Images(5)

Instrument, Thermal

Object number2021.77.1 a,b

Manufacturer Perkin Elmer

Datec. 1990

OriginNorwalk, CT

MediumMetal; Plastic; Rubber; Adhesive

Credit LineGift of The Chang-Moore Lab Cancer Virology Program, University of Pittsburgh

DescriptionDNA Thermal Cycler with removable power cord. Rectangular light gray metal machine. Top has slanted face with screen and control panel consisting of gray, red, yellow, and dark gray buttons. On top at front is the thermal block with black hinged cover that covers forty-eight (48) holes (six rows of eight holes). Front of machine has black toggle power switch in top left corner. Left and right sides each have two rows of vent slots. Reverse of machine has handle across center; ventilation slots at bottom left and top right; and numerous plug and connection ports along the right side. Reverse side has a metal hinge along the bottom edge. Underside is silver-tone metal with four circular metal feet. Gray rubber power cord that connects to machine on the back in the bottom right corner. Three-prong plug.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth (a): 12 × 13.375 × 20.5 in. (30.5 × 34 × 52.1 cm)
Height x Width x Length (b): 1 × 1 × 74.25 in. (2.5 × 2.5 × 188.6 cm)
Inscriptions(a)
Control panel on top of machine has text along left side “Heating / Cooling / Hot”; gray buttons with text “Start”, “File”, “Step”, “Yes”, “Help”, and “No”; red button with text “Stop”; yellow button with text “Enter”; black buttons with numbers 0-9 and “Clear”.

Thermal block has text along left side “A / B / C / D / E / F” and along bottom “1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8” and red sticker in front with white text “Warning / Hot Surface”.

Front of machine has power switch in top left corner with white text “ON / OFF”.

Proper left side has white sticker in the top left corner with black printed text “COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY / [crown] [barcode] / 0142484”.
Marks(a)
Control panel on top of machine has white text along bottom “PERKIN ELMER DNA Thermal Cycler”.

Black sticker on front of thermal blocks’ black cover has white text “FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY / SEE LIMITED LICENSE AND DISCLAIMERS / IN INSTRUCTION MANUAL”.

Front of machine has maker plate in bottom right corner with red, gray, and white text “PERKIN ELMER / DNA / Thermal Cycler 480”.

Back of machine has silver sticker in top left corner with black text “PERKIN-ELMER / Instrument Division / Norwalk, CT 06856 USA / Serial No. P 17531”.

Back of machine has black and white sticker above center with text including “FCC Compliance / …”.

Back of machine has off-white sticker at center with text “PATENT PENDING / …”

Back of machine has white sticker with American flag and blue text “PERKIN ELMER / Made in the USA / …”

Back of machine has four off-white stickers on right side with text “J4 / SERIAL PORT / …”, “F3 / 0.5 AMP S.B. 250V / …”, “F1 / 10 AMP S.B. 250V / …”, and “120 VAC 50/60 Hz / …”

Back of machine has two red stickers in bottom right quadrant with white text including “Warning / To avoid electrical shock…” and “Warning / Grounding circuit…”

Proper left side has yellow sticker in the bottom left corner with black printed text “WARNING / DO NOT OPEN / See Instruction Manual”.

(b)
Female end has raised text on both sides “SUPERCORD”; male (pronged) end has same raised text on one side; face of male (pronged) plug end has raised text “SA / SC-31 / 6 E129343”.

Black printed text repeated along the length of the cord “E157735 (UL) SVT W-A VW-1 75ºC AWG18X3C SHIELDED H.W.G. C(UL) SVT FT2 75ºC AWG18X3C SHIELDED”.
Historical NotesDoctors Yuan Chang and Patrick Moore discovered two of the seven known viruses that cause cancer. In their experiments to discover the virus that causes Kaposi sarcoma they used this machine to multiply and amplify DNA via the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Label TextOf the seven known cancer-causing viruses, two were discovered by researchers who work here in Pittsburgh. In 1993, husband and wife team Drs. Yuan Chang and Patrick Moore—then at Columbia University-- began testing their hypothesis that a virus caused Kaposi’s sarcoma, a cancer widely found in AIDS and immune suppressed populations. They employed “Representational Difference Analysis,” testing both healthy tissue and tissue from a Kaposi’s sarcoma tumor from the same individual. Chang and Moore theorized that the samples would have identical DNA except for DNA from the tumor virus. Using this technique, they found evidence of the virus within the first few months, though it took nearly two years of testing to confirm their findings, making use of samples collected for the Pitt Men’s Study, and publish their results. In 2008, after Chang and Moore moved to the University of Pittsburgh, their laboratory discovered a second human tumor virus, one that causes Merkel cell carcinoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer. Using this PCR (polymerase chain reaction) machine, Chang and Moore discovered the cancer-causing virus known as Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, or KSHV. The PCR multiplies and amplifies a small sample of DNA, allowing researchers to discover viral genes and uncover new viruses.

Related person Dr. Yuan Chang

Related person Dr. Patrick Moore

Related institution University of Pittsburgh

Related institution Columbia University

Subjects