Preface

One the most important factors for the continued existence of any country is its defence capability. As a nation, it must be in a constant state of preparedness to face all kinds of threats and dangers from external and internal sources. No matter how well developed and advanced a country may be, if it fails to defend itself, it could be brought to ruin with the launching of even a minor military offensive against it, or even a well-directed and unanticipated terrorist act. In the face of such threats, neither its natural resources, its technological prowess, not its economy will be of any avail. If the country in question is unable to defend itself, it may even cease to exist.

This is one of the reasons why significant amounts of the national income is regularly allocated to defence;  nowadays,  armed forces have to be provided with the most advanced weaponry,  tools and equipment fitted with the latest technological features,  and meticulous training has to be given to soldiers in an all-out attempt to keep defence systems fully functional.

No less than countries, people too have to be concerned about their  defence, if they want to lead a healthy and peaceful life. They inevitably have to protect themselves and their possession against criminal acts, such as theft and murder, as well as against natural disasters, such as accidents, fire,  earthquakes and floods.

But this is not the end of the matter. Human beings have other enemies, which go unseen by them and, as such, are often ignored. Actually, these enemies are much more resilient than the others. Serious measures must, therefore, be taken to guard against them.

Who,  or what then these enemies that keep human beings under constant threat?

They are bacteria, viruses, and similar microscopic organisms, which may exist in the water we drink, the food we eat, the house we live in, and the office where we work. In essence, they are everywhere.

Most interestingly, in spite of being surrounded by such a serious threat, we make no effort whatsoever to protect ourselves against it. This is because there is a mechanism within our bodies, which undertakes this task on our behalf, providing the necessary protection for us, without causing us the slightest disturbance. This is "The Defence System".

It is one of the most important and amazing systems operating within our bodies, for it undertakes one of the most vital missions of life. We may not be aware of it, but all the elements of the immune system protect our bodies just like the soldiers of a huge army. The defence cells that protect the human body against invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and similar micro-organisms, are equipped with extraordinary abilities. The patterns of intelligence, effort, and sacrifice, which these cells display during the war they wage in the body, astonish everyone who learns about them.

People in general would like to know what makes them ill, how illnesses take complete control of their bodies, what causes fever, fatigue, pain in their bones and joints, and which processes take place in their bodies throughout their illnesses.

The main purpose of this book is to explore how this system, which protects the human body just like a disciplined, organized army, has come into being and how it works.

These two points will lead us to very important conclusions. First, we shall together witness the uniqueness and the perfection in Allah’s creation. Second, we shall observe what contradictions the theory of evolution, a superstitious belief having no verification whatsoever, includes within its own reasoning, and on what an unsound basis it was erected.

Before proceeding to the main topic, it will be useful to state another important point: In books on the immune system, you will often see statements such as:

"We do not yet know how this formed…"
"The reason still remains unknown…"
"Research on the topic is under way …"
"According to a theory…"

These statements are actually important confessions. These are expressions of the helplessness people experience at the outset of the 21st century — even with all the latest technology and accumulated knowledge at their disposal — in the face of the miraculous work these tiny cells accomplish. The tasks achieved by these microorganisms include such intricate operations that the human mind can barely grasp the details of this well established system. There is obviously a secret wisdom hidden in the immune system which eludes man’s understanding.

As you read this book, you will witness the superiority of this wisdom, hidden both in your cells and in other details pertaining to your body. The ultimate conclusion is that this could only be the wisdom of a supreme "Creator".

Science may one day succeed in solving all the secrets of the immune system and even produce a similar artificial system by imitating the actions of these cells. No doubt, this task will require highly educated professionals using the most sophisticated technology and instruments available, working in highly advanced laboratories. The most important point here is that the accomplishment of such a task would once again invalidate the theory of evolution, proving that such a system cannot originate by coincidence.

The likelihood of the spontaneous development of a mechanism such as the defence system currently seems too remote. As scientists unravel the secrets of this system, they are enthralled by the design they encounter. The points that are revealed lead to many other questions, which make the wisdom and consciousness in the cell all the more apparent. Therefore, it has become very clear that the defence system, like all the other systems in the body, could not have developed gradually, just by chance, as suggested by the theory of evolution.

The main purpose of this book is to introduce you to these "brave warriors" within you, while also proving to you that this mind-boggling system is a special sign of creation. In relation to this, we will see how the scenarios formulated by the theory of evolution are demolished and rendered meaningless when faced with the facts. The topic which will be particularly highlighted here, is not the biological details of the defence system, which are easily accessible in any book of biology or medicine, but the miraculous aspect of the system. We have especially avoided the unnecessary use of biological and physiological terms in order to make the contents of the book easily understandable to readers of all ages and professions.

Lastly, we want to remind you that even now, you are totally indebted to your defence system if you are able to read this book peacefully, without being infected by the microbes all around you. Had the immune system not existed in your body, you would never have been able to read this book, having left this world even before you learned reading and writing.

Introduction

Before delving into the astounding details of the war of defence fought in the innermost recesses of our bodies, we must first have a general look at the defence system and its elements.

Briefly, the defence system may be defined as "an extremely disciplined, hard-working and organized army that protects the body from the clutches of external enemies." In this multi-faceted war, the main duty of the elements fighting in the front line is to prevent the enemy cells, such as bacteria or viruses, from entering the body.

Although it is not easy for the enemy organisms to enter the body, they exert themselves to the utmost to reach their ultimate goal of invading the body. When they successfully do so, after overcoming various obstacles such as the skin, and the respiratory and digestive tracts, they will find tough warriors waiting for them. These tough warriors are produced and trained in specialized centres such as the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes. These warriors are "the defence cells" referred to as the macrophages and lymphocytes.

First, various types of phagocytes, which are called the "the eater cells" will swing into action. Then the macrophages, another specific type of phagocytes, take their turn. They all destroy the enemy by engulfing it. Macrophages also perform other duties such as summoning other defence cells to the battleground, and raising the body temperature. The rise in temperature at the onset of a sickness is very important, for the afflicted the person will feel fatigued by it and need to rest, thus reserving the energy needed to fight against the enemies.

If these elements of the immune system prove insufficient against the enemies penetrating the body, then lymphocytes, the champions of the system, come into play. Lymphocytes are of two types; B cells and T cells. These are again further divided into sub groups.

The helper T cells are next in reaching the battleground after the macrophages. They may be considered the administrative agents of the system. After the helper T cells identify the enemy, they warn other cells in order to initiate a war against it. 

Thus alerted, the killer T cells come into play to destroy the besieged enemy.

The B cells are the armaments factory of the human body. Following their stimulation by the helper T cells, they immediately start to produce a sort of weapon called the "antibody".

After the alarm is over, suppressor T cells stop the activity of all defence cells, and therefore prevent the war from lasting any longer than is necessary.

However, the mission of the defence army has not yet ended. The warrior cells, called the memory cells, store necessary information about the enemy in their memories and keep it for years. This will enable the immune system to mount a quick defence against the same enemy at later meetings with it.

There are many more incredible factors hidden in the details of the defence system, which we have very briefly outlined above. As mentioned before, in this book, these extraordinary events are told in an easy-to-understand way. 

The Defence System

Around 250 years ago, scientists discovered, after the invention of microscope, that we live together with many tiny creatures, which we cannot see with the naked eye. These creatures are present everywhere — from the air we inhale, to the water we drink, to any object which comes in contact with the surface of our body. It was also discovered that these creatures penetrate the human body.

Although the existence of this enemy was discovered two and a half centuries ago, most of the secrets of the "defence system" that fights a vigorous war against it have not yet been uncovered. This molecular system in the body is activated automatically according to an exquisite plan the minute a stranger makes its way in, declaring an all-out war against it. When we take a quick look at how the system works, we see that every phase takes place according to a meticulous plan.

The System That Never Sleeps

Whether we are aware of it or not, millions of operations and reactions take place in our bodies every second. This action continues even when we are asleep.

This intense activity occurs in periods of time which from our viewpoint are very short. There is a significant difference between the notion of time in our daily lives and the biological time of our body. The span of one second that represents a very short time period in our daily life would pass for a very long time for many working systems and organs in our bodies. If all the activities performed by all the organs, tissues and cells of our body in one second were written down, the result would be so inconceivable as to push the limits of the human mind.

One vital system, which is involved in constant activity, never shirking its duty, is the defence system. This system protects the body from all kinds of invaders day and night and works with great assiduity, just like a fully-equipped army for the host body, which it serves.

Each system, organ, or group of cells within the body represents a whole within a perfect labour distribution. Any defect in the system ruins the order. And the defence system is indispensable.

Would we be able to survive in the absence of the defence system? Or what sort of life would we have if this system failed to fulfill some of its functions?

It is not hard to make a guess. Some examples in the world of medicine make clear how vital the immune system is. The story of a patient cited in many related sources shows how difficult life would be in case of any defect in the defence system.

This patient was placed immediately after his birth in a sterile plastic tent, which nothing was allowed to penetrate. The patient was forbidden to touch any other human being. As he grew up, he was placed in a larger plastic tent. He had to wear a specially designed outfit similar to an astronaut’s to get out of this tent. What prevented this patient from living a normal life like other people?

Following his birth, the patient’s defence system had not developed normally. There was no army in his body to protect him from the enemies.

The boy’s doctors were well aware of what could happen if he entered normal surroundings. He would immediately catch a cold, causing diseases to develop in his throat; he would suffer from one infection after another, despite being given antibiotics and other medical treatments. Before long, medical treatment would lose its effect, resulting in the death of the boy.

At best, he would be able to live only for a few months or a few years out of this safe environment. So the boy’s entire world was forever bounded by the walls of his plastic tent.

The Soldiers of the Body

Within a lymph node a battle rages between the body's attackers and defenders. When bacteria pour through a lymphatic channel (1), A macrophage engulfs some of the invaders (2), Digests them, and displays their identity markers on its own surface. This chemical message is presented to a type of white blood cell known as a helper T cell (3), which responds by multiplying (4) and releasing chemical messages that call more defenders to arms (5). Other T cells signal B cells to join the battle (6). Some B cells begin to reproduce (7), And these new cells store information to help the body fight the same invader on another day (8). Other B cells spew out thousands of antibodies each second (9), Forcing bacteria to clump together (10). Macrophages can then sweep through, swallowing the clumped bacteria, while special protein molecules and antibodies make bacteria palable for macrophages (11). Sometimes, the proteins kill bacteria directly by puncturing their cell walls (12). Scavenging macrophages then clean the entire node of battle debris, engulfing scattered antibodies, dead bacteria, and other debris until the infection subsides

After sometime, the doctors and his family placed the boy in a completely germfree room which had been specially prepared in his house. However, all these efforts were useless. In his early teens, when a bone transplant failed. 1

The boy’s family, doctors, the staff of the hospital where he had earlier stayed, and pharmaceutical companies did their best to keep him alive. Although absolutely everything was tried, and the boy’s place of residence was continuously disinfected, his death could not be prevented.

This end clearly shows that it is impossible for a human being to survive without a defence system to protect him from microbes. This is evidence that the immune system must have existed complete and intact since the advent of the first man. Therefore, it is out of question that such a system could have developed gradually over a long lapse of time as the theory of evolution claims. A human being without a defence system, or with a malfunctioning one, would shortly die as seen in this example.

Footnotes

1. Edward Edelson The Immune System, Chelsea House Publisher, 1989, p. 13-14

Besieged Castle: The Human Body

It is a fact that even though we try to live in clean environments, we share these places with many micro-organisms. If you had the chance to view the room you are currently sitting in with a microscope, you would immediately see the millions of organisms you live with.

In this situation, the individual resembles a "besieged castle". Needless to say, such a castle, which is surrounded by countless enemies, must be protected in a very complete and organized manner. Human beings are created along with this perfect protection they need, and are not, therefore, entirely defenceless against these enemies. The "micro" guards in our bodies never leave us alone and fight for us on many fronts.

Masses of influenza bacteria on the nasal epithelium	Bacteria on a recently brushed tooth

The invader cells that want to take control of the body first have to fight their way through the front line of the body. Even though these fronts have their weaknesses at times, the enemy is hardly ever allowed to pass through them. The first front the enemy must penetrate is our skin.

Microscopic Monsters
	Left: The "dust mite" is only one of the millions of organisms with which humans live with but cannot see. Above: A parasite larva while breaching the human skin. This organism will make its way to the blood stream through the skin, and settle into the vessels to multiply. It uses incredible tactics to escape from the body's army of defence, such as camouflaging itself with the material it rips off from the host cell.

The Protective Armour of Our Body: The Skin

The skin, which covers the entire body of a human being just like a sheath, is full of amazing features. Its ability to repair and renew itself, its non-permeability by water, despite the existence of tiny pores on its surface as opposed to its function of discharging water through perspiration, its extremely flexible structure, allowing free movement, as opposed to its being thick enough to avoid easy rupture, its ability to protect the body from the heat, the cold, and harmful sunrays are only a few of the features of the skin that have been specially created for human beings. Here, we will deal with a particular feature of this extraordinary wrapping paper: its ability to protect the body from disease-causing micro-organisms. If the body is considered a castle besieged by enemies, we can safely refer to the skin as the strong walls of this castle. 

The first defense response of the organism against its dangerous invaders is the rapid self-repairing of the skin tissue following the infliction of a wound. When such a wound ruptures the skin, defence cells immediately travel to the injured area to fight with the foreign cell and to remove the debris of the affected tissue. Later, some other defence cells enhance the production of fibrin, which is a protein that rapidly re-covers the wound with a fibrous network. This picture is of a fibrin that has spread over some red blood cells.

The main protective function of the skin is realized via the dead cell layers constituting the outer section of the skin. Each new cell produced by cell division moves from the inner section of the skin towards the surface. While doing this, the liquid element (cytoplasm) of the cell interior transforms into a resistant protein known as keratin. During the process, the cell dies. The newly formed keratin substance has a very hard structure and is not therefore subject to decomposition by digestive enzymes, which is a sign of its resistance. Thus, invaders such as bacteria and fungi will be unable to find anything to rip off from the outer layer of the skin.

Moreover, dead outer cells containing keratin are constantly shed from the skin surface. The new cells that come from beneath to replace the discarded ones form an impenetrable barrier in that area.

1. Epidermis 2. Artery 3. Muscle 4. Vein 5. Nerve	6. Subcutaneous Fat 7. Dermis 8. Living Cell Layer 9. Dead Cell Layer 10. Duct	11. Sweat Duct 12. Sweat Pore 13. Melanin 14. Melanocyte 15. Sebum	16. Hair follicle 17. Sweat Gland 18. Sweat 19. Bacteria
		An in-Depth View of the Skin
		Above is a cross-section of the skin. The sweat droplets secreted from the skin play a variety of roles in the body. In addition bringing down the body temperature, they provide nutrition for certain bacteria and fungi living on the surface of the skin, and produce acidic waste materials such as lactic acid which helps decrease the PH level of the skin. This acidic medium on the skin surface creates a hostile environment for any harmful bacteria that are looking for a place to live. At the left is a close-up of the sweat gland entrance. Here, too, you will find bacteria just like everywhere else on the skin.

The organisms on the skin fulfill another protective function of the skin. A group of harmless microbes live on the skin, which have adapted to its acidic medium. Feeding on the leftovers stuck on the keratin of the skin, these microbes attack all kinds of foreign bodies to protect their feeding site. The skin, as the host of these microbes, is like a supplementary force that provides external support to the army within the human body.

Protection in Respiration

One of the courses our enemies take to enter our body is the respiratory tract. Hundreds of varied microbes, which are present in the air we inhale, try to gain entry to the body through these passages. However, they are unaware of the barrier set up against them in the nose.

In this picture, you can see the macrophages located in the lungtissues. They eliminate the dust particles in the air we inhale.	This picture, which is magnified 5900 times, shows the cells in the trachea (blue). They use their glands (yellow) to secrete a substance that traps the particles in the air.

A special secretion in the nasal mucous retains and sweeps out about 80-90% of the micro-organisms that gain entry to the respiratory system directly or through dust particles or other substances.

In addition, the tiny hairlike structures (cilia) on the surface of the cells of the respiratory tract beat upward, causing a current that carries foreign particles to the throat where they are swallowed and disposed of by acid in the stomach. The coughing reflex and sneezing facilitate this function.

The microbes that are able to surmount these barriers and reach the alveoli (lung, bronchus and gingiva) will be ingested by phagocytes. After this phase, phagocytes become mobile and drift upwards with the microbes they have ingested to be finally discharged from the body in different ways.

Each time you breathe, as you are doing now, a war is fought at the border gates of your body of which you are completely unaware. The guards at these border gates fight with the enemy to the death to protect your health.

Protection in the Digestive System

Another vehicle by which microbes gain entry to our body is our food. However, the guards of our body, which are aware of this method used by the microbes, await them in the region where the food finally ends up, which is the stomach. They also have a surprise for the arriving microbes, which is the gastric acid. This acid is quite an unpleasant surprise for the microbes which have overcome all obstacles and reached the stomach. The majority, if not all, of the microbes are defeated by this acid.

Some microbes may overcome this obstacle because they have not made enough contact with the gastric acid, or they have showed resistance. However, these microbes are again subjected to further conflicts with other guards situated on their way. Now, another surprise is at hand for them: the digestive enzymes produced in the small intestine. This time, they cannot get away as easily.

As we have seen, the human body has specially created guards, which protect the human body in every phase of the microbes’ assaults.

This picture, which is magnified 865 times, shows a gastric gland hole (entry) in the mucous lining.

There are now some important questions raised by this examination.

Who established that microbes living outside would try to penetrate our body through foods, which route the food would follow, how microbes would be destroyed in their final destination, where they would go if they overcame this obstacle, and how in that case they should be exposed to stronger measures? Is it the body cells, which have never been out of the body, and therefore, have no chance of examining the chemical make-up of the microbes outside, and which, moreover, have not received any training in chemistry?

Definitely not. Only Allah, Who created both the external world, and the food in this world, and the body that needs these foods, and the system to digest these foods, is able to create such a defence system.

Another Method: Destroying the Enemy by Another Enemy

There are many other micro-organisms that live within the human body which cause us no harm. What are these organisms that continue with their own life without doing us any harm, and what is their purpose in living within our body?

These groups of micro-organisms, which are gathered in certain parts of the body, are called the normal microbial flora of the body. They do no damage and even have some benefits for the human body.

These micro-organisms provide external support for the defence army against microbes. They benefit the body by preventing foreign microbes from settling in it, because the entry of any microbe into the body is a threat to their own housing site. Since they do not want to be displaced by the invaders, they fight a fierce battle against them. We can think of these micro-organisms as "professional soldiers" fighting for the body. They try to protect the site they live in for their own benefit. In so doing, they complement the fully equipped army in our body.

How do these "professional soldiers" settle in our bodies?

The human embryo has met no enemy during the gestation period in the mother’s womb. Following the birth of the child, it makes contact with the environment, and numerous microbes are introduced to the child through the intake of food and by way of the respiratory tract. Some of these microbes die right away, while others are discharged before having the chance to settle down in the body. Some, however, settle in various parts of the body such as the skin, skin ridges, mouth, nose, eyes, upper respiratory tract, digestive tract, and genital organs. These microbes form permanent colonies at these locations and constitute the microbial flora of the human body.

Who Are Our Micro Enemies?

Our micro enemies, on the other hand, are micro-organisms, which are not a part of our bodies, yet which have somehow penetrated our bodies, eventually stimulating the defence army therein.

Every foreign cell that enters the body is not, however treated as an enemy. Foreign matter constantly enters our bodies as we eat, drink water, or take medicine. Yet our body does not initiate a war with it. In order for the defence cells to perceive a foreign substance as an enemy, certain conditions are taken into consideration such as the size of the molecule, its rate of elimination from the body, and its way of entering the body.

There are hundreds of bacteria in the world. In the above picture, you can see only a few of them.

Bacteria

The magnified view of bacteria on the tip of needle.

Among our innumerable micro enemies, bacteria have an established reputation.

Bacteria, which enter the human body in multiple ways, instigate a fierce war in the body. Sometimes ending up with quite serious illnesses, these wars explicitly reveal the power and ability hidden in an organism the size of a few microns (a micron is one thousandth of a millimeter). Recent research has shown that bacteria have an extraordinary resistance even to the most severe and harsh conditions. Particularly, the bacteria known as spores are resistant to extremely high temperatures and drought for extended periods. This is why it is difficult to destroy certain microbes.

Viruses

The human body resembles a very valuable diamond stored in a safe, receiving the most intensive care and protection. Some of the organisms that try to invade the body act like experienced thieves. One of the best known and most important of these thieves is the virus.

This organism, whose existence we became aware of with the invention of the electron microscope, is too simple-structured and small to be considered even as a cell. Viruses, which vary in sizes ranging from 0.1 to 0.280 microns, are excluded from the world of living things for this reason. 2

A virus modifying its structure so that it is not identified by the immune system. (The rhinovirus 14)

Although categorized as being apart from the world of living beings, viruses indisputably possess at least as exceptional abilities as all other living beings do. A closer examination of the lives of viruses will make this fact more apparent. Viruses are the compulsory parasites of living beings. This means, they cannot survive if they do not settle into a plant, animal, or human cell, and consume its food and energy. Viruses do not have a system that would enable them to survive on their own. As if they are aware of this, they deftly slip into a cell, and after invading the cell, with the same deftness turn the cell into a "virus production factory" that produces its own copies.

This plan developed by the virus to invade the cell is extremely sophisticated and intelligent. In the first place, the virus must determine whether the cell is appropriate for itself or not. It has to be very careful and meticulous in this decision, for the smallest mistake may cause its death. To avoid such an end, it uses its special receptors to check whether the cell is appropriate for it or not. The next important thing it does is to carefully locate itself within the cell.

The virus confuses the cell with the tactics it employs and avoids observation.

This is how the events develop: the cell transports the new DNA of the virus into its nucleus. Thinking that it produces protein, the cell starts to replicate this new DNA. The DNA of the virus hides itself so furtively that the cell involuntarily becomes the production factory of its own enemy and produces the very viruses that will eventually destroy it. It is indeed very difficult for the cell to identify the hereditary make-up of the virus as that of an invader. 

The virus locates itself within the cell so well that it almost becomes a part of it. After the multiplication process is over, the virus and other new viruses depart from the cell to repeat the same process in other cells. During the process, depending on the type of the virus and the cell, the virus can kill the host cell, cause harm to it, modify it, or simply do nothing.

The question of how the cell, which operates under a very strictly monitored control mechanism, can be deceived into becoming a virus factory is still unanswered. It is quite intriguing that viruses, which have a highly specialized structure, but which are not even classified as living beings, could act so intelligently, think up, and plan such effective strategies. The secret of this phenomenon lies in the existence of a Creator, Who created these organisms with the abilities they possess.

The features of the virus are perfectly designed to enable it to make use of the system operating in the cell. It is obvious that the power that created the virus is also well informed about the extremely complex working principles of the cell. This power belongs to Allah, Who created the virus and the cell into which it will settle, as He created the entire universe.

The virus, which, with its miniscule structure, can inflict and sometimes even cause the death of the human body, which is millions of times bigger than itself in size, is a being specially created by Allah to remind people of their weaknesses.

Ebola Virus	Influenza Virus	Common Cold Virus

Footnotes

2. George Gamow, One Two Three... Infinity, Bantam Books, 1971, p. 245

Intelligent Weapons: The Antibodies

Antibodies are protein-structured weapons, which are manufactured to fight against the foreign cells entering the human body. These weapons are produced by the B cells, a class of warriors of the immune system.

Antibodies destroy invaders. They have two main functions: The first is to bind to the invader cell, which is the antigen. The second is to decompose the biological structure of the antigen and destroy it.

Swimming in the blood and non-cellular fluid, antibodies bind to disease-causing bacteria and viruses. They mark the foreign molecules to which they bind, so that the body’s fighter cells can distinguish them. This way, they also inactivate them. This resembles a tank becoming useless and unable to move or fire shells when it is hit by a guided missile in the battleground. An antibody fits the enemy (antigen) perfectly, just like a key and a lock assembling in a three-dimensional structure.

The human body can produce a compatible antibody for almost every enemy it encounters. Antibodies are not of one type only. According to the structure of every enemy, a specific antibody powerful enough to deal with it is produced. This is because an antibody produced for one disease may not be effective on another.

Manufacturing a specific antibody for each enemy is rather an unusual process, which deserves closer attention. This process can be realized only if the B cells know their enemies and their structures very well. There are, however, millions of enemies (antigens) in nature.

This is like manufacturing a compatible key for each of millions of locks straight away. What is important is that the manufacturing agent does this without examining the lock or using any mould. It knows the formula by heart.

It is quite difficult for a human being to memorize the shape of even a single key. So, is it possible for a person to keep in mind the three-dimensional designs of millions of keys that are to open millions of locks?

Definitely not. However, a B cell so small as to be imperceptible by the eye keeps millions of bits of information in its memory, and uses them in correct combinations in a conscious way.

The storage of millions of formulae in a miniscule cell is a great miracle presented to man. No less miraculous is the cell’s using this information to protect man’s health.

It is obvious that the secret of the tremendous success of these tiny cells is beyond the boundaries of human’s comprehension. Today, the power of the human mind even combined with advanced technology pales into insignificance in the face of the intelligence displayed by these cells. In fact, even evolutionist scientists cannot close their eyes to all these signs of intelligence, which are clear evidence of the existence of a conscious Creator. One of the greatest advocators of evolution in Turkey, Prof. Dr. Ali Demirsoy, confessed this in his book "Inheritance and Evolution":

How and in what form did plasma cells obtain this information, and produce the antibody exclusively designed according to it? This question has not been answered precisely so far. 3

As confessed by the evolutionist scientist above, how antibodies are produced is a point that has not been clearly understood as yet. The technology of the 20 ^th century has proved insufficient even at the level of understanding the methods of this perfect production. In the years to come, as the methods used by these tiny cells — which are created to serve mankind — and how they implement them are unraveled, the perfection and artistry in the creation of these cells will be better understood.

The Structure of Antibodies

We have previously stated that antibodies are a type of protein. So, let us first examine the structure of proteins.

Proteins are made up of amino acids. Twenty different types of amino acids are arranged in different sequences to form different proteins. This is similar to making different necklaces by using beads in twenty different colours. The main differences among proteins are due to the sequence of these amino acids.

Yet there is an important point to remember: Any error in the amino acid sequence makes the protein useless, and even harmful. Therefore, there is no room for even the smallest error in the sequence.

So, how do the protein factories in the cell know in which sequence to arrange the amino acids they contain, and which protein to produce? The instructions for each of the thousands of different types of proteins are encoded in the genes found in the genetic data bank in the cell nucleus.

Therefore, these genes are required for the production of the antibodies which are a type of protein. There will be need for

There is a very important miracle here. There are only one hundred thousand genes in the human body compared to the 1.920.000 antibodies that are produced. This means that nine hundred thousand genes are missing.

Then how is it ever possible that such a small number of genes can produce antibodies about ten times their value? The miracle is revealed at this point. The cell combines the hundred thousand genes it contains in different combinations to form new antibodies. It receives the information from some genes and combines it with the information in other genes and makes the required production according to this combined information.

1,920,000 different antibodies are formed as a result of 5,200 different combinations. 4 This process represents a wisdom and planning that are too great for the human mind to comprehend, let alone design. 

An unlimited number of combinations can be made with the use of one hundred thousand genes. The cell, however, uses, with great intelligence, only 5,200 basic combinations and produces 1,920,000 specific antibodies. How has the cell learned to make the right combinations out of these unlimited possibilities to form the required antibodies?

1. Antibodies 2. Variable Region of Light Chain 3. Contant Region of Light Chain 4. Contant Region of Heavy Chain 5. Carbonhydrate Group	6. B Cell 7. Antigen Binding Sit Antigen 8. Variable Region of Heavy Chain 9. Antigen	10. Activated B-Cells 11. Plasma Cell 12. Free Antibody 13. Memory Cell
An individual B cell makes copies of its own specific antibody and attaches them to the outer surface of its cell membrane. The antibodies extend outward like minute, highly tuned aerials waiting for contact with the specific bit of protein that they can recognize. An antibody is made of two light and two heavy chains of amino acids held together in a Y shape. The constant regions of chains are the same in many different types of antibodies. But the variable regions - the tips of the arms - each have a uniquely shaped cavity that fits exactly onto the shape of the antibody's "chosen" protein fragment

Making the correct combinations out of an infinite number of possibilities aside, how has the cell got this idea of making combinations?

Moreover, the produced combinations serve a certain purpose, and aim to produce an antibody that would eliminate the antigen that enters the body. Therefore, the cell also knows the properties of the millions of antigens entering the body.

No intellect in this world can produce a design of such unparalleled perfection. But cells only the size of a hundredth of a millimeter can do so.

So, how has the cell learned such a special system?

The truth is that no cell has the opportunity to "learn" a biological function in the real sense. This is because the cell does not possess the ability to perform such an act at birth, nor has it the chance to develop the required skill during the rest of its lifetime. In such cases, it is a prerequisite that the system in the cell should be ready and complete at the beginning of life. The cell neither possesses the skill to learn such combinations, nor does it have the time to learn them, as this would cause it to fail in stopping the antigens entering the body and the body would lose the war.

The fact that a system that baffles mankind, even at the point of comprehending it, has been placed in a cell which has no ability to think and reason, has a very special meaning. This is the reflection of the uniqueness of the creation of Allah, the All-Knowing, in a tiny cell. In the Qur’an, it is stated that Allah’s superior wisdom encompasses everything:

...They cannot grasp any of His knowledge save what He wills. His Footstool encompasses the heavens and the earth and their preservation does not tire Him. He is the Most High, the Magnificent. (Surat al-Baqara: 255)

If you were to design an antibody molecule, how would you do it? You would first have to carry out comprehensive research before deciding on the shape of the molecule. Surely you could not shape it randomly without an exact knowledge of its duty. Since the antibodies you are going to produce will make contact with antigens, you would have to be very well informed about the structure and specifications of the antigen, too.

Eventually, the antibody you will produce has to have a special and unique shape at one end. Only then can it bind to an antigen. The other end of it has to be similar to other antibodies. This is the only way the antigen destructing mechanism can be activated. As a result, one end has to be standard, while the other has to be different from the others (which come in more than one million different types).

Human beings, however, have been unable to design an antibody, despite all the technology at their disposal. The antibodies produced in the laboratory environment are either derived from antibody samples taken from the human body, or the bodies of other living beings.

Antibody Classes

We earlier stated that antibodies are a type of protein. These proteins, functioning in the defence of the body within the immune operation, are called "immune globulin" (a type of protein) and designated as "Ig".

The most characteristic proteins of the defence system, the immune globulin molecules bind to the antigens to inform other immune cells of the existence of the antigen or to start the destructive chain reactions of the war.

IgG (Immune Globulin G): IgG is the most common antibody. Its development takes only a few days, while its life span ranges from a few weeks to several years. IgGs circulate in the body and are mainly present in the blood, lymphatic system, and intestine. They circulate in the bloodstream, directly target the invader, and latch on to it as soon as they detect it. They have a strong antibacterial and antigen-destroying effect. They protect the body against bacteria and viruses, and neutralize the acidic property of toxins (poisons).

Additionally, the IgG may squeeze itself between cells, and eliminate the bacteria and micro-organic invaders that have infiltrated to the cells and the skin. Due their above-mentioned ability and small size, they can enter the placenta of a pregnant woman and protect an undefended foetus against possible infections. 

If antibodies were not created with this characteristic which permits them to penetrate the placenta, the unborn child in the mother’s womb would be unprotected against microbes. It would be under the threat of death even before it was born. For this reason, the antibodies of the mother protect the embryo against the enemies until the time of birth.

IgA (Immune Globulin A): These antibodies are present in sensitive regions where the body fights with antigens such as in tears, saliva, mother’s milk, blood, air sacs, mucus, gastric and intestinal secretions. The sensitivity of those regions relates directly to the tendency of bacteria and viruses to prefer such damp mediums.

IgAs, which are structurally quite similar to each other, settle in those regions of the body where microbes are most likely to enter, and they keep this area under control. This is like placing reliable soldiers on guard at strategically critical points.

The antibodies, which protect the foetus from various diseases in the mother’s womb, do not abandon the newborn following their birth, but continue to guard them. All newborn babies do need ongoing assistance from the mother, because there are no IgAs in the organism of a newborn baby. During this period, the IgAs present in the milk the baby sucks from its mother protect the baby’s digestive system from the effect of many microbes. Just like IgGs, this antibody class also disappears after they have fulfilled their term of service, when the baby is a few weeks old.

Have you ever wondered who sends you these antibodies that try to protect you from microbes, when you are in the form of an embryo and unaware of anything? Is it your mother or your father? Or is it that they have taken a common decision and sent you these antibodies together? Certainly, the help in question is out of the control of both parents. The mother is not even aware that she has been endowed with such an aid plan. The father is just as unaware of all that is going on.

Then why do the cells present in the mother’s breast and productive of these antibodies function in such a way? Which power has told these cells that the newborn needs antibodies? It is by no means a coincidence that the cells engaging in antibody production for the baby are located in the place where the newborns suckle.

Here, there is another very important miracle. Antibodies are protein-structured organisms. Proteins, on the other hand, are digested in the human stomach. Therefore, normally, the baby suckling milk from its mother would digest these antibodies in its stomach, and would become unprotected against microbes. The stomach of the newborn baby, however, is created in such a way that it does not digest and destroy these antibodies. The production of protein-digesting enzymes is very little at this stage. Therefore, antibodies vital for life are not digested and they protect the newborn baby from its enemies.

The miracle does not end here. The antibodies, which are not broken down by the stomach, can, however, be absorbed by the intestine as a whole. The intestinal cells of the newborn are created in such a way as to do so.

Unquestionably, it is no coincidence that these miraculous events are arranged in such a sequence. The human body, a meticulously planned  example of creation, passes from the embryonic stage to having a fully functional immune system in a perfectly phased manner. This is because the events that are supposed to take place in the body every day, every hour and every minute, are computed in an extremely finely-tuned manner. Certainly, the author of this precise calculation is Allah, Who creates everything according to a very intricate plan.

IgM (Immune globulin M): These antibodies are present in the blood, lymph and on the surface of the B cells. When the human organism encounters an antigen, IgM is the first antibody that is produced in the body in response to this enemy.

An unborn child can produce IgMs in the sixth month of gestation. If an enemy ever attacks the baby in the mother’s womb, for example, if it infects it with a microbial disease, the baby’s IgM production will increase. In order to determine whether the foetus has been infected with a disease or not, the IgM level in its blood is measured.

IgD (Immune globulin D): IgDs are also present in the blood, lymph, and on the surface of B cells. They are not capable of acting independently. By attaching themselves to the surfaces of T cells, they help them capture antigens.

IgE (Immune globulin E): IgEs are antibodies circulating in the bloodstream. These antibodies, which are responsible for calling fighter and some other blood cells to war, also cause some allergic reactions in the body. For this reason, the level of IgE is high in allergic bodies.

Evolutionists’ Attempts to Cover Up The Evidence of Creation

First, let us review the information we have examined so far:

• - Antibodies latch on to antigens (enemies) entering the body.
• - A different type of antibody is produced for every enemy.
• - The cell is able to produce thousands of different antibodies for thousands of different antigens.
• - This production starts as soon as the enemy enters the body and is identified.
• - There is full harmony between the antigen and the three dimensional antibody, which is produced for that specific antigen, just as a key exactly fits a lock.
• - The cell, when required, arranges the information it possesses in a conscious way and produces different antibodies.
• - While doing all this, it displays wisdom and planning far beyond the boundaries of the human mind’s comprehension.
• - Certain antibodies, which are specially placed in the mother’s milk, meet the antibody need of a baby, which is as yet unable to produce these antibodies.
• - The baby’s stomach does not digest the antibodies, but spares them so that they serve the baby’s body.

Here we see a perfectly working system in place. Inside the cells that produce the antibodies, Allah placed information containing the construction plans of these antibodies that would fill thousands of encyclopaedia pages. Furthermore, He has given these unconscious cells the ability to make combinations, such as are beyond the reach of the human mind.

How do people who blindly believe in evolution explain the existence of such a perfect system? The answer is very simple: they cannot.

The only thing they do is put forward illogical assumptions which strongly self-contradict. There are many imaginary scenarios without any scientific validity that are solely directed towards finding an answer to the question of "How can we explain this system in terms of evolution?".

The most popular of these scenarios maintains that the immune system evolved from a single antibody. Here is the summary of this scenario which has no scientific basis:

Initially the defence system comprised of a single gene that produced a single type of immunoglobulin (a kind of protein). But this gene "rapidly created copies of itself (!)" and developed these copies so that they formed a different molecule of immunoglobulin. Then the control mechanisms developed that monitor the manufacturing of different genes which possess the ability to re-combine".

This example is important in seeing how shaky are the grounds the theory of evolution is built on, and in understanding the brainwashing and window-dressing methods evolutionists frequently have recourse to. Now let us examine this deceit sentence by sentence:

Sentence 1: "Initially the defence system comprised of a single gene that produced a single type of immunoglobulin (a kind of protein)."

The first question that must be asked is:

"By whom was this inaugural gene created?"

Evolutionists try to present this stage as an insignificant detail and circumvent it. However, how this initial gene has originated must be explained. It is scientifically impossible for a gene to have formed by itself. The impossibility of the coincidental formation of the gene sequence is a fact which has been admitted by evolutionist scientists many times. We can give an example from Prof. Ali Demirsoy, a Turkish evolutionist, on this subject.

That is, if life requires a certain sequence, it can be said that this has a probability likely to be realised once in the whole universe. Otherwise somemetaphysical powers beyond our definition must have acted in its formation. 5

Yet evolutionists cover up this point and make a senseless presupposition such as "whatever the argument, there surely was a gene at the beginning." As is quite evident, the scenario collapses right at the first step.

Sentence 2: "But this gene "rapidly created copies of itself (!)" and developed these copies so that they formed a different molecule of immunoglobulin."

Though impossible, let us suppose that there was a gene at the beginning. Though it is utterly impossible for this first gene to have formed by itself, evolutionists make statements, lacking any logical basis such as "it created copies of itself." Such statements, which have no scientific value, constitute a good example of the window-dressing style of the evolutionists. A hypothesis assuming that a gene created and developed different copies of itself complies neither with the rules of logic nor with scientific facts.

Moreover, the antibodies produced by such an imaginary gene, which has supposedly formed by itself, and its copies, have to possess such properties and structure as will stop the antigens coming from the external world. This means that the same Creator, that is, Allah created both antigens and the genes that are responsible for producing antibodies for antigens.

Sentence 3: "Then the control mechanisms developed that manage the manufacturing of different genes which possess the ability to re-combine."

Unable to explain even the working principles of these control and combination mechanisms, evolutionists evade the issue by saying that "this system brought itself into being" whenever it serves their purpose. They do not attempt to describe how such an incredible system developed by itself as a result of coincidences. When they try to bring some explanations of their own to these issues, they cannot put forward anything but fabricated and ridiculous scenarios. By doing so, they expose their weakness, and the unreasonableness of the claim they make.

So great is the wisdom displayed in these control mechanisms that approximately two million differently structured products are fabricated from thousands of combinations of units of information. Yet, as mentioned before, neither the cell, nor any system within the cell has the ability to "learn" and "develop". Moreover, the cell makes these information combinations by selecting only the right ones out of infinite possibilities.  Therefore, this requires a much more conscious and reasonable selecting. mechanism.

Those who make such a claim may well advance the following theories for any given product that is manufactured by technology or the human mind:

"Stone tablets created themselves and later developed into computers on their own.". Or,

"Kites that have created themselves later developed into jet planes."

The above sentences would sound absolutely absurd to any national person. However, even these sentences are much more logical than saying that the elements of the defence system, the working principles of which have not even been discovered, emerged by coincidence.

What is more, the presence of antibodies alone is not sufficient to protect the human body. For the defence system to operate, and for the human being to survive, macrophages, helper T cells, killer T cells, suppressor T cells, memory cells, B cells and many other factors must work in cooperation.  

Footnotes

3.  Ali Demirsoy, Kalıtım ve Evrim (Inheritance and Evolution), Ankara: Meteksan Yayınları p. 416

4. Scientific American, September 1993, p. 54

5.  Ali Demirsoy, Kalıtım ve Evrim (Inheritance and Evolution), Ankara: Meteksan Yayınları p. 61