Friendly Organ Transplants

The pioneering genetic research of George Snell '26 laid the foundation for organ transplants. Working over several decades with specially-bred lab mice that varied in only a few specific genes, Snell showed that antigens influence the success of a tissue graft. He found specific locations on chromo-somes that determine tissue compatibility or rejection.

Snell learned that transplants between mice with matched histocompatibility genes generally succeeded, while transplants among unmatched mice failed. Snell's research became the basis for tissue typing, a technique familiar to anyone who has ever registered as a bone-marrow donor. In 1980 Snell received the Nobel Prize for medicine.

Nobel-winner Snellused compatible mice.