Kary Banks Mullis Biography

Kary Banks Mullis

Kary Banks Mullis was born on December 28, 1944 in Lenoir, North Carolina, United States. He grew up his parents, Cecil Banks Mullis and Bernice Alberta Barker, and live near a farm owned by her paternal grandfather. Mullis lives attached to a small village atmosphere filled with hard work. Chemical he achieved a bachelor's degree from Georgia Tech. While a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of receipt Carolina, Berkeley, in 1973, having successfully defended his thesis entitled "Schizokinen: Synthetic Structures and Work".


In 1979, Mullis joined the Cetus Corporation in Emeryville Carolina as a researcher after several times through an internship at the University of Kansas medical school. While working in this place that the idea of ​​building Mullis PCR. Interestingly, not a brilliant idea came when he was struggling in the laboratory, but it came at a time when he was in the car Honda Civicnya on the way from San Francisco to Mendocino approximately 1985. "Thought and the best ideas I came mostly when I'm driving," he said. Not in vain, thinking that's genius that later led Mullis became a Nobel laureate in chemistry in 1993.

Mullis discovery of the polymerase chain reaction really is one of the pillars of the revolution in molecular genetics. These techniques allow new approaches in the study and analysis of genes. PCR allows scientists to create a series of genetic material that is long enough for a study or research interests.

As already known, previously, the main problem in the molecular analysis of a gene is an object of study is quite difficult, considering the number of genes in a living body. Especially in mammals that have more than one hundred thousand genes. A variety of techniques in molecular genetics aimed to address this issue. The technique generally requires a relatively long time, including cloning and DNA sequence of a typical tracking-procedures that are very difficult and time consuming. PCR has allowed us to obtain a specific DNA sequence without cloning.

Mullis method is simple, but very effective. This PCR technique exploiting the nature of DNA replication. The first step, heating the sample Mullis DNA double fiber at temperatures near the boiling point for
get two DNA strands of a single fiber. Then he added two short sequence of DNA that is bound to end their respective complementary strands. It marks the place of the desired nucleotide sequence Mullis.

Then, he adds free nucleotides and the polymerase enzyme (a protein that can speed up a chemical reaction), and then joined the target nucleotide. In short, the PCR technique allows the polymerase-DNA work can be directed to the synthesis of a specific DNA region. Furthermore Mullis can easily make copies of the desired DNA sequence by performing the process repeatedly. This process allows Mullis to make millions of DNA copies in just a few hours.

Before you get a gift Nobel, Mullis also received numerous awards, including the Thomas A. Edison Award (1993), the California Scientist of the Year Award (1992), the National Biotechnology Award (1991), the Gairdner Award, Toronto, Canada (1991), the R & D Scientist of the Year (1991), the William Allan Memorial Award of the American Society of Human Genetics (1990), and the Preis Biochemische Analytik of the German Society of Clinical Chemistry and Boehringer Mannheim (1990).

In 1986, scientists also have a hobby of surfing is a director of molecular biology in Xytronyx Inc., A manufacturer of plastic in San Diego, California. And since 1988 he worked as a freelance consultant for several companies, as well as lecturer of biotechnology and the development of science in various universities around the world. Mullis had compiled a book titled Dancing Naked in the Mind Field, published in 1998.

In the book, Mullis writes with a style full of humor, but serious, about various things. Starting from the scientific method to parapsychology, from poisonous spiders to HIV / AIDS, from global warming to astrology, from the OJ case Simpson to how to restore the flame bulbs in mind

Mullis is currently actively involved in research on the relationship between the virus HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). Mullis was diligently reading any book, even though their fields are not included. He thought he was diligently reading can talk to anyone about anything. For him to be one of the nobel prize recipient has the responsibility and work very hard so homes can still exist and respect of others. Now, Mullis lived with his wife, Nancy Cosgrove Mullis, Newport Beach and the Anderson Valley, California, USA.