UW Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences: Understanding Immunity

© Photographed August 1, 2015

Erected April 2001 by UW Foundation

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin

43° 4.567′ N, 89° 24.948′ W

Google Map

University of Wisconsin Madison
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

UNDERSTANDING IMMUNITY

In the mid-1940s University of Wisconsin geneticist Ray Owen noticed a surprising fact about non-identical cattle twins. Each twin had two kinds of blood cells, its own and those of its twin. In ordinary transfusions, such mixing of blood cells often leads to sever immunological reaction. Owen realized that when bloods are exchanged early in development, each twin somehow learns to tolerate the other's cells. This discovery of "immune tolerance" helped to explain how an organism can tell its own cells from foreign ones, and fueled a revolution in immunology. The nature of immune tolerance is central to studies of organ transplantation, cancer, and autoimmune disease.

The marker is located in front of the Animal Health and Biomedical Sciences Building on northbound Elm Drive, at its intersection with Observatory Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706.

NOTE: Driving around and parking at the UW-Madison campus can be harrowing. Be sure to check the Google Map (above) and campus maps (below) before heading out.

UW-Madison Campus Map

UW-Madison Map and Parking

University of Wisconsin Madison News (September 26, 2014): In memoriam: Ray D. Owen discovered immune tolerance, paved the way for organ transplantation

Caltech: Division of Biology and Biological Engineering: Remembering Ray D. Owen (1915-2014)

Perspectives (1996): Anecdotal, Historical and Critical Commentaries on Genetics; A Golden Anniversary: Cattle Twins and Immune Tolerance; Genetics Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706

Historical Markers Highlight Accomplishments At UW-Madison AG College (Thursday, April 12th, 2001)

Click here for a list of all markers located on the UW-Madison campus.

The marker is visible in front of the building, to the left of the stairs.

The marker is visible to the left of the stairs.

The marker is on the campus of UW Madison.