The document summarizes key aspects of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC):
1) The MHC was discovered through studies of transplant rejection in inbred mouse strains, which showed that rejection depended on the genetics of the donor and recipient strains.
2) MHC molecules present peptide antigens to T cells and play a crucial role in immune responses, including transplant rejection.
3) MHC molecules are highly polymorphic and polygenic, with multiple variants of each type, which allows populations to recognize a wide variety of pathogens.