On July 11, 2011, I went to the Science museum to see the Medical Exhibit on the top floor. When I arrived at the museum, I was naturally drawn towards the biotechnology section of the exhibit. I was very impressed how many items were on display.
Everything from early spread-plating techniques and old vaccine syringes to one of the first chromatography columns and complex electron scanning microscopes. I knew that biotech research and applications have been around since Watson and Crick discovered the structure of DNA in 1953 and the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928. What I didn't know was how quickly the biotech industry grew or how the design of certain machines like syringes and chromatography columns evolved and improved over time.
The main reason I wanted to visit this exhibit is because I would like to have a career in the biotech industry, specifically the upstream (fermentation) process. I have taken many classes on bioreactor fermentation as well as a few microbial bioseparation courses. I did expect to see a bioreactor on display in the exhibit somewhere, but unfortunately there wasn't one. Although I was disappointed with the absence of a bioreactor, seeing one of the earliest chromatography columns helped me realize exactly how far we have come with biotechnology.
I highly recommend this exhibit to any one who is interested in biotechnology or who's major is influenced by biotechnology.
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