Ella Tyree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ella B. Tyree
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Tyree in 1949 at Argonne Lab
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| Nationality |  |
| Alma mater | Spelman College |
| Known for | Radiation research |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields |
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| Institutions | Metallurgical Laboratory |
Ella B. Tyree (born around 1920) was an American medical researcher. She worked in the mid-1900s. Her main job was to study how radiation affects animals. She also looked for ways to protect living things from radiation damage.
Contents
About Ella B. Tyree
Her Education
Ella B. Tyree went to Spelman College. There, she studied biology. Biology is the study of living things.
Working on the Manhattan Project
In 1941, a new rule called Executive Order 8802 was made. This rule helped stop unfair hiring practices. Many Black Americans found jobs in government projects. These projects included the Manhattan Project. This was a secret research project during World War II. It developed the first atomic bombs.
Jobs varied based on education and training. There were scientists, technicians, and construction workers. During the Jim Crow era, these jobs offered good pay. They also offered a chance to move up in a career. However, unfair housing rules and segregation were still common.
Tyree became a laboratory technician. She worked at the Metallurgical Laboratory in Chicago. This lab was part of the Manhattan Project. She worked in the Health Division. Her job was to manage the animal farm. This farm provided animals for radiation experiments.
Protecting Against Radiation
In 1949, Tyree's team shared important findings. Their leader was Dr. Harvey M. Patt. They found that treating mice with cysteine helped. Cysteine is an amino acid. Giving it to mice before radiation protected them. It saved them from doses that would normally be deadly.
The team believed cysteine could stop damage to cells. This damage was caused by X-rays. The treatment could be given by mouth or by injection. It had to be given about an hour before radiation exposure. This treatment helped about 80% of the mice survive. Only 20% survived without the treatment. It did not help if given after radiation exposure.
Radiation research was important for two reasons. First, it was linked to atomic weapons. Second, it could help with cancer treatments. Doctors wanted to protect healthy areas from radiation damage. This was important when giving high radiation doses to treat cancer.
See also
- African-American scientists and technicians on the Manhattan Project
- History of radiation therapy
