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The �ֲ���ý was honored to receive a visit this week from relatives of the late �ֲ���ý Distinguished Scientist Osamu Shimomura and his wife, Akemi (Okubo) Shimomura.

The Shimomuras were resident scientists at �ֲ���ý 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 , along with Martin Chalfie and Roger Tsien, for the discovery and development of green fluorescent protein (GFP), which revolutionized modern biological imaging.

Visiting the �ֲ���ý 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 �ֲ���ý Distinguished Scientist Shinya Inoué had reported in a with Shimomura, Shribak and colleagues.

The family also visited the Marine Resources Center and enjoyed a beautiful, summer day in �ֲ���ý's Waterfront Park.