The Jackson Laboratory

1930

Staff consists of Clarence Cook Little, Elizabeth Fekete, Joseph Murray, Arthur Cloudman, Leonell Strong, Charles Green and John Bittner; budget is $50,000.

1931

First summer students come to study and work at the Laboratory.

1933

First Jackson mice are sold to researchers at other institutions.

1935

First successful transfer of fertilized ova achieved by Elizabeth Fekete.

1936

Jackson Laboratory researchers (in the world's first group publication) announce the first link between cancer and viruses in mammals. This led to the discovery of a cancer-causing virus passed through breast milk, a key finding for the later understanding of oncogenes and cancer.

1937

Peter Gorer shows in mouse studies at Jackson that transplant rejection is primarily governed by what he calls the H2 genetic locus, later described as the major histocompatibility complex, a key component of immunity.

1938

John Bittner receives his first grants from the National Cancer Institute.

1939

The International Committee on Standardized Nomenclature for Mice forms, bringing order to the naming of mice and their genes.