Kary B. Mullis - Scientists, Life Achievements and Childhood
Kary B. Mullis's Personal Details
Kary B
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | December 28, 1944 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Scientists, Biochemists |
| Spouses | Nancy Cosgrove Mullis |
| Known as | Kary Banks Mullis |
| Birth Place | Lenoir, North Carolina, United States |
| Gender | Male |
| Sun Sign | Capricorn |
| Born in | Lenoir, North Carolina, United States |
| Famous as | Biochemist |
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Kary B. Mullis's photo
Who is Kary B. Mullis?
Kary B. Mullis is an American biochemist, author, and lecturer who won a share of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993 for his role in the improvement of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. He was also awarded the Japan Prize the same year. His contribution to the PCR technique helped to make the technique a central one in biochemistry and molecular biology. An outspoken individual, he has invited much criticism for his defense of AIDS denialism and climate change denial, and his unorthodox views on social sciences. Born into a family with a farming background, he was raised in a rural area and grew up observing the farm animals and other organisms. He became interested in chemistry as a young boy and proceeded to earn a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. After getting his PhD degree in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, he became a postdoctoral fellow in pediatric cardiology at the University of Kansas Medical School and then completed two years of postdoctoral work in pharmaceutical chemistry at the University of California, San Francisco. He tried his hands at different occupations before joining Cetus Corporation in California as a DNA chemist. It was here that he performed his breakthrough work that led to his improvement of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique.
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Childhood & Early Life
Kary Banks Mullis was born on December 28, 1944, in Lenoir, North Carolina, to Cecil Banks Mullis and Bernice Alberta Barker. Theirs was a loving family and he grew up to be very close to his grandparents. His family had a farming background and he liked to observe the farm animals and other living organisms.
He attended Dreher High School where he developed an interest in chemistry. Later on he went to the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta from where he earned a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in chemistry in 1966. Married for the first time by now, he also started a business.
He then proceeded to the University of California, Berkeley, for his graduate work and performed research work in J. B. Neilands' laboratory where he focused on synthesis and structure of bacterial iron transporter molecules. He completed his PhD in 1972 and lectured in biochemistry there until 1973.
Career
Kary B. Mullis then became a postdoctoral fellow in pediatric cardiology at the University of Kansas Medical School where he focused on the areas of angiotensin and pulmonary vascular physiology. In 1977, he began two years of postdoctoral work in pharmaceutical chemistry at the University of California, San Francisco.
In between, he gave a thought to abandoning his career in science and managed a bakery for two years. His friend Thomas White, however, encouraged him to return to science.
In 1979 he joined the biotechnology company Cetus Corporation of Emeryville, California, as a DNA chemist. It was there that he began his seminal work on oligonucleotide synthesis that led to his improvements to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
During that time, the available methods for obtaining a specific sequence of DNA in quantities sufficient for study were not only very difficult, but also time-consuming and expensive. In 1983, Mullis developed his method of PCR by making improvements to the previously known methods.
His technique which multiplies a single, microscopic strand of the genetic material billions of times within hours is of high significance to the scientific fraternity and is considered one of the biggest scientific techniques of the 20th century. The PCR process has multiple applications in medicine, genetics, biotechnology, and forensics.
From 1986 to 1988 he was director of molecular biology for Xytronyx Inc. in San Diego where his work was concentrated in DNA technology and photochemistry. Around this time he also began consulting on nucleic acid chemistry for more than a dozen corporations, including Angenics, Cytometrics, Eastman Kodak, Abbott Labs, Milligen/Biosearch, and Specialty Laboratories.
In 1992, he founded a business with the intent of selling pieces of jewelry containing the amplified DNA of deceased celebrities like Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe.
Mullis serves on the board of scientific advisors of several companies, provides expert advice in legal matters involving DNA, and is also a member of the USA Science and Engineering Festival's Advisory Board. He also lectures frequently at college campuses and academic meetings around the world.
Major Works
Kary B. Mullis is known for the development of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a technique used in molecular biology to amplify a single copy or a few copies of a piece of DNA across several orders of magnitude. This is a very important technique used in medical and biological research labs for a variety of applications.
Awards & Achievements
Prior to winning the Nobel Prize, he had been honored with William Allan Memorial Award of the American Society of Human Genetics (1990), the Preis Biochemische Analytik of the German Society of Clinical Chemistry and Boehringer Mannheim (1990) and California Scientist of the Year Award (1992).
Kary B. Mullis was awarded one-half of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1993 "for his invention of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method" and the other half went to Michael Smith "for his fundamental contributions to the establishment of oligonucleotide-based, site-directed mutagenesis and its development for protein studies."
In 1993 he was also presented with the Japan Prize for the development of the polymerase chain reaction.
Personal Life & Legacy
Kary B. Mullis has been married four times and has three children. He is currently married to Nancy Cosgrove.
He enjoys writing and surfing.
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Kary B. Mullis's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 1991 | John Scott Legacy Medal and Premium | |
| 1992 | Robert Koch Prize | |
| 1990 | William Allan Award | |
| 0 | 1993 - Nobel Prize in Chemistry | |
| 0 | Japan Prize | |
| 0 | 1991 - Gairdner Foundation International Award | |
Kary B. Mullis biography timelines
- // 28th Dec 1944Kary Banks Mullis was born on December 28, 1944, in Lenoir, North Carolina, to Cecil Banks Mullis and Bernice Alberta Barker. Theirs was a loving family and he grew up to be very close to his grandparents. His family had a farming background and he liked to observe the farm animals and other living organisms.
- // 1966He attended Dreher High School where he developed an interest in chemistry. Later on he went to the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta from where he earned a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in chemistry in 1966. Married for the first time by now, he also started a business.
- // 1972 To 1973He then proceeded to the University of California, Berkeley, for his graduate work and performed research work in J. B. Neilands' laboratory where he focused on synthesis and structure of bacterial iron transporter molecules. He completed his PhD in 1972 and lectured in biochemistry there until 1973.
- // 1977Kary B. Mullis then became a postdoctoral fellow in pediatric cardiology at the University of Kansas Medical School where he focused on the areas of angiotensin and pulmonary vascular physiology. In 1977, he began two years of postdoctoral work in pharmaceutical chemistry at the University of California, San Francisco.
- // 1979In 1979 he joined the biotechnology company Cetus Corporation of Emeryville, California, as a DNA chemist. It was there that he began his seminal work on oligonucleotide synthesis that led to his improvements to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
- // 1983During that time, the available methods for obtaining a specific sequence of DNA in quantities sufficient for study were not only very difficult, but also time-consuming and expensive. In 1983, Mullis developed his method of PCR by making improvements to the previously known methods.
- // 1986 To 1988From 1986 to 1988 he was director of molecular biology for Xytronyx Inc. in San Diego where his work was concentrated in DNA technology and photochemistry. Around this time he also began consulting on nucleic acid chemistry for more than a dozen corporations, including Angenics, Cytometrics, Eastman Kodak, Abbott Labs, Milligen/Biosearch, and Specialty Laboratories.
- // 1992In 1992, he founded a business with the intent of selling pieces of jewelry containing the amplified DNA of deceased celebrities like Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe.
- // 1993Kary B. Mullis was awarded one-half of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1993 "for his invention of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method" and the other half went to Michael Smith "for his fundamental contributions to the establishment of oligonucleotide-based, site-directed mutagenesis and its development for protein studies."
- // 1993In 1993 he was also presented with the Japan Prize for the development of the polymerase chain reaction.
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Kary B. Mullis's FAQ
What is Kary B. Mullis birthday?
Kary B. Mullis was born at 1944-12-28
Where is Kary B. Mullis's birth place?
Kary B. Mullis was born in Lenoir, North Carolina, United States
What is Kary B. Mullis nationalities?
Kary B. Mullis's nationalities is American
Who is Kary B. Mullis spouses?
Kary B. Mullis's spouses is Nancy Cosgrove Mullis
What is Kary B. Mullis's sun sign?
Kary B. Mullis is Capricorn
How famous is Kary B. Mullis?
Kary B. Mullis is famouse as Biochemist