The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) emerged from a 1983 breakthrough at Cetus Corporation, where Kary Mullis devised a method to amplify small DNA segments. This technique became a foundational pillar in molecular biology, shifting the discipline into two distinct eras. His scientific output led to significant recognition, including the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993, while his professional life involved various industry roles.
Early Education and Academic Training
Born in Lenoir, North Carolina, in 1944, Mullis attended Dreher High School in Columbia, South Carolina. He pursued undergraduate studies at the Georgia Institute of Technology, earning a Bachelor of Science in chemistry in 1966. His graduate work led to a PhD in biochemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1973. His dissertation focused on the structure of the bacterial siderophore schizokinen. Following his doctorate, he completed fellowships in pediatric cardiology at the University of Kansas Medical Center and pharmaceutical chemistry at the University of California, San Francisco.
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Take the IQ test →The Development of PCR at Cetus
In 1983, while employed as a DNA chemist at Cetus Corporation in Emeryville, California, Mullis conceived the PCR procedure. The method utilized primers to bracket a desired DNA sequence, which was then copied via DNA polymerase. Although initial reception among colleagues was skeptical, he demonstrated the technique on December 16, 1983. Under the supervision of Thomas White, subsequent collaborative efforts by other scientists at Cetus, including Randall Saiki and Henry Erlich, verified the method's ability to amplify specific genomic DNA, such as the betaglobin gene.
Professional Ventures and Consultancies
Mullis left Cetus in 1986 to serve as director of molecular biology for Xytronyx, Inc. in San Diego. During his tenure there, he worked on UV-sensitive ink technology. Later, he functioned as a consultant for various organizations, specializing in nucleic acid chemistry and DNA profiling as an expert witness. In 1992, he founded a business to sell jewelry containing amplified DNA from historical figures and established Atomic Tags in La Jolla, which explored bar-coded antibodies and atomic-force microscopy. He also served as a distinguished researcher at the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute starting in 2014.
Recognition and Public Statements
Throughout his career, Mullis received numerous accolades, including the ASHG Lifetime Achievement Award in 1990, the Canada Gairdner International Award in 1991, the Japan Prize in 1993, and the Robert Koch Prize in 1992. Despite his professional achievements, he drew attention for expressing skepticism regarding the causes of AIDS and the human impact on climate change, as well as holding beliefs in astrology. These views were frequently categorized by the Skeptical Inquirer as instances of Nobel disease. Mullis died in Newport Beach in 2019.
Fast facts
- Born: 1944, Lenoir
- Died: 2019, Newport Beach
- Education: Georgia Tech, UC Berkeley
- Nobel Prize in Chemistry: 1993
- Japan Prize recipient: 1993
- Key invention: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
- Professional affiliation: Cetus Corporation
- Citizenship: United States
Questions readers ask
What was the primary scientific contribution of Kary Mullis?
He invented the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a technique for the rapid amplification of DNA that is now standard in molecular biology.
Where did Kary Mullis complete his doctoral studies?
He earned his PhD in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1973.
Achievements
- Nobel Prize in Chemistry — 1993
- Educated at Dreher High School, Georgia Tech and University of California, Berkeley
- Fields of research: biochemistry, chemistry and molecular biology
