:

  I would like to thank all those involved for another fascinating programme in this series. In particular, it was particularly refreshing to have some significant references to the science of immunology - and, in particular, the contribution of vaccines. Immunology is one of the key biomedical sciences, and insights from the science have informed key healthcare advances. It is also one of the key evolutionary adaptations, as we live in a world largely dominated by unseen microbes. Alas, the subject is often considered hopelessly complex, so it perhaps sometimes doesn't get the in-depth discussion that it merits - however, the history of its development is a fascinating a dynamic story involving many hugely gifted individuals such as Metchnikoff, Ehrlich, Medawar, Burnet, Doherty & Zinkernagel... i.e. plenty for Melvyn to get his teeth into...
  
  Something to consider for a future edition?

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• 2. At 6:41pm on 10 Jun 2011, Derek_M wrote:

  This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.

• 3. At 7:34pm on 10 Jun 2011, nevill63 wrote:

  The programme was interesting as it illustrated in a nutshell the contrast between the academic and the journalistic way of doing things . One of the experts was forever trying to give the abstract principle which applied to all organisms .MB looked for the story ever asking for the theory to be told by way of a concrete example. Both approaches have their value.

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• 4. At 07:42am on 12 Jun 2011, jannekev wrote:

  This is highly inappropriate, but I can't resist: could In Our Time please one day deal with Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead and its strange impact? I must say, I hate the book, but I come across more and more people who cherish it. Why is it even dealt with in university literature courses? You might have an extra reason for dealing with it, now that The Tea Party embraces Rand as well. I would so look forward to Melvyn Bragg and guests to discuss this phenomenon. Best wishes and thank for your great programma, Janneke Vonkeman (Amsterdam)

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• 5. At 5:22pm on 13 Jun 2011, ValCanada wrote:

  Excellent program as usual. However, this post is a reference to the newsletter comment: "There are those who say that we did not stand alone in 1940. We certainly did." Two things: Canada, New Zealand and Australia stood with you, a proportionately huge human investment. Secondly, do we give sufficient credit to the eastern front? There is an interesting article in this month's BBC History Magazine drawing attention to the 30 million who died there.

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• 6. At 5:35pm on 13 Jun 2011, Stuart wrote:

  Could I be so bold as to suggest that the topic of 'Patronage' be discussed at some time? So much has been invested by so many in developing ideas and inventions down the ages and yet these things take time and more importantly, money. Who supported whom and for what reasons? How did the more controversial philosophers such as Galileo support themselves?
  If you think this is a good idea please say so after me!
  

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• 7. At 03:57am on 15 Jun 2011, srirag wrote:

  As always, a wonderful programme from In Our Time. Just a request to the IOT team: could you prepare and broadcast an edition on the Indus Valley Civilization? To the best of my knowledge, there has bee no such broadcast on IOT.
  Thank you

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