1.   But many prominent immunologists here and abroad say that answers are beginning to be found in a controversial theory called molecular mimicry.

2.   Further evidence for molecular mimicry stems from transgenic animal experiments carried out by Dr. Michael Oldstone and his colleagues at the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego.

3.   Molecular mimicry is probably part of the story, he said, but it may only be a small part.

4.   Molecular mimicry would also explain why diabetes is less common in Japan.

5.   Proponents of molecular mimicry still do not have definitive proof for their ideas, said Dr. Hugh McDevitt, an immunologist at Stanford.

6.   The argument goes that this molecular mimicry triggers diabetes-immune cells attacking the virus also take out beta cells.

7.   This has important implications for molecular mimicry.

8.   This would sidestep molecular mimicry.

9.   To understand how molecular mimicry is believed to work, consider two people who are exposed to the common coxsackie virus.