perforin behaves like a Trojan horse

An example of metaphor and anthropomorphism in popular science writing:

"While our understanding of perforin is evolving, one theory is that it behaves like a Trojan horse. The cell responds to the initial hole-poking assault by trying to repair itself…At the same time that it pulls in the perforin holes, the cell unwittingly pulls in a family of protein-eating granzymes…"

Catherine Carver

Carver, C. (2017). Immune. How your body defends and protects you. Bloomsbury Sigma. Read about this book: 'Disease and immunity – a biological myth'

Read about metaphor in science

Read about examples of science metaphors

Many examples of science metaphors are listed in 'Creative comparisons: Making science familiar through language. An illustrative catalogue of figurative comparisons and analogies for science concepts'. Free Download.

Read about anthropomorphism

Read examples of anthropomorphism in science

Many examples of anthropomorphism are listed in 'Creative comparisons: Making science familiar through language. An illustrative catalogue of figurative comparisons and analogies for science concepts'. Free Download.

Author: Keith

Former school and college science teacher, teacher educator, research supervisor, and research methods lecturer. Emeritus Professor of Science Education at the University of Cambridge.