Kary Mullis

Kary Banks Mullis ( born December 28, 1944 in Lenoir, North Carolina) is an American biochemist. He received the 1993 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Michael Smith for the development of the polymerase chain reaction ( PCR) in 1983. He is also known for his membership in the Group for the Scientific Reappraisal of the HIV - AIDS Hypothesis known, a group of scientists that denies the scientifically proven link between HIV and AIDS (AIDS deniers ). In addition, Mullis has also attracted the scientific theories about the ozone hole and climate change in doubt and expresses sympathy for astrology.

Mullis, who in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, received his doctorate in 1973, was married four times and has two sons and a daughter.

PCR

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on the cyclically repeated duplication of DNA using a thermostable DNA polymerase and nucleotides. Today, the PCR is essential, inter alia, for the detection of viral infections, genetic diseases, creating genetic fingerprints and cloning of genes. According to an anecdote told by himself Mullis had the inspiration for the method during a nighttime ride to his vacation home. As is clear from his autobiography, he was an avid surfer. He experimented with LSD in the 60s and doubts that he would PCR without psychedelic drugs can discover.

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• Price Biochemical analysis of the German Society for Clinical Chemistry and Boehringer Mannheim, Germany (1990 )
• The William Allan Memorial Award of the American Society of Human Genetics, USA (1990)
• The R & D Scientist of the Year, United States ( 1991)
• The Gairdner Foundation International Award, Toronto, Canada (1991 )
• The National Biotechnology Award, USA (1991 )
• Robert Koch Prize, Germany (1992 )
• California Scientist of the Year Award, USA (1992 )
• Japan Prize (1993 )
• Thomas A. Edison Award, USA (1993 )
• Honorary doctorate from the University of South Carolina, USA ( 1994)