Jean Dausset was born in Toulouse, France, and moved with his family to Paris at age eleven. After having earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics, he enrolled in the University of Paris medical school. When World War II broke out in 1939, Dausset joined the French medical corps. After France fell to the Germans in 1940, Dausset went to North Africa to fight with the Free French army. Before leaving Paris, Dausset gave all his identification papers to a Jewish colleague, who was therefore able to survive the Nazi occupation.

After the war ended, Dausset completed his studies at the university, receiving his medical degree in 1945. From 1946 to 1958 Dausset was director of laboratories at the French National Blood Transfusion Center, although he left for two years (1948-49) to study hematology under a fellowship at Harvard Medical School.

Dausset's work at the blood center, and earlier experiences during the war with...