Nobel Prize-winning chemist who grew up in SC capital dies at 74

Post and Courierr ^ | 8/8/19 | Debbie Clark

[Jolla]

Kary Banks Mullis, who won the 1993 Nobel Prize for chemistry, died Wednesday in Newport Beach, Calif. He was 74.

Born Dec. 28, 1944, in Hickory, N.C., Mullis was the son of Cecil B. Mullis and Bernice Alberta Barker Mullis. The family moved to Columbia when he was 5 years old. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, and received his doctorate in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1972.

Mullis began working as a DNA chemist for Cetus Corp. in Emeryville, Calif., in 1979. He invented the Polymerase Chain Reaction in 1983, which won him the Nobel Prize for chemistry 10 years later. This method made it possible to replicate tiny amounts of DNA, revolutionizing biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, forensics and medicine.

[Jolla]

A great friend of mine, he was involved with the OJ Simpson Trial also but his fame was inventing PCR which revolutionized DNA replication (Jurassic Park) An amazing mind.

[AndyJackson]

PCR was one of the great discoveries of history, as important as fissioning the atom.

[tired&retired]

I would love to borrow his mind now that he is no longer tied to a physical body.

While I did not know him, I knew of him and we had mutual friends.

Blessings to him and his family.

[ifinnegan]

The importance of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) cannot be overstated.

[BlueStateRightist]

Taq polymerase. Thermostable. Great use of a natural enzyme to do amazing things.

[sparklite2]

I think you’re right.

[ifinnegan]

“Taq polymerase. Thermostable. Great use of a natural enzyme to do amazing things.”

Weren’t no Taq polymerase available when it was invented.

Had to add fresh enzyme every round.

[Track9]

Loved his book, ‘Dancing through the mind field naked’.
RIP Doc.

[upchuck]

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[Jolla]

“The importance of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) cannot be overstated”

He said one of the benefits he was happiest with - PCR was proving innocence with the DNA testing of blood samples from rape and murder scenes, innocent men were freed from prison and criminals are being found due to the process.

[grey_whiskers]

What the hell did HE know about Hillary? /hey, this *is* FR>

[neverevergiveup]

Sorry about the loss of your friend. From he looks of your screen name I would guess you met him in La Jolla. I was living there when he won the prize. It was well-deserved, and you're absolutely right that PCR revolutionized so many aspects of science.

I knew he loved surfing, and it sounded like he cared about living life more than any fame. I hope he had lots of days of happiness, and that he is in a place at which there are always perfect waves, and there is a glass-off every sunset.

[exDemMom]

Oh, my. I have always been amazed by the story of how he invented PCR. We have automated cyclers that change the temperatures so that the appropriate reactions can take place, but he was moving tubes manually between water baths of different temperatures. Plus, since he was using an E. Coli enzyme that is heat sensitive, he had to add fresh enzyme after each round.

I’ve done thousands of PCR experiments for many different purposes. I am in awe of his ingenuity.

RIP, Dr. Mullis.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[sima_yi]

I remember seeing the banner on the cover of one of the surfing magazines when he won the Nobel; “Surfer Wins Nobel Prize!”