Ray David Owen (October 30, 1915 – September 21, 2014) was a teacher and scientist whose discovery of unusual, “mixed,” red blood cell types in cattle twins in 1945 launched the fields of modern immunology and organ transplantation.[1][2][3][4] Owen's 1945 findings were published in the journal Science.[5] This observation demonstrated that self was “learned” by the immune system during development and paved the way for research involving induction of immune tolerance and early tissue grafting.[1][2] When Frank Macfarlane Burnet and Sir Peter Brian Medawar were awarded their 1960 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of acquired immunological tolerance, Owen was not mentioned in the prize. However, in a letter to Owen, Medawar stated that he believed Owen should have also been included in the prize.[6] Owen also led the successful effort to admit women as California Institute of Technology (or Caltech) undergraduates.[1]
Owen was born and raised on a dairy farm in Genesee, Wisconsin, on October 30, 1915.[1] He attended school at the two-room Genesee State Graded School for eight years.[7] He continued his education at a high school in Waukesha, commuting the eight miles to and from school every day from his family's farm.[7] In 1937 Owen received a BS in biology from Carroll University (then Carroll College).[7] In 1941 Owen received a PhD in genetics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he continued to work as a postdoctoral researcher and assistant professor for several years. It was during this time that Owen conducted his seminal work in twin calves. In 1946 Owen moved to Pasadena, California, to join the biology department at Caltech as a Gosney Fellow.[7]
ResearchEdit
As a PhD student Owen studied mainly birds; his thesis was on the sterility of species hybrids.[6] As a postdoctoral fellow in the Immunogenetics Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin, Owen's research interests moved from fowl to cattle. The lab studied blood samples from cattle all over the world, investigating genetic markers and the inheritance of red blood cell antigens.[3] This research led Owen to investigate a genetic situation involving twin calves fathered by different sires. Each calf expressed both sets of paternal blood group antigens. Owen's “analyses revealed that the twins were chimeric, each containing their own blood cells as well as those derived from their twin sibling.” These twins were immunologically compatible.[4]
Owen's findings were published with little attention until Frank Macfarlane Burnet and Frank Fenner published their monograph “The Production of Antibodies” in 1949.[3] It was through Burnet and Fenner's work that Peter Medawar learned of Owen's findings and used it to help explain his findings that dizygotic twin calves accept each other's skin grafts after birth.[3] This eventually led to Burnet and Medawar's 1960 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of acquired immunological tolerance. Owen's research continued in the field of immunology and genetics, especially tolerance and stem cells. He co-authored papers that described “the use of radiation as a means of blocking or resetting the immune system before transplantation of bone marrow or other tissues.”[4]
Career at CaltechEdit
Owen in 1986
Caltech offered Owen an assistant professorship in biology in 1947. He earned full professorship in 1953 and was named professor emeritus in 1983.[1] From 1961 to 1968, Owen served as chairman of the Caltech Division of Biology.
While Owen maintained an active research program, his teaching, mentoring and administrative undertakings became an important part of his academic career. Owen co-authored (with Adrian Srb) "General Genetics", published in 1952. It was the most widely read genetics textbook of its time.[1]
In the early 1960s Owen chaired Caltech's ad hoc “Committee on the Freshman Year.” The committee's recommendations were adopted in 1964, including a pass/fail grading system for freshmen and the introduction of electives into the freshman curriculum. This committee also worked to allow women admission at Caltech; the university's first female undergraduate students enrolled in 1970. Owen also served as vice president for student affairs and dean of students from 1975 to 1980.[1]
He was a supportive mentor and teacher to all learners.[1][3][8] In an interview with the University of Wisconsin, Owen's son David opined that his father's rural upbringing influenced his career in many ways –- his work ethic, his skill at working with animals, and his support for women, minorities and other who faced undue obstacles on the path to careers in science. “He knew that talented people come from all backgrounds,” David Owen stated.[2]
Personal lifeEdit
Owen met June Weissenberg—his wife of 74 years—at Carroll University.[1] June died in August 2013.[8] The couple had two sons, David and Griffin; Griffin died in a car accident in 1970.[1]
Member (1958–1961), chairman (1961–1963), Genetics Study Section of the NIH
Member (1966–1967), chairman (1967–1970), Immunobiology Study Section of the NIH
Chairman, Genetics Section of the NAS, 1969-1972
President's Cancer Panel, 1972-1975
ReferencesEdit
^ abcdefghijSvitil, Kathy, "Remembering Ray D. Owen (1915-2014)", California Institute of Technology News, 9/23/2014
^ abcMitchell, Bob, "In memoriam: Ray D. Owen discovered immune tolerance, paved the way for organ transplantation", University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Communications, 9/26/2014
^ abcdeBrent, Leslie, "Ray David Owen (1915-2014): Geneticist and Immunologist. A Tribute to a True Pioneer", Transplantation, Volume 98, Number 12
^ abcCancro, Michael P., December 2014, "Ray D. Owen, 1915-2014", Nature Immunology, Volume 15, Number 12
^Owen RD, 1945, "Immunogenetic consequences of vascular anastomosis between bovine twins", Science, 102: 400
^ abCrow, James F., November 1996, "A Golden Anniversary: Cattle Twins and Immune Tolerance, Genetics, 144: 855-859
^ abcdOwen, Ray David, Interview by Rachel Prud’homme, Pasadena, California, October–November 1983, Oral History Project, California Institute of Technology Archives, Retrieved 1/7/2014
^ abOwen, David, December 2014, "In Memoriam: Ray D. Owen, PhD, AAI ‘66", The American Association of Immunologists Newsletter, Pages 22-23
^"Ray D. Owen". www.nasonline.org. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
^"APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
August 31, 2023
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Ray David Owen October 30 1915 September 21 2014 was a teacher and scientist whose discovery of unusual mixed red blood cell types in cattle twins in 1945 launched the fields of modern immunology and organ transplantation 1 2 3 4 Owen s 1945 findings were published in the journal Science 5 This observation demonstrated that self was learned by the immune system during development and paved the way for research involving induction of immune tolerance and early tissue grafting 1 2 When Frank Macfarlane Burnet and Sir Peter Brian Medawar were awarded their 1960 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of acquired immunological tolerance Owen was not mentioned in the prize However in a letter to Owen Medawar stated that he believed Owen should have also been included in the prize 6 Owen also led the successful effort to admit women as California Institute of Technology or Caltech undergraduates 1 Ray David Owen 1979 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Research 3 Career at Caltech 4 Personal life 5 Notable awards 6 Notable service 7 ReferencesEarly life and education EditOwen was born and raised on a dairy farm in Genesee Wisconsin on October 30 1915 1 He attended school at the two room Genesee State Graded School for eight years 7 He continued his education at a high school in Waukesha commuting the eight miles to and from school every day from his family s farm 7 In 1937 Owen received a BS in biology from Carroll University then Carroll College 7 In 1941 Owen received a PhD in genetics from the University of Wisconsin Madison where he continued to work as a postdoctoral researcher and assistant professor for several years It was during this time that Owen conducted his seminal work in twin calves In 1946 Owen moved to Pasadena California to join the biology department at Caltech as a Gosney Fellow 7 Research EditAs a PhD student Owen studied mainly birds his thesis was on the sterility of species hybrids 6 As a postdoctoral fellow in the Immunogenetics Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin Owen s research interests moved from fowl to cattle The lab studied blood samples from cattle all over the world investigating genetic markers and the inheritance of red blood cell antigens 3 This research led Owen to investigate a genetic situation involving twin calves fathered by different sires Each calf expressed both sets of paternal blood group antigens Owen s analyses revealed that the twins were chimeric each containing their own blood cells as well as those derived from their twin sibling These twins were immunologically compatible 4 Owen s findings were published with little attention until Frank Macfarlane Burnet and Frank Fenner published their monograph The Production of Antibodies in 1949 3 It was through Burnet and Fenner s work that Peter Medawar learned of Owen s findings and used it to help explain his findings that dizygotic twin calves accept each other s skin grafts after birth 3 This eventually led to Burnet and Medawar s 1960 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of acquired immunological tolerance Owen s research continued in the field of immunology and genetics especially tolerance and stem cells He co authored papers that described the use of radiation as a means of blocking or resetting the immune system before transplantation of bone marrow or other tissues 4 Career at Caltech Edit Owen in 1986Caltech offered Owen an assistant professorship in biology in 1947 He earned full professorship in 1953 and was named professor emeritus in 1983 1 From 1961 to 1968 Owen served as chairman of the Caltech Division of Biology While Owen maintained an active research program his teaching mentoring and administrative undertakings became an important part of his academic career Owen co authored with Adrian Srb General Genetics published in 1952 It was the most widely read genetics textbook of its time 1 In the early 1960s Owen chaired Caltech s ad hoc Committee on the Freshman Year The committee s recommendations were adopted in 1964 including a pass fail grading system for freshmen and the introduction of electives into the freshman curriculum This committee also worked to allow women admission at Caltech the university s first female undergraduate students enrolled in 1970 Owen also served as vice president for student affairs and dean of students from 1975 to 1980 1 He was a supportive mentor and teacher to all learners 1 3 8 In an interview with the University of Wisconsin Owen s son David opined that his father s rural upbringing influenced his career in many ways his work ethic his skill at working with animals and his support for women minorities and other who faced undue obstacles on the path to careers in science He knew that talented people come from all backgrounds David Owen stated 2 Personal life EditOwen met June Weissenberg his wife of 74 years at Carroll University 1 June died in August 2013 8 The couple had two sons David and Griffin Griffin died in a car accident in 1970 1 Notable awards EditMendel Medal 1966 Elected Member National Academy of Sciences US 1966 9 Elected Member American Philosophical Society 1984 10 Distinguished Alumnus Award for Professional Achievement from Carroll University 1986 Thomas Hunt Morgan Medal 1993 American Association of Immunologists Excellence in Mentoring Award 1999 Peter Medawar Medal and Prize 2000 Waukesha South High School Wall of Fame Induction 2009Notable service EditPresident Genetics Society of America 1962 Member 1958 1961 chairman 1961 1963 Genetics Study Section of the NIH Member 1966 1967 chairman 1967 1970 Immunobiology Study Section of the NIH Chairman Genetics Section of the NAS 1969 1972 President s Cancer Panel 1972 1975References Edit a b c d e f g h i j Svitil Kathy Remembering Ray D Owen 1915 2014 California Institute of Technology News 9 23 2014 a b c Mitchell Bob In memoriam Ray D Owen discovered immune tolerance paved the way for organ transplantation University of Wisconsin Madison Department of Communications 9 26 2014 a b c d e Brent Leslie Ray David Owen 1915 2014 Geneticist and Immunologist A Tribute to a True Pioneer Transplantation Volume 98 Number 12 a b c Cancro Michael P December 2014 Ray D Owen 1915 2014 Nature Immunology Volume 15 Number 12 Owen RD 1945 Immunogenetic consequences of vascular anastomosis between bovine twins Science 102 400 a b Crow James F November 1996 A Golden Anniversary Cattle Twins and Immune Tolerance Genetics 144 855 859 a b c d Owen Ray David Interview by Rachel Prud homme Pasadena California October November 1983 Oral History Project California Institute of Technology Archives Retrieved 1 7 2014 a b Owen David December 2014 In Memoriam Ray D Owen PhD AAI 66 The American Association of Immunologists Newsletter Pages 22 23 Ray D Owen www nasonline org Retrieved 2022 05 20 APS Member History search amphilsoc org Retrieved 2022 05 20 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ray David Owen amp oldid 1088912684, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
