# Niels Kaj Jerne

_Danish immunologist_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/niels-kaj-jerne
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Niels Kaj Jerne, FRS (23 December 1911 – 7 October 1994) was a Danish immunologist. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1984 with Georges J. F. Köhler and César Milstein "for theories concerning the specificity in development and control of the immune system and the discovery of the principle for production of monoclonal antibodies".

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 23 December 1911 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q309876#P569))
- **Place of birth:** London ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q309876#P19))
- **Died:** 7 October 1994 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q309876#P570))
- **Place of death:** Castillon-du-Gard ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q309876#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Kingdom of Denmark ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q309876#P27))
- **Occupation:** immunologist; physician; university teacher ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q309876#P106))
- **Education:** University of Copenhagen; Leiden University; Erasmus University Rotterdam ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q309876#P69))
- **Awards:** Fellow of the Royal Society; Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; Canada Gairdner International Award; Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize; Marcel Benoist Prize; honorary doctorate of the Autonomous University of Madrid; honorary doctorate from Columbia University; honorary doctorate of the University of Copenhagen; honorary doctorate of the University of Basel ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q309876#P166))

## About

Jerne is known for three significant ideas. Firstly, instead of the body producing antibodies in response to an antigen, Jerne postulated that the immune system already has the specific antibodies it needs to fight antigens. Secondly, it was known that the immune system learns to be tolerant to the individual's own self. Jerne postulated that this learning takes place in the thymus. Thirdly, it was known that T cells and B cells communicate with each other.

Jerne's network theory proposed that the active sites of antibodies are attracted to both specific antigens (idiotypes) and to other antibodies that bind to the same site. The antibodies are in balance, until an antigen disturbs the balance, stimulating an immune reaction.

## Questions

**When was Niels Kaj Jerne born?**  
Niels Kaj Jerne was born on 23 December 1911 in London.

**Where did Niels Kaj Jerne study?**  
Niels Kaj Jerne was educated at University of Copenhagen, Leiden University, Erasmus University Rotterdam.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Niels Kaj Jerne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niels_Kaj_Jerne) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q309876](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q309876) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Niels Kaj Jerne 1950 crop.jpg by Niels K. Jernes (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Niels_Kaj_Jerne_1950_crop.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Niels Kaj Jerne, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Niels Kaj Jerne 1950 crop.jpg — Niels K. Jernes, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Niels Kaj Jerne". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/niels-kaj-jerne. Retrieved 7 November 2026.