Kary Mullis
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Nobel Prize and Recognition
Kary Mullis received numerous accolades for his groundbreaking work, most notably the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993, which he shared with Michael Smith. He was also awarded the Japan Prize and substantial monetary rewards for his contributions to science. PCR became a critical tool for DNA analysis, profoundly impacting diagnostics, evolutionary biology, and criminal forensics.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 28 Dec, 1944
- Age
- 75 yrs
- Occupations
- Biochemist
Molecular biologist
Chemist
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- Citizenship
- United States of America
- Birth Place
- Lenoir
- Education
- University of California, Berkeley
Georgia Institute of Technology - Gender
- Male
- Description
- American biochemist
- Net Worth 2021
- 10 million
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Personal Life
Mullis was married four times and had three children. His last wife, Nancy Cosgrove Mullis, was known to be the love of his life. Despite his contributions to science, Mullis was also known for his unconventional beliefs. He publicly expressed skepticism about widely accepted scientific conclusions, including climate change, the role of HIV in AIDS, and ozone layer depletion, considering them government-led conspiracies. These views drew controversy, particularly coming from a Nobel laureate.
Mullis admitted to using LSD earlier in his life and claimed it influenced his scientific thinking, particularly during his work on PCR. In a 1985 account, he reported seeing a glowing raccoon in the forest, which he believed could have been an alien encounter. Most observers dismissed this report, attributing it to hallucinations from his past drug use.
Publications and Legacy
He authored an autobiography titled Dancing Naked in the Mind Field, in which he detailed his scientific journey and nonconformist worldview. While his personal views sparked debate, Mullis’s legacy remains centered around his invention of PCR, a technique that continues to shape modern biology and medicine.
