Immunologist and
geneticist Ray D. Owen, professor of biology, emeritus, at Caltech passed away
on September 21. Owen's most significant contribution to immunology was his
1945 discovery of immunological tolerance in fraternal twin cattle. Using blood
typing, he discovered that each twin had no immune response to the foreign
antigens introduced from the other twin. His findings paved the way for the
experimental induction of tolerance through immune suppression and for early
tissue grafting—which initiated the era of organ transplantation. Owen's later
work included studies on human antibodies, blood-group antigens, the evolution
of immune systems, and the genetic analysis of the major histocompatibility
complex—a large family of genes that plays an important role in the immune
system and autoimmunity. Dr. Owen received his PhD in genetics from the
University of Wisconsin and became an associate professor at Caltech in 1947;
where he was promoted to full professor in 1953 and became professor emeritus
in 1983. Not only was Owen a brilliant scientist, he was highly recognized for
his extraordinary dedication to mentorship at Caltech, where he launched the
effort to admit female undergraduate students; which ultimately allowed the
first female undergraduates to enroll at the Institute in 1970. His accomplishments
led Leonore Herzenberg, professor of genetics at the Stanford School of
Medicine and pioneer of immunology, to write "Dr. Owen's belief in the
genderlessness and color-blindness of intelligence and creativity has
encouraged men and women to excel in their chosen fields," in a letter
recommending Owen for a lifetime mentoring award.
