lymphocyte necklace

FAQ

Will an immunologist actually wear this?

Most do. The lymphocyte is the cell class most immunologists work with daily, and the design is recognisable to anyone in the field. The piece is small enough to sit comfortably under a stethoscope or lab coat, discreet enough that it reads as anatomical jewellery to non-immunologists. The conversation that follows when someone in your subspecialty notices it is usually the good kind.

Why is the nucleus so disproportionately large?

Each lymphocyte carries the genetic machinery for one unique antibody or T cell receptor, generated by V(D)J recombination during development. That requires a working transcriptional architecture and a lot of accessible DNA. The large round nucleus is what's left when most of the cell is just storage and machinery for the receptor it expresses. Cytotoxic T cells carry more granules and have slightly more cytoplasm, but the basic ratio holds across the cell class.

What size is the pendant and what does it ship with?

The pendant is in 925 sterling silver, nickel-free and hypoallergenic, sized to read clearly without overstating itself. It comes on a 45 cm sterling silver chain (1.8 mm width, lobster clasp) with a 5 cm extender. Free worldwide DHL Express shipping in 1-5 business days, all import duties covered, in a ready-to-gift jewelry box.

What other immune cells does Science Jewelry carry?

Several. Antibody, IgM, macrophage, monocyte, and toll-like receptor are all in the catalog, in silver. If you're building a small immunology collection, the lymphocyte and antibody together tend to be the most recognisable pair. The lymphocyte represents the cell that makes immunity specific. The antibody is what the B cell subtype produces. Together they tell the adaptive immunity story in two pieces.