Leroy Stevens: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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Stevens was born in [[Kenmore, New York]] in 1920. In 1942, he received his B.S. from [[Cornell University]]. After completing his undergraduate degree, Stevens served in the [[United States Army]] in Europe, where he was awarded the [[Silver Star]] for his bravery in action in Sicily by General [[George S. Patton]].<ref name="IJD">{{cite journal |last1=Graham |first1=Christopher F. |last2=Solter |first2=Davor |last3=Gearhart |first3=John D. |last4=Nadeau |first4=Joseph H. |last5=Knowles |first5=Barbara B. |title=Honoring the work and life of Leroy C. Stevens. A symposium as part of the International Stem Cell Initiative Workshop |journal=The International Journal of Developmental Biology |date=2016 |volume=60 |issue=10–11–12 |pages=327–336 |doi=10.1387/ijdb.160420bk|pmid=28000904 |doi-access=free }}</ref> When he returned to the US, he completed his Ph.D. in [[embryology]] from the [[University of Rochester]] in 1952 studying under [[Johannes Holtfreter]]. He subsequently joined The Jackson Laboratory as a [[Postdoctoral researcher|postdoctoral laboratory Fellow]] in 1953.<ref name="JAX Press Release">{{cite news |last1=Peterson |first1=Joyce |title=Leroy C. Stevens, Ph.D., 1920-2015 |url=https://www.jax.org/news-and-insights/2015/march/leroy-c-stevens-phd-1920-2015 |work=The Jackson Laboratory |date=March 30, 2015 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="The Scientist" /> In 1967, he was promoted to the position of senior staff scientist at The Jackson Lab, a position now designated as professor.<ref name="JAX Press Release" /> Stevens spent his entire professional career at The Jackson Laboratory, except a sabbatical year from 1961 to |
Stevens was born in [[Kenmore, New York]] in 1920. In 1942, he received his B.S. from [[Cornell University]]. After completing his undergraduate degree, Stevens served in the [[United States Army]] in Europe, where he was awarded the [[Silver Star]] for his bravery in action in Sicily by General [[George S. Patton]].<ref name="IJD">{{cite journal |last1=Graham |first1=Christopher F. |last2=Solter |first2=Davor |last3=Gearhart |first3=John D. |last4=Nadeau |first4=Joseph H. |last5=Knowles |first5=Barbara B. |title=Honoring the work and life of Leroy C. Stevens. A symposium as part of the International Stem Cell Initiative Workshop |journal=The International Journal of Developmental Biology |date=2016 |volume=60 |issue=10–11–12 |pages=327–336 |doi=10.1387/ijdb.160420bk|pmid=28000904 |doi-access=free }}</ref> When he returned to the US, he completed his Ph.D. in [[embryology]] from the [[University of Rochester]] in 1952 studying under [[Johannes Holtfreter]]. He subsequently joined The Jackson Laboratory as a [[Postdoctoral researcher|postdoctoral laboratory Fellow]] in 1953.<ref name="JAX Press Release">{{cite news |last1=Peterson |first1=Joyce |title=Leroy C. Stevens, Ph.D., 1920-2015 |url=https://www.jax.org/news-and-insights/2015/march/leroy-c-stevens-phd-1920-2015 |work=The Jackson Laboratory |date=March 30, 2015 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="The Scientist" /> In 1967, he was promoted to the position of senior staff scientist at The Jackson Lab, a position now designated as professor.<ref name="JAX Press Release" /> Stevens spent his entire professional career at The Jackson Laboratory, except a sabbatical year from 1961 to 1962 which he spent as a [[Guggenheim Fellowship|Guggenheim Fellow]] at the [[Laboratoire d’Embryologie Nogent sur Marne]]. |
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Originally, Stevens' work focused on studying the harmful health impacts of cigarette paper because of tobacco company grant to [[C. C. Little|C.C. Little]], the founder of The Jackson Laboratory.<ref name="The Scientist">{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Ricki |title=A Stem Cell Legacy: Leroy Stevens |url=https://www.the-scientist.com/news/a-stem-cell-legacy-leroy-stevens-56114 |work=The Scientist Magazine® |date=Mar 5, 2000 |language=en}}</ref> However, in 1958 he examined a large [[testicular tumor]] on a mouse from the [[129 strain]] and noticed it was composed of many kinds of tissues, including muscle, skin, bone, and hair.<ref name="The Scientist" /> Over time, Stevens observed that these tumors, known as [[teratocarcinoma]]s or [[teratoma]]s, produced not only this variety of tissue types but also groups of undifferentiated cells with the capacity to grow into a wide range of tissue types. In 1970, Stevens noticed that the cell populations he was studying that gave rise to teratomas were very similar to the cells of very early embryos.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Stevens |first1=Leroy C. |title=The development of transplantable teratocarcinomas from intratesticular grafts of pre- and postimplantation mouse embryos |journal=Developmental Biology |date=March 1970 |volume=21 |issue=3 |pages=364–382 |doi=10.1016/0012-1606(70)90130-2|pmid=5436899 }}</ref> Stevens called these cell types "[[pluripotent]] [[embryonic stem cell]]s." In order to study this phenomenon, Stevens selectively bred strain 129 to [[Selective breeding|select]] for the teratoma tendency. Normally, such cancers are very rare but in Stevens’ new mouse strain, they were present in 1 out of every 10 mice.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mestel |first1=Rosie |title=Stem Cell Studies' Bizarre Start |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-26-mn-8461-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=26 November 2001}}</ref> [[Beatrice Mintz]] and [[Karl Illmensee]], visited Stevens to learn his techniques and use his 129 mice bred for a high rate of teratomas and used these techniques to demonstrate that the embryonic stem cells could develop not only into teratomas but also into full |
Originally, Stevens' work focused on studying the harmful health impacts of cigarette paper because of tobacco company grant to [[C. C. Little|C.C. Little]], the founder of The Jackson Laboratory.<ref name="The Scientist">{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Ricki |title=A Stem Cell Legacy: Leroy Stevens |url=https://www.the-scientist.com/news/a-stem-cell-legacy-leroy-stevens-56114 |work=The Scientist Magazine® |date=Mar 5, 2000 |language=en}}</ref> However, in 1958 he examined a large [[testicular tumor]] on a mouse from the [[129 strain]] and noticed it was composed of many kinds of tissues, including muscle, skin, bone, and hair.<ref name="The Scientist" /> Over time, Stevens observed that these tumors, known as [[teratocarcinoma]]s or [[teratoma]]s, produced not only this variety of tissue types but also groups of undifferentiated cells with the capacity to grow into a wide range of tissue types. In 1970, Stevens noticed that the cell populations he was studying that gave rise to teratomas were very similar to the cells of very early embryos.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Stevens |first1=Leroy C. |title=The development of transplantable teratocarcinomas from intratesticular grafts of pre- and postimplantation mouse embryos |journal=Developmental Biology |date=March 1970 |volume=21 |issue=3 |pages=364–382 |doi=10.1016/0012-1606(70)90130-2|pmid=5436899 }}</ref> Stevens called these cell types "[[pluripotent]] [[embryonic stem cell]]s." In order to study this phenomenon, Stevens selectively bred strain 129 to [[Selective breeding|select]] for the teratoma tendency. Normally, such cancers are very rare but in Stevens’ new mouse strain, they were present in 1 out of every 10 mice.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mestel |first1=Rosie |title=Stem Cell Studies' Bizarre Start |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-26-mn-8461-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=26 November 2001}}</ref> [[Beatrice Mintz]] and [[Karl Illmensee]], visited Stevens to learn his techniques and use his 129 mice bred for a high rate of teratomas and used these techniques to demonstrate that the embryonic stem cells could develop not only into teratomas but also into full organisms.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mintz |first1=B. |last2=Illmensee |first2=K. |title=Normal genetically mosaic mice produced from malignant teratocarcinoma cells |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |date=1 September 1975 |volume=72 |issue=9 |pages=3585–3589 |doi=10.1073/pnas.72.9.3585|pmid=1059147 |pmc=433040 |bibcode=1975PNAS...72.3585M |doi-access=free }}</ref> This work was foundational in the field of embryonic stem cells and stem cell research. |
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Stevens' later studies focused on developing [[Model organism|mouse models]] for the testing of [[chemotherapeutic drugs]]. and retired from the Laboratory in 1989.<ref name="The Scientist Obit" /><ref name="JAX Press Release" /> In 2015, at the age of 94, he died of congestive respiratory failure.<ref name="The Scientist Obit">{{cite news |last1=Rood |first1=Jenny |title=Embryonic Stem Cell Pioneer Dies |url=https://www.the-scientist.com/the-nutshell/embryonic-stem-cell-pioneer-dies-35674 |work=The Scientist Magazine® |language=en}}</ref> |
Stevens' later studies focused on developing [[Model organism|mouse models]] for the testing of [[chemotherapeutic drugs]]. and retired from the Laboratory in 1989.<ref name="The Scientist Obit" /><ref name="JAX Press Release" /> In 2015, at the age of 94, he died of congestive respiratory failure.<ref name="The Scientist Obit">{{cite news |last1=Rood |first1=Jenny |title=Embryonic Stem Cell Pioneer Dies |url=https://www.the-scientist.com/the-nutshell/embryonic-stem-cell-pioneer-dies-35674 |work=The Scientist Magazine® |language=en}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 04:20, 14 February 2023
Leroy Carlton Stevens | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1920 |
| Died | March 28, 2015 (aged 94–95) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Cornell University (BS, 1942) University of Rochester (Ph.D., 1952) |
| Known for | Pioneer of embryonic stem cell research |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | genetics stem cell biology embryology |
| Institutions | Jackson Laboratory |
| Doctoral advisor | Johannes Holtfreter |
Leroy C. Stevens (1920–2015) was a scientist at The Jackson Laboratory acknowledged as the pioneer of embryonic stem cell research.[1][2]
History
Stevens was born in Kenmore, New York in 1920. In 1942, he received his B.S. from Cornell University. After completing his undergraduate degree, Stevens served in the United States Army in Europe, where he was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery in action in Sicily by General George S. Patton.[3] When he returned to the US, he completed his Ph.D. in embryology from the University of Rochester in 1952 studying under Johannes Holtfreter. He subsequently joined The Jackson Laboratory as a postdoctoral laboratory Fellow in 1953.[2][4] In 1967, he was promoted to the position of senior staff scientist at The Jackson Lab, a position now designated as professor.[2] Stevens spent his entire professional career at The Jackson Laboratory, except a sabbatical year from 1961 to 1962 which he spent as a Guggenheim Fellow at the Laboratoire d’Embryologie Nogent sur Marne.
Originally, Stevens' work focused on studying the harmful health impacts of cigarette paper because of tobacco company grant to C.C. Little, the founder of The Jackson Laboratory.[4] However, in 1958 he examined a large testicular tumor on a mouse from the 129 strain and noticed it was composed of many kinds of tissues, including muscle, skin, bone, and hair.[4] Over time, Stevens observed that these tumors, known as teratocarcinomas or teratomas, produced not only this variety of tissue types but also groups of undifferentiated cells with the capacity to grow into a wide range of tissue types. In 1970, Stevens noticed that the cell populations he was studying that gave rise to teratomas were very similar to the cells of very early embryos.[5] Stevens called these cell types "pluripotent embryonic stem cells." In order to study this phenomenon, Stevens selectively bred strain 129 to select for the teratoma tendency. Normally, such cancers are very rare but in Stevens’ new mouse strain, they were present in 1 out of every 10 mice.[6] Beatrice Mintz and Karl Illmensee, visited Stevens to learn his techniques and use his 129 mice bred for a high rate of teratomas and used these techniques to demonstrate that the embryonic stem cells could develop not only into teratomas but also into full organisms.[7] This work was foundational in the field of embryonic stem cells and stem cell research.
Stevens' later studies focused on developing mouse models for the testing of chemotherapeutic drugs. and retired from the Laboratory in 1989.[1][2] In 2015, at the age of 94, he died of congestive respiratory failure.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Rood, Jenny. "Embryonic Stem Cell Pioneer Dies". The Scientist Magazine®.
- ^ a b c d Peterson, Joyce (March 30, 2015). "Leroy C. Stevens, Ph.D., 1920-2015". The Jackson Laboratory.
- ^ Graham, Christopher F.; Solter, Davor; Gearhart, John D.; Nadeau, Joseph H.; Knowles, Barbara B. (2016). "Honoring the work and life of Leroy C. Stevens. A symposium as part of the International Stem Cell Initiative Workshop". The International Journal of Developmental Biology. 60 (10–11–12): 327–336. doi:10.1387/ijdb.160420bk. PMID 28000904.
- ^ a b c Lewis, Ricki (Mar 5, 2000). "A Stem Cell Legacy: Leroy Stevens". The Scientist Magazine®.
- ^ Stevens, Leroy C. (March 1970). "The development of transplantable teratocarcinomas from intratesticular grafts of pre- and postimplantation mouse embryos". Developmental Biology. 21 (3): 364–382. doi:10.1016/0012-1606(70)90130-2. PMID 5436899.
- ^ Mestel, Rosie (26 November 2001). "Stem Cell Studies' Bizarre Start". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Mintz, B.; Illmensee, K. (1 September 1975). "Normal genetically mosaic mice produced from malignant teratocarcinoma cells". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 72 (9): 3585–3589. Bibcode:1975PNAS...72.3585M. doi:10.1073/pnas.72.9.3585. PMC 433040. PMID 1059147.
