Ruth Sanger
Ruth Sanger | |
---|---|
![]() Ruth Sanger c. 1950 | |
Born | Ruth Ann Sanger 6 June 1918 Southport, Queensland,Australia |
Died | 4 June 2001 Putney,London, England | (aged 82)
Alma mater | Sydney University University of London |
Known for | Haematology, serology, Fellow of the Royal Society |
Spouse | Robert Russell Race(1956-1984) |
Relatives | Fred Sanger(first cousin) |
Awards |
Ruth Ann SangerFRS[1](6 June 1918 – 4 June 2001) was an Australianimmunogeneticist,haematologistandserologist.She was known for her work on human red cell antigens and for the genetic mapping of the human X chromosome.[2]She was Director of theMedical Research CouncilBlood Group Unit,of theLister Institute of Preventive Medicinefrom 1973 to 1983.
She worked closely withRobert Russell Racefrom the 1940s, and they married in 1956. They co-authored many papers after 1948, and co-wrote six editions of a leading work onblood groups,Blood Groups in Man,which helped make blood transfusions safer.[3]The book was known as "Race and Sanger", which were published between 1950 and 1975.[4]
Education and early life
[edit]Sanger was born inSouthport, Queensland,Australia and had four siblings.[5]Her father, Rev. Hubert Sanger, became headmaster ofArmidale Schoolin New South Wales. She was first cousins withFrederick Sanger,the biochemist and two-time winner of the Nobel prize.[6]
She received her early education in New South Wales at three schools: Harleyville Ladies College (1924–1926), New England Girls school, Armidale (1926–1927), andAbbotsleigh Wahrounga(1928–35).[5]
She went on to receive a Bachelor of Science fromSydney University(1940),[7]and earned a PhD from the University of London (1948).[3]
Career
[edit]From 1940 to 1946 she worked as a haematologist for theRed Cross Blood Transfusion ServiceinSydney, Australia.[8]In 1946, she moved to England to work with R.R. Race at theMedical Research Counsil (MRC),Blood Group Unit. While there, she received a doctorate from theUniversity of Londonin 1948 on the variety of blood group systems. She returned to Australia after receiving her doctorate, but then moved permanently to the United Kingdom in 1950 and remained at the MRC until 1973.
The first edition ofBlood Groups in Manwas published in August 1950, based on the systematic analysis of blood groups in her PhD thesis.
In 1973, she succeeded R.R. Race as Director of theMedical Research Council'sBlood Group Unitat the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine in London. She retired in 1983.[9]
Honours and awards
[edit]- Karl Landsteiner Memorial Award, USA (1957), joint with R. R. Race[7]
- Philip Levine Award, USA (1970), joint with R. R. Race[10]
- Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS)(1972)[1][11][12]
- Gairdner Foundation International Award(1972, Canada), joint with R. R. Race[13]
- Oliver Memorial Awardfrom the British Red Cross (1973)[14]
- Received an honorary Doctor of Medicine (MD (Honoris Causa)) from theHelsinki University(1990)[7]
Her nomination for the Royal Society reads:[2]
Immunogeneticist and Member of the Scientific Staff of the Medical Research Council's Blood Group Unit at the Lister Institute of Preventivie Medicine in the University of London. Distinguished for her work on human red cell antigens and for the genetic mapping of the human X chromosome.
Personal life
[edit]Sanger married Race on April 6, 1956 following the death of Race's first wife.[15]
Death
[edit]Ruth Sanger died inPutneyin 2001. She had three step-children.
Selected publications
[edit]- Sanger, Ruth A. (1946-10). "The Incomplete Antibody: a Quantitative Aspect".Nature.158(4014): 487–487.doi:10.1038/158487a0.ISSN1476-4687.
- Race, R. R.; Mourant, A. E.; Lawler, Sylvia D.; Sanger, Ruth (1948-06-01). "THE Rh CHROMOSOME FREQUENCIES IN ENGLAND".Blood.3(6): 689–695.doi:10.1182/blood.V3.6.689.689.ISSN0006-4971.
- Sanger, Ruth (1955-12). "An Association Between the P And Jay Systems of Blood Groups".Nature.176(4494): 1163–1164.doi:10.1038/1761163a0.ISSN1476-4687.
External links
[edit]The Robert Race and Ruth Sanger papers are kept at theWellcome Library.They have been digitised and areavailable online.
References
[edit]- ^abcHughes-Jones, N.;Tippett, P. (2003)."Ruth Ann Sanger 6 June 1918 - 4 June 2001".Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society.49:461–473.doi:10.1098/rsbm.2003.0027.PMID14989272.
- ^ab"Election of Ruth Sanger as Fellow of the Royal Society".Wellcome Library.Retrieved23 November2019.
- ^ab"Ruth Sanger, 82, Expert on Blood Grouping".The New York Times.4 July 2001.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved23 November2019.
- ^Ruth Sanger archive collection– Wellcome Library finding aid
- ^abHughes-Jones, Nevin; Tippett, Patricia (December 2003)."Ruth Ann Sanger. 6 June 1918 – 4 June 2001".Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society.49:461–473.doi:10.1098/rsbm.2003.0027.ISSN0080-4606.PMID14989272.
- ^Brownlee, George G. (31 December 2015)."Frederick Sanger CBE CH OM. 13 August 1918 — 19 November 2013".Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society.61:437–466.doi:10.1098/rsbm.2015.0013.ISSN0080-4606.
- ^abcMelbourne, National Foundation for Australian Women and The University of."Sanger, Ruth Anne - Woman - The Australian Women's Register".womenaustralia.info.Retrieved23 November2019.
- ^Haines, Catharine M. C.; Stevens, Helen M. (2001).International Women in Science: A Biographical Dictionary to 1950.ABC-CLIO. p.277.ISBN978-1-57607-090-1.
ruth sanger thesis university of london blood group.
- ^Mollison, P. L. (2004)"Race, Robert Russell (1907–1984)"inOxford Dictionary of National Biography,Oxford University Press.
- ^"1970 Philip Levine Award of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, jointly awarded to Robert Race and Ruth Sanger".Wellcome Library.Retrieved23 November2019.
- ^"SANGER, Dr Ruth Ann, (Mrs R. R. Race)"inWho Was Who,A & C Black, 1920–2008, Oxford University Press.
- ^Ruth Sanger, 82, Expert on Blood Grouping.NY Times obituary, 4 July 2001
- ^"Gairdner Foundation Award jointly awarded to Robert Race and Ruth Sanger".Wellcome Library.Retrieved23 November2019.
- ^Sanger, Ruth Ann.Encyclopedia of Australian Science
- ^Melbourne, National Foundation for Australian Women and The University of."Sanger, Ruth Anne - Woman - The Australian Women's Register".womenaustralia.info.Retrieved24 November2019.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)