Museum specimens can act as boundary objects in the context of the museums that house them. In fact, they are central to work that happens in the museum, as the different social groups connected to the museum interact through the specimen. Museum researchers see the specimens as an object of scientific study, amateur collectors view them as a hobby or (in some cases) a source of revenue. Patrons who visit the museum are connected to the museum staff who put together the exhibit through their viewing of the specimens, which can be motivated by a number of factors including curiosity or a desire to learn something new.

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