Science & Mathematics

The Museum's collections hold thousands of objects related to chemistry, biology, physics, astronomy, and other sciences. Instruments range from early American telescopes to lasers. Rare glassware and other artifacts from the laboratory of Joseph Priestley, the discoverer of oxygen, are among the scientific treasures here. A Gilbert chemistry set of about 1937 and other objects testify to the pleasures of amateur science. Artifacts also help illuminate the social and political history of biology and the roles of women and minorities in science.

The mathematics collection holds artifacts from slide rules and flash cards to code-breaking equipment. More than 1,000 models demonstrate some of the problems and principles of mathematics, and 80 abstract paintings by illustrator and cartoonist Crockett Johnson show his visual interpretations of mathematical theorems.

This white plastic electrophoresis comb is made from hard plastic and has 15 tines.Electrophoresis combs are used to create the wells in gels for electrophoresis, a technique that uses the electrical charges of molecules to separate them by their length.
Description (Brief)
This white plastic electrophoresis comb is made from hard plastic and has 15 tines.
Electrophoresis combs are used to create the wells in gels for electrophoresis, a technique that uses the electrical charges of molecules to separate them by their length. It is often used to analyze DNA fragments. When a gel is poured, a comb is inserted. After the gel solidifies, the comb is removed, leaving wells for samples.
Location
Currently not on view
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.19
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.19
This plastic chamber was part of a set-up for a vertical gel electrophoresis chamber used in the lab at Genentech, a biotechnology company, in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Description (Brief)
This plastic chamber was part of a set-up for a vertical gel electrophoresis chamber used in the lab at Genentech, a biotechnology company, in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Gel electrophoresis is a technique that uses the electrical charges of molecule to separate them by their length. It is often used to analyze DNA fragments. “Yansura,” the name of one of the scientists who used the set-up, is etched on one side of the chamber.
Location
Currently not on view
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.04
catalog number
2012.0198.04
accession number
2012.0198
This electroelution chamber was used by scientists at Genentech, a biotechnology company, in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Description (Brief)
This electroelution chamber was used by scientists at Genentech, a biotechnology company, in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Electroelution is a technique for removing proteins and other molecules from the gel matrix of gel electrophoresis.
Sections of the gel containing the desired sample were excised and placed into a piece of dialysis tubing. The tubing was secured to the bottom of the chamber using small clips buried in a layer of modeling clay at the bottom of the chamber. Once tubing was secured, the chamber was filled with a buffer solution. An electric current was run through the chamber, causing molecules of interest to migrate across the dialysis tubing into the buffer, from which they were collected.
The modeling clay was not originally part of the chamber, but was purchased from a toy store and pressed onto the bottom of the chamber by scientists in order to provide a way to secure the clips to the bottom.
Source:
Interview with Dan Yansura, Genentech scientist, 12/20/2012
Location
Currently not on view
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.15
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.15
This inverted microscope was used at Genentech, a biotechnology company. In a traditional light microscope (the kind most often used in high school biology classes), the light source comes from below a slide-mounted specimen and the observer views it from above.
Description (Brief)
This inverted microscope was used at Genentech, a biotechnology company. In a traditional light microscope (the kind most often used in high school biology classes), the light source comes from below a slide-mounted specimen and the observer views it from above. By contrast, an inverted microscope’s light source comes from above and the sample is viewed from the bottom.
This configuration eliminates the need for slide-mounting the specimen for observation and allows the observer to view samples in flasks or petri dishes. For this reason the inverted microscope is particularly useful in work with living cells and tissue culture, allowing both observation and manipulation of the sample.
Sources:
Goldstein, David. “Inverted Microscope.” Microscopy-UK. 1998. http://microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artjul98/invert.html
Olympus. “Inverted biological microscope.” http://www.olympus-global.com/en/corc/history/story/micro/headstand/
Location
Currently not on view
date made
before 1995
circa 1970
user
Genentech, Inc.
maker
Olympus
ID Number
2012.0198.60
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.60
This object is a micropipettor for measuring and transferring small, precise volumes of liquid. It was used by scientists at Genentech, a biotechnology company, for small reactions such as digesting DNA.The micropipettor was developed by Dr.
Description (Brief)
This object is a micropipettor for measuring and transferring small, precise volumes of liquid. It was used by scientists at Genentech, a biotechnology company, for small reactions such as digesting DNA.
The micropipettor was developed by Dr. Warren Gilson in 1972.
Sources:
Gilson, “About Us.” http://www.pipetman.com/AboutUs.aspx
Zinnen, Tom. “The Micropipette Story.” WisconIngenuity. http://www.biotech.wisc.edu/outreach/pipettestory.html
Location
Currently not on view
date made
January 1986-January 1991
user
Genentech, Inc.
maker
Gilson, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.34
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.34
serial number
D20630A
This white plastic electrophoresis comb has five wide tines, one of which has been modified into two smaller tines.Electrophoresis combs are used to create the wells in gels for electrophoresis, a technique that uses the electrical charges of molecules to separate them by their l
Description (Brief)
This white plastic electrophoresis comb has five wide tines, one of which has been modified into two smaller tines.
Electrophoresis combs are used to create the wells in gels for electrophoresis, a technique that uses the electrical charges of molecules to separate them by their length. It is often used to analyze DNA fragments. When a gel is poured, a comb is inserted. After the gel solidifies, the comb is removed, leaving wells for samples.
Location
Currently not on view
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.20
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.20
This silver metal canister once contained DNA-polymerase, an enzyme commonly used in molecular biology.
Description (Brief)
This silver metal canister once contained DNA-polymerase, an enzyme commonly used in molecular biology. In living organisms, it plays an important role in DNA replication and repair, by helping to speed along the process of linking together nucleotide bases into the chains that make up DNA.
This particular canister of DNA-polymerase was used in DNA sequencing efforts at the labs at Genentech, a biotechnology company, in the early 1980s.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1983-08-16
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.23
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.23
This silver metal canister once contained Sau 3AI, an enzyme commonly used in molecular biology.
Description (Brief)
This silver metal canister once contained Sau 3AI, an enzyme commonly used in molecular biology. Sau 3AI belongs to a class of enzymes known as restriction enzymes, which are useful for their ability to cleave DNA only at locations containing specific sequences of nucleotides, the small chemical units which make up the longer DNA molecule. Sau 3AI recognizes the sequence GATC and will cut before the G.
This particular canister of Sau 3AI was used to create recombinant DNA molecules at Genentech, a biotechnology company, in the early 1980s.
Source:
GeneON, “Sau3AI.” http://www.taq-dna.com/sau3ai-_91.html
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1985-09
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.28
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.28
This silver metal canister once contained Hind III, an enzyme commonly used in molecular biology.
Description (Brief)
This silver metal canister once contained Hind III, an enzyme commonly used in molecular biology. Hind III belongs to a class of enzymes known as restriction enzymes, which are useful for their ability to cleave DNA only at locations containing specific sequences of nucleotides, the small chemical units that make up the longer DNA molecule. Hind III recognizes the sequence TTCGAA and will cut between the A’s.
This particular canister of Hind III was used to create recombinant DNA molecules at Genentech, a biotechnology company, in the early 1980s.
Source:
GeneON, “Hind III.” http://www.taq-dna.com/hindiii-_76.html
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1985-01
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.29
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.29
This white plastic electrophoresis comb has 20 tines.Electrophoresis combs are used to create the wells in gels for electrophoresis, a technique that uses the electrical charges of molecules to separate them by their length. It is often used to analyze DNA fragments.
Description (Brief)
This white plastic electrophoresis comb has 20 tines.
Electrophoresis combs are used to create the wells in gels for electrophoresis, a technique that uses the electrical charges of molecules to separate them by their length. It is often used to analyze DNA fragments. When a gel is poured, a comb is inserted. After the gel solidifies, the comb is removed, leaving wells for samples.
Location
Currently not on view
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.18
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.18
This inoculating turntable consists of a circular platform that rotates on its base. A petri dish was placed on the turntable, which was spun by hand.
Description (Brief)
This inoculating turntable consists of a circular platform that rotates on its base. A petri dish was placed on the turntable, which was spun by hand. This allowed a laboratory technician to streak bacteria onto the dish in even concentric circles.
It was used in the laboratories at Genentech, a biotechnology company.
Source:
Fischer Scientific. “Fischer Scientific Inoculating Turntables.” http://www.fishersci.com/ecomm/servlet/fsproductdetail_10652_791058__-1_0
Location
Currently not on view
user
Genentech, Inc.
maker
Fisher Scientific Company
ID Number
2012.0198.53
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.53
This silver metal canister once contained Eco RI, an enzyme commonly used in molecular biology.
Description (Brief)
This silver metal canister once contained Eco RI, an enzyme commonly used in molecular biology. Eco RI belongs to a class of enzymes known as restriction enzymes, which are useful for their ability to cleave DNA only at locations containing specific sequences of nucleotides, the small chemical units that make up the longer DNA molecule. Eco RI recognizes the sequence GAATTC and will cut between the G and first A.
This particular canister of Eco RI was used to create recombinant DNA molecules at Genentech, a biotechnology company, in the early 1980s.
Source:
National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings. “Deoxyribonuclease EcoRI.” http://www.nlm.nih.gov/cgi/mesh/2011/MB_cgi?mode=&term=Eco-RI
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1985-03
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.27
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.27
Activase is a recombinant pharmaceutical that is administered intravenously. Approved by the FDA on November 13, 1987, it contains tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), an enzyme that helps dissolve blood clots.
Description (Brief)
Activase is a recombinant pharmaceutical that is administered intravenously. Approved by the FDA on November 13, 1987, it contains tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), an enzyme that helps dissolve blood clots. Although Activase was originally developed to treat heart attack (acute myocardial infarction), it is now also used to treat stroke (acute ischemic stroke) and blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolism).
Recombinant pharmaceuticals are created by inserting genes from one species into a host species, often yeast or bacteria, where they do not naturally occur. The genes code for a desired product, and therefore the genetically modified host organisms can be grown and used as a kind of living factory to produce the product. In this case, genes coding for tPA are inserted into cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells. The ovary cells produce tPA, which is harvested and used as the active ingredient in Activase.
Object consists of a white cardboard box with red and blue printing. Box contains two round, clear glass bottles, two product inserts, and one "Transofix" transfer device. One bottle contains sterile water for injection and has a plastic magenta lid and white label with black print. One bottle contains Activase and has plastic blue lid, a white label with blue and red printing and a white plastic base. The Transofix device is used to mix the sterile water and powdered Activase to reconstitute the medicine for administration.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
before 1994
maker
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0046.42
catalog number
2012.0046.42
accession number
2012.0046
This power supply was used to provide an electric current for gel electrophoresis and electroelution in the lab at Genentech, a biotechnology company, in the early 1980s.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
This power supply was used to provide an electric current for gel electrophoresis and electroelution in the lab at Genentech, a biotechnology company, in the early 1980s.
Location
Currently not on view
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.59
catalog number
2012.0198.59
accession number
2012.0198
This white plastic electrophoresis comb is made from hard plastic and has 15 tines.Electrophoresis combs are used to create the wells in gels for electrophoresis, a technique that uses the electrical charges of molecules to separate them by their length.
Description (Brief)
This white plastic electrophoresis comb is made from hard plastic and has 15 tines.
Electrophoresis combs are used to create the wells in gels for electrophoresis, a technique that uses the electrical charges of molecules to separate them by their length. It is often used to analyze DNA fragments. When a gel is poured, a comb is inserted. After the gel solidifies, the comb is removed, leaving wells for samples.
Location
Currently not on view
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.21
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.21
This electrophoresis comb is made from flimsy white plastic and has 20 tines.
Description (Brief)
This electrophoresis comb is made from flimsy white plastic and has 20 tines. Scientists at Genentech in the late 1970s made this comb themselves by cutting it out of a sheet of plastic.
Electrophoresis combs are used to create the wells in gels for electrophoresis, a technique that uses the electrical charges of molecules to separate them by their length. It is often used to analyze DNA fragments. When a gel is poured, a comb is inserted. After the gel solidifies, the comb is removed, leaving wells for samples.
Location
Currently not on view
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.22
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.22
This object is part of a set-up for vertical gel electrophoresis. Gel electrophoresis is a technique that uses the electrical charges of molecules to separate them by their length.
Description (Brief)
This object is part of a set-up for vertical gel electrophoresis. Gel electrophoresis is a technique that uses the electrical charges of molecules to separate them by their length. It is often used to analyze DNA fragments.
This set-up was cobbled together by scientists in the lab at Genentech, a biotechnology company, in the late 1970s and used through the 1980s. Its different components were purchased from several suppliers in the San Francisco Bay area and assembled together with binder clips.
Because of its short length, this device was primarily used to perform preparative and analytical DNA work rather than sequencing, which requires a long length to provide greater resolution.
Source:
Interview with Dan Yansura, Genentech scientist, 12/20/2012
Location
Currently not on view
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.03
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.03
This poster celebrates the ten-year anniversary of the drug Protropin. Protropin, manufactured by Genentech, a biotechnology company, from 1985 to 2004, was a recombinant human growth hormone used to treat children with certain pituitary-based growth disorders.
Description (Brief)
This poster celebrates the ten-year anniversary of the drug Protropin. Protropin, manufactured by Genentech, a biotechnology company, from 1985 to 2004, was a recombinant human growth hormone used to treat children with certain pituitary-based growth disorders. The poster features ten pairs of children's shoes representing the years 1985–1995, with each pair becoming progressively larger. See also objects 1987.0789.01 and 1987.0789.02.
Location
Currently not on view
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.57
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.57
This plastic chamber was part of a set-up for a vertical gel electrophoresis chamber used in the lab at Genentech, a biotechnology company, in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Description (Brief)
This plastic chamber was part of a set-up for a vertical gel electrophoresis chamber used in the lab at Genentech, a biotechnology company, in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Gel electrophoresis is a technique that uses the electrical charges of molecules to separate them by their length. It is often used to analyze DNA fragments.
Location
Currently not on view
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.05
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.05
This object is a petri dish lid with a circular paper grid featuring the numbers 1–50 taped to it.
Description (Brief)
This object is a petri dish lid with a circular paper grid featuring the numbers 1–50 taped to it. The paper grid was photocopied out of a laboratory manual, most likely one published by the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory or Maniatis Laboratory.
The lid was used in the laboratory at Genentech, a biotechnology company, as a way to distinguish between bacterial colonies. It was placed under a clean petri dish, and bacterial colonies were transferred onto the dish, one colony per grid square. Colonies could then be tracked using their grid number. A small sample from each colony could be removed and tested to give the characteristics of the entire colony. This system was essential at Genentech where often scientists needed to keep track of 100s to 1000s of colonies per research project.
Source:
Interview with Dan Yansura, Genentech scientist, 12/20/2012
Location
Currently not on view
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.31
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.31
This white plastic electrophoresis comb is made from hard plastic and has 20 tines.Electrophoresis combs are used to create the wells in gels for electrophoresis, a technique that uses the electrical charges of molecules to separate them by their length.
Description (Brief)
This white plastic electrophoresis comb is made from hard plastic and has 20 tines.
Electrophoresis combs are used to create the wells in gels for electrophoresis, a technique that uses the electrical charges of molecules to separate them by their length. It is often used to analyze DNA fragments. When a gel is poured, a comb is inserted. After the gel solidifies, the comb is removed, leaving wells for samples.
Location
Currently not on view
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.17
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.17
This fermenter was used at Genentech during the early 1980s to grow recombinant bacteria for the production of proteins to be used as medicine.
Description (Brief)
This fermenter was used at Genentech during the early 1980s to grow recombinant bacteria for the production of proteins to be used as medicine. Recombinant bacteria have been genetically altered in a way that makes them capable of producing proteins they wouldn’t naturally produce.
To begin the production process, this fifteen-liter stainless steel tank was seeded with a small sample of recombinant bacteria. The tank provided an environment that encourages bacteria to grow and multiply by controlling the steam, water, temperature, and pressure in the tank. Below the tank is an agitation mechanism, that “stirred” the bacteria, ensuring even access to resources. When the bacteria grew to a number where they filled the tank, they were transferred to a larger fermentation tank as part of an industrial scale-up process.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1983-03-23
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.01
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.01
Protropin is an injectable, recombinant pharmaceutical that is used to treat children with growth problems stemming from an inability to produce their own growth hormone.Recombinant pharmaceuticals are created by inserting genes from one species into a host species, often yeast o
Description (Brief)
Protropin is an injectable, recombinant pharmaceutical that is used to treat children with growth problems stemming from an inability to produce their own growth hormone.
Recombinant pharmaceuticals are created by inserting genes from one species into a host species, often yeast or bacteria, where they do not naturally occur. The genes code for a desired product, and therefore the genetically modified host organisms can be grown and used as a kind of living factory to produce the product. In this case, genes coding for human growth hormone are inserted into bacteria. Bacteria produce the growth hormone, which is harvested and used as the active ingredient in Protropin.
Object consists of a light blue, white, and red cardboard box with dark blue and red printing. Box contains two product inserts and a white plastic tray with a clear plastic lid. Tray holds four glass bottles with plastic and metal lids and white and blue labels. The two bottles with light blue lids contain white powder (active drug) and the two bottles with dark blue lids contain a clear solution (bacteriostatic water for injection).
date made
before December 1993
maker
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0046.53
catalog number
2012.0046.53
accession number
2012.0046
This white plastic electrophoresis comb has 17 tines.
Description (Brief)
This white plastic electrophoresis comb has 17 tines. Scientists at Genentech, a biotechnology company, made this comb themselves in the late 1970s by cutting it out of a sheet of plastic.
Electrophoresis combs are used to create the wells in gels for electrophoresis, a technique that uses the electrical charges of molecules to separate them by their length. It is often used to analyze DNA fragments. When a gel is poured, a comb is inserted. After the gel solidifies, the comb is removed, leaving wells for samples.
Location
Currently not on view
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.16
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.16

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