In this episode, Dr. Dave introduces the immune system as a coordinated superhero team living inside you, explaining the fundamental differences between the rapid-response "innate" system you are born with and the highly specialized "adaptive" system that learns to recognize and remember specific threats.

This episode is part of a series all about your amazing immune system, and the way it is designed to both prevent you from getting sick in the first place, and to fight off invading germs if they do break through the defenses. We'll also learn about different kinds of pathogens, how vaccines work, and things like allergies and autoimmune conditions. The big take-away: your immune system is awesome!

Each season of this podcast has a different thematic focus, so if you found this episode interesting or helpful, check out the rest of the episodes in this season! Instructional resources for this episode, including the script, a thinksheet, and alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards can be accessed for free at https://goodtobesmart.com 

Remember, “smart” is something we *become* as we learn new things. So, keep listening, keep learning, and keep getting smarter every day!

It’s Good to Be Smart! is created by Dr. Dave Mulder with support from the National Science Foundation through a grant from the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. (DUE-2243334). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.