Kary

Kary is used as both a given name and a surname. Notable individuals with the name include Kary Mullis (1944–2019), an American biochemist and Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate who developed the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique.

In science, kary- or karyo- is a combining form from the Greek karyon meaning “nut” or “kernel,” but in biology it denotes the cell nucleus. It appears in terms such as karyotype, which describes the number and appearance of chromosomes in the nucleus; karyokinesis, the process of nuclear division during cell division; and karyoplasm, the substance within the nucleus. The prefix is widely used in cytology, genetics, and related fields to indicate connections to the nucleus.

Outside of scientific usage, Kary may occur as a personal name, surname, or in place or organizational names, though it is relatively uncommon. When encountered, its meaning depends on context and may refer to a person or a proper noun rather than a general concept.