Shimomura Family Visits the MBL
The MBL was honored to receive a visit this week from relatives of the late MBL Distinguished Scientist Osamu Shimomura and his wife, Akemi (Okubo) Shimomura.
The Shimomuras were resident scientists at MBL from 1982 to 2001, working in a lab in the Lillie Building. Osamu dedicated his career to the study of bioluminescence in many organisms, particularly the chemical structure of photoproteins. In 2008, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, along with Martin Chalfie and Roger Tsien, for the discovery and development of green fluorescent protein (GFP), which revolutionized modern biological imaging.
Visiting the MBL this week were Sachi Shimomura, daughter of Osamu and Akemi; Akihiro and Takeshi Okubo, brothers of Akemi; Sachi's husband, John Brinegar; and their two daughers, Emi and Mika. They viewed exhibits in the library, including a display related to Osamu Shimomura's life and research.
The family then visited the Shimomuras' former lab in Lillie 112 and 113. Michael Shribak, a current occupant of the lab, demonstrated fluorescence polarization of GFP, which the late MBL Distinguished Scientist Shinya Inoué had reported in a joint publication with Shimomura, Shribak and colleagues.
The family also visited the Marine Resources Center and enjoyed a beautiful, summer day in MBL's Waterfront Park.
