Introduction

Abstract

Initially (in 1968), the fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) was an instrument run for and by experts. With some tweaking and twisting, the FACS engineering prototype produced at Stanford by engineers Bill Bonner, Dick Sweet and Russ Hulett working with me could be convinced to do flow cytometric analysis and to physically sort cells without compromising cell viability. Aseptic sorting was added early on, so that sorted cells could be grown in culture or transferred into irradiated mice or rabbits. Yes, some of the first adoptive transfer experiments with FACS-sorted cells were performed with rabbits (in collaboration with Dr. Patricia Jones and Dr. John Cebra) because fluorescent antibody reagents detecting the then more extensively known immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy and light chain allotypes of the rabbit were readily available for staining, sorting and subsequent fluorescent microscope analysis to distinguish the origins of the transferred cells.