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Biotechnology

These objects form one of the world’s only systematic collections of biotechnology, preserving the technologies and outputs associated with uses of living organisms, including fermentation and the production of penicillin, DNA sequencing and bioengineering involving animals.

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Mycelial protein food

1981

Blood samples STR paternity DNA testing kit from University Diagnostics Limited

1990s

Child fingerprick sampling kit for DNA paternity test

1990s

Sample of semi-synthetic penicillin, England, 1958-1960

1958

Glass jar of Sodium Penicillin G

DnaCartridge for performing a CovidNudge test

2021

Nasopharygeal sample kit for performing a CovidNudge test

2021

DnaCapsule single-button scanning module with LED and camera

2021

DnaCartridge for performing a CovidNudge test

2021

DnaCapsule single-button scanning module with LED and camera

2021

One of ten cards relating to the Longitude Prize: ‘Never better equipped’

2014

Chromatograph of semi-synthetic penicillin, England, 1957-1958

1957

Mycelial protein food

1981

Egg incubator "Junior 600" by Hearsons

Pig gib

1901-2000

Model, one of two

1967

Two salmon, one with and one without growth hormone transgene, 1997

1997-2000

Helical stent to help mimic natural blood flow

2009-2010

Dewar used to preserve body parts after death

1976-1999

Bracelet: indication of wish to be cryogenically frozen after death

1999

Necklace: indication of wish to be cryogenically frozen after death

1999

Card authorising cryonic supsension after death, United States, 1999

1999

Carton for Amoxil syrup (amoxicillin), England, 1976

1976

Carton for Penbritin vials (ampicillin), 1976

1976

Petri dish showing the effect of Penicillin on bacteria, United Kingdom, 1944

1944

Laboratory glassware used to purify interferon, Europe, 1980-1989

1980-1989
Penicillin (calcium salt) in glass jar

Penicillin

1942-1943
Genetically engineered brainbow mouse used for bioimaging research, prepared and used by Imperial College, London, England, 2005-2010.

Genetically engineered brainbow mouse used for bioimaging research

2005-2010
AncestryDNA genetic genealogy testing kit, for personal ancestry tracing, made by Ancestry.com LLC, 2022.

AncestryDNA genetic testing kit, for personal ancestry tracing, 2022

2022
Polypropylene plastic plate with 96 wells and a 20 nanometre polycarbon plate, as a variant of the iChip, specifically to grow formerly uncultivated environmental species, based on an idea by Slava Epstein and colleagues at Northeastern University, adapted from a piece of standard laboratory kit made by ThermoFisher Scientific, United States, May 2017

Isolation chip, or ichip

2017
Isolation chip, known as iChip, for isolation of microorganisms that cannot be cultivated using conventional microbiological techniques using an array of 384 miniature diffusion chambers, based on an idea by Slava Epstein and colleagues at Northeastern University, made by HI-TECH Manufacturing, United States, January 2010

Isolation chip, or ichip

2010
Pig heart in glass jar containing industrial methylated spirit, genetically engineered by Imutran Limited, United Kingdom, 1999. Suitable for transplantation into humans, a process known as xenotransplantation (see note).

A genetically engineered pig heart in a glass jar

1999
Collection of press cuttings collected by staff at the Roslin Institute following the announcement of the birth of Dolly, the cloned sheep, between January 1997 and March 1998.

Press cuttings collected by staff at the Roslin Institute following the announcement of the birth of Dolly the sheep

1997
Two preserved mice: one a 'knockout' with abnormally large muscles caused by genetic modification and one a wild type for comparison. Prepared at John Hopkins Medical School, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 1998 (see note).

Preserved mice: one genetically modified and one natural for comparision

1998
Small brown vial containing Dr Melavax, stem-cell anti-ageing skin treatment, conditioned from human bone marrow, made by BIO-FD&C Co., Ltd, Korea, c2010.

Dr Melavax stem-cell anti-ageing treatment

2010
Knome USB stick, used to contain the information obtained from sequencing an entire human genome for consumer purposes. Made by Knome Inc., USA, 2009-2010. Information on the USB stick self-destructs if it senses a physical or viral threat. The whole genome sequencing service is available at a cost of US$68,500 as of mid 2009. Customers receive the information presented in a box with updatable software and a genetic counselling service.

Knome USB stick

2009-2010
Penicillin sodium salt reduction residue, prepared by Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, 1942-1943

Penicillin sodium salt reduction residue

1942-1943
Vial for Penicillin sodium salt, by Commercial Solvents Corporation, Terre Haute, Vigo county, Indiana, United States, 1944

Vial for Penicillin sodium salt

1944
Ecosphere, a selfcontained ecosystem of shrimp, tufts of algae and bacteria in filtered seawater

Ecosphere, a selfcontained ecosystem of shrimp

1985-1995
Phial of penicillin, labelled 4.4µ/mg standard, remixed

Phial of penicillin, labelled 4.4µ/mg standard, remixed

1942-1943
Freeze dried milk from a descendant of Tracy containing the human protein alpha antitrypsin, 1990-97.

Freeze dried milk from a descendant of Tracy containing the human protein alpha antitrypsin

1990-1997
A Nurtinger Unit made by G. E. Baker UK Ltd, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, in 1999. An enclosure used to regulate the body temperature of transgenic pigs, whose organs may be used for xenotransplantation.

A Nurtinger Unit made by G. E. Baker UK Ltd

1999
Three samples of Cephalosporin antibiotics, 1977

Three samples of Cephalosporin antibiotics, 1977

Biolistics particle delivery system, also known as a 'gene gun' made by Bio-Rad Laboratories, USA, in 1992. Used for the genetic modification of plants, especially cereals, it uses helium gas to blast DNA-coated gold particles into cells in a petri dish.

Biolistics particle delivery system

1992
Tin for 100 500mg tablets Penbritin (ampicillin), c. 1976

Tin for Penbritin tablets (ampicillin), 1976

1976
Capillary Electrophoresis Analytical Instrument model 270HT by Applied Biosystems used by Advanced Biotechnology Centre, Imperial College School of Medicine, c1985.

Capillary Electrophoresis Analytical Instrument model 270HT by Applied Biosystems used by Advanced Biotechnology Centre

circa 1985
Cardboard packing box outer casing with inner sleeve, both empty, with 12 cartons each containing a vial for Penicillin sodium salt and an instruction leaflet, by Commercial Solvents Corporation, Terre Haute, Vigo county, Indiana, United States, 1944

Penicillin salts, instructions, and packaging

1944
Capillary Electrophoresis Analytical Instrument model 270A by Applied Biosystems used by Advanced Biotechnology Centre, Imperial college School of Medicine, c1985.

Capillary Electrophoresis Analytical Instrument model 270A by Applied Biosystems used by Advanced Biotechnology Centre

circa 1985
Prototype of the NG DetecTool, a diagnostic tool used to detect Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase, enzymes that confer resistance to most beta-lactam antibiotics, consisting of sample processing unit, beta lactamase detector and plastic syringe barrel, developed by Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission) in collaboration with Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, Barcelona Institute for Global health, IESE Business School, NG Biotech, Semmelweiss University (Hungary), and the University of Barcelona, manufactured by NG Biotech, France, 2019

NG DetecTool, a rapid diagnostic test

2019
Prototype of the Attomarker device, a multi-biomarker blood analysis tool based on nanophotonic array technology using a single pin-prick of blood, marketed as the world’s first pocket laboratory with cloud based monitoring via a smartphone app, consisting of single-use test cartridge, dummy iPhone and sticker display screen, developed by Attomarker Ltd with parts made by thinXXS, Scienion and assembled by Esterline, 2019

Attomarker diagnostic test

2019