Science & Mathematics

Chemical Balance

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.

Name: Genentech, Inc.

Activase, 50 mg; Alteplase, Recombinant

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 one round clear glass bottle with blue plastic cap and white label. Bottle is about 1/3 full of white powder. Box also contains bubblewrap and one insert. Package indicates that the box once also contained 50mL of sterile water for preparing injection solutions.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1987
maker
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
1987.0789.03
accession number
1987.0789
catalog number
1987.0789.03

Actimmune, Interferon gamma-1b injection

Actimmune is a recombinant pharmaceutical used to treat children and adults with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD, an immune system disorder) and severe, malignant osteopetrosis (a disease which causes bones to become extremely dense and can lead to blindness, scoliosis, and a
Description (Brief)
Actimmune is a recombinant pharmaceutical used to treat children and adults with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD, an immune system disorder) and severe, malignant osteopetrosis (a disease which causes bones to become extremely dense and can lead to blindness, scoliosis, and a number of other problems).
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 interferon are inserted into bacteria. Interferon is a substance that is naturally made by the body to fight infections and tumors. Bacteria produce the interferon, which is harvested and used as the active ingredient in Actimmune.
Object is a plastic clamshell-style box with tabs for opening labeled "HOLD" and "LIFT." Box contains 12 single-dose vials, which are round, clear glass bottles with blue plastic tops and white labels with black and green printing.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
before November 1993
maker
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0046.49
accession number
2012.0046
catalog number
2012.0046.49

Gene Cloning

This framed sign in a lightbox was created for Genentech, a biotechnology company. The sign has a black background and a graphic depiction of the gene cloning process and its use in making recombinant proteins.
Description (Brief)
This framed sign in a lightbox was created for Genentech, a biotechnology company. The sign has a black background and a graphic depiction of the gene cloning process and its use in making recombinant proteins. It also features a large photographic image of a woman holding a test tube in the lower left hand corner.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
late 1980s to early 1990s
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.58
catalog number
2012.0198.58
accession number
2012.0198

T4-DNA Ligase

This silver metal canister once contained T4-DNA ligase, an enzyme commonly used in molecular biology.
Description (Brief)
This silver metal canister once contained T4-DNA ligase, an enzyme commonly used in molecular biology. T4-DNA ligase helps create bonds between the ends of fragments of DNA.
This capability makes it useful in the laboratory when scientists want to combine DNA from two different sources in order to create recombinant DNA. This particular canister of T4-DNA ligase was used to create recombinant DNA molecules at Genentech, a biotechnology company, in the early 1980s.
Source:
Aehle, W. (2007). Enzymes in industry: Production and applications. Wiley-VCH.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1984-08
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.26
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.26

Petri Dish Lid

This object is a petri dish lid with a circular paper grid featuring the numbers 1–100 taped to it.
Description (Brief)
This object is a petri dish lid with a circular paper grid featuring the numbers 1–100 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
2012.0198.30
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.30

Micropipette Accessory

This micropipette accessory was used to draw very small amounts of liquid into thin glass micropipettes.
Description (Brief)
This micropipette accessory was used to draw very small amounts of liquid into thin glass micropipettes. A micropipette would be inserted into the bottom of the object and liquid could be pulled in with very good control by turning the screw at the top.
It was used in the laboratories at Genentech, a biotechnology company.
Source:
Interview with Dan Yansura, Genentech scientist, 12/20/2012
Location
Currently not on view
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.41
accession number
2012.0198
catalog number
2012.0198.41

Electrophoresis Chamber

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. Although gel electrophoresis set-ups were available for purchase at the time, scientists found their own set-ups to be more reliable and easier to troubleshoot.
Because of its long length, this device was particularly useful for sequencing stretches of synthetic DNA created in the lab. A long length allows for greater resolution between molecular fragments, an important consideration in sequencing efforts.
Source:
Interview with Dan Yansura, Genentech scientist, 12/20/2012
Location
Currently not on view
user
Genentech, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0198.02
catalog number
2012.0198.02
accession number
2012.0198

Fermenter

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

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