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Albert C. Smith, PhD, MD

JAMA. 1979;242(26):2847.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

PHAGOCYTOSIS, probably everyone would agree, is a key component in the defense armamentarium of man. Yet its importance was first realized in studies with a marine creature, the starfish larva.¹ This discovery was exceptional. In general, few researchers until recently were cognizant of the value of marine animals in studying fundamental processes of relevance to man. Within the last decade, however, there have been a number of articles describing the special attributes of these animals and forecasting noteworthy benefits from their increased use in medically oriented research.^2-5 At the national level, it was recognized that there is a need for more scientists trained in the combination area of marine biology and health science.⁶

Cause for Underuse

Yet today, despite this generally stimulating literature, it is rare to find marine animals being used in substantial numbers by the medical researcher, and the question is why. A probable basic . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
The Oceanic Institute Waimanalo, Hawaii

From the Oceanic Institute, Waimanalo, Hawaii.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Makapuu Point, Waimanalo, HI 96795 (Dr Smith).

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