Roxanne Khamsi

We've talked about all sorts of genetic diseases.

But there is a necessity of mutation happening in our bodies.

So if we don't mutate, we can't defend against the viruses and bacteria that try to infect us.

People that can't mutate their immune cells have a disorder called hyper-IgM syndrome, and they're at extreme risk of opportunistic infections.

They have a basically compromised immune system and require all sorts of treatments, bone marrow transplants.

So we are very lucky, you and I are very lucky, that our immune cells mutate to defend ourselves against bacteria and viruses in our environment.

Yes, they do change your DNA.

So I want to back up for a second and say even getting sick changes the DNA of your immune cells because your immune cells are essentially playing the lottery.

They're trying to figure out if they can rearrange their DNA, whether they can come up with a new antibody, a new kind of

shape of antibody that will bind and neutralize that virus or that bacteria that's trying to make you sick.

Now, with vaccines, we're essentially doing the same thing.

We're trying to nudge the mutational patterns in the immune system in order to come up with an antibody, but to do so quicker, to give it a shortcut.

So yeah, like a lot of people that are

skeptical of vaccines or anti-vaccines will say, you know, these mutate your DNA.

And I say, yes, it does.

It's like somebody saying, you know, you're wearing an ugly dress.

And I'm like, yes, I am wearing an ugly dress.

And I did so on purpose.

I like this pattern.

But yeah, so we use vaccines in order to evolve our immune cells to make better antibodies.