# Kary Mullis

_American biochemist (1944–2019)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/kary-mullis
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Kary Banks Mullis (December 28, 1944 – August 7, 2019) was an American biochemist. In recognition of his role in the invention of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, he shared the 1993 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Michael Smith and was awarded the Japan Prize in the same year. PCR became a central technique in biochemistry and molecular biology, described by The New York Times as "highly original and significant, virtually dividing biology into the two epochs of before PCR and after PCR."

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 28 December 1944 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157224#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Lenoir ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157224#P19))
- **Died:** 7 August 2019 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157224#P570))
- **Place of death:** Newport Beach ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157224#P20))
- **Citizenship:** United States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157224#P27))
- **Occupation:** biochemist; molecular biologist; chemist ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157224#P106))
- **Education:** University of California, Berkeley; Georgia Tech; Dreher High School ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157224#P69))
- **Official website:** karymullis.com ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157224#P856))
- **Awards:** Nobel Prize in Chemistry; Canada Gairdner International Award; National Inventors Hall of Fame; ASHG Lifetime Achievement Award; Robert Koch Prize; Japan Prize; honorary doctorate of the Masaryk University; John Scott Award; Karl Landsteiner Memorial Award ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157224#P166))

## About

Mullis downplayed humans' role in climate change, expressed doubt that HIV is the cause of AIDS, and professed a belief in astrology and the paranormal. He also practiced clandestine chemistry by producing LSD. Mullis's unscientific statements about topics outside his area of expertise have been named by Skeptical Inquirer as an instance of "Nobel disease".

## Questions

**When was Kary Mullis born?**  
Kary Mullis was born on 28 December 1944 in Lenoir.

**Where did Kary Mullis study?**  
Kary Mullis was educated at University of California, Berkeley, Georgia Tech, Dreher High School.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Kary Mullis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kary_Mullis) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q157224](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q157224) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Kary Mullis.jpg by Dona Mapston (CC BY-SA 3.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kary_Mullis.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Kary Mullis, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Kary Mullis.jpg — Dona Mapston, CC BY-SA 3.0.

## Cite this page

"Kary Mullis". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/kary-mullis. Retrieved 5 November 2026.