mullis

Mullis is a surname. The most notable bearer is Kary Mullis (1944–2019), an American biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993 for inventing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a method for amplifying specific DNA sequences. PCR has become a fundamental tool in molecular biology, enabling rapid, scalable DNA amplification used in medical diagnostics, forensic science, and basic research.

PCR work was developed in the 1980s at Cetus Corporation, where Mullis helped pioneer the technique. The method relies on repeated heating and cooling cycles and the use of a heat-stable DNA polymerase, allowing small amounts of DNA to be copied into millions of copies. This breakthrough transformed genetics, medicine, and related fields by making DNA analysis faster and more accessible.

Early life and education: Mullis was born in Lenoir, North Carolina. He earned a B.S. in chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1966 and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1973. He pursued research and worked in industry, contributing to the broader development and dissemination of PCR technology.

In later years, Mullis was known for his outspoken and sometimes controversial views on topics such as the HIV/AIDS hypothesis and vaccine safety, which attracted criticism from portions of the scientific community. He remained a prominent public figure in discussions about scientific method and the impact of molecular biology.

The surname Mullis may refer to other individuals and families, but Kary Mullis remains the best-known figure associated with the name due to his pivotal role in modern genetics and biotechnology.