General Information

Serial #

B067

Part Number

1

Total Parts

5

AKA

Gene Machine

Patents

N/A

General Description

A metal case, with synthetic and metal computer components, metal hardware, synthetic keyboard and control buttons, metal connectors on right side of case, on back of case a metal connector, metal fuse, synthetic cables, wires and paper.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

46.0 cm

Width

68.7 cm

Height

19.5 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Medical Technology

Category

Medical equipment

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Bio Logicals

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

City

Ottawa

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

1982+

Canada

Kelvin Ogilvie and his McGill University colleagues demonstrated the foundation chemistry for carrying out the repetitive steps and the automation needed for assembling sequences of DNA. He and his collaborators at Bio Logicals Inc., among them, Robert Bender and Peter Duck, developed the “gene machine,” a device which automated the complex process of building DNA sequences. The research that went into the development of the gene machine was a significant contribution to the genomic revolution of the 1980s and 1990s, and an important part in bringing the "tech" into biotechnology. [see acq. proposal in sup. info for the entire Canadian significance]

Function

The Bio Logicals, DNA/RNA Synthesizer (Gene Machine) was used to synthesize sequences of DNA and RNA through an automated process.

Technical

The gene Machine was a major step in automating and speeding up the process for synthesising DNA. In the summer of 1986, the Gene Machine was adapted to prepare RNA. The RNA strand that was initially assembled was the 78-nucleotide-long formylmethionine tRNA (transfer ribonucleic acid) that initiates the synthesis of proteins in cells. Reported in Science and the Proceedings of the National Academy, USA, this breakthrough contributed to the field of genetic engineering and a variety of pharmaceutical and industrial applications including short RNA sequence therapies and "antisense chemotherapy".

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Mfr's:"DNA/RNA SYNTHESIZER". Mfr's labels:"BIO LOGICALS TORONTO, CANADA/DNA/RNA SYNTHESIZER/MODEL NO. B1 SERIAL NO. B067/VOLTAGE 110/220 WATTS 125/FUSE (AMP) 1½ FREQUENCY 50/60 Hz/MADE IN THE U.S.A. PATENT PENDING/LINE FREQUENCY 48-440 Hz/USE ONLY WITH 250V FUSE/100V/115V/120V/220V/230V/240V/CAUTION-FOR CONTINUED PROCTECTION AGAINST/FIRE HAZARD REPLACE ONLY WITH TYPE 3 AG SLO/ BLO FUSE. [caution is writen in French also].

Missing

Nothing missing.

Finish

A metal case, with synthetic and metal computer components, metal hardware, synthetic keyboard and control buttons, metal connectors on right side of case, on back of case a metal connector, metal fuse and paper.

Decoration

None.