Fermenter
Fermenter
- 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
- Object Name
- fermenter
- date made
- 1983-03-23
- user
- Genentech, Inc.
- used
- United States: California, South San Francisco
- Physical Description
- plastic (overall material)
- glass (overall material)
- metal (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 43 in x 25 1/2 in x 30 in; 109.22 cm x 64.77 cm x 76.2 cm
- ID Number
- 2012.0198.01
- accession number
- 2012.0198
- catalog number
- 2012.0198.01
- Credit Line
- Gift of Genentech
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Biological Sciences
- Science & Mathematics
- Biotechnology and Genetics
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
Nominate this object for photography.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.