American biologist (born 1938) who has developed groundbreaking scientific instruments which made possible major advances in the biological sciences and the medical sciences. Three color glossy photos, 8 x 10 and 10 x 8, each signed in thin black felt tip by Leroy Hood, with images including: Hood receiving the 2011 National Medal of Science from President Barack Obama; Hood posing on a railing outdoors; and a close-up pose of Hood peering between laboratory flasks. In overall fine condition. Accompanied by a personal Institute for Systems Biology business card belonging to Hood, who has signed the card in black felt tip.
Some of Hood's instruments include: the first gas phase protein sequencer, which determines the amino acids that make up a given protein; a DNA synthesizer that synthesizes short sections of DNA; a peptide synthesizer that combines amino acids into longer peptides and short proteins; the first automated DNA sequencer, which identifies the order of nucleotides in DNA; ink-jet oligonucleotide technology for synthesizing DNA; and nanostring technology for analyzing single molecules of DNA and RNA.
