American biologist (born 1938) who has developed groundbreaking scientific instruments which made possible major advances in the biological sciences and the medical sciences. Four 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; a close-up pose of Hood peering between laboratory flasks; and a photo of Hood as a young man. In overall fine condition. Accompanied by an 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.
