Kary Mullis
1944–2019 · USA · Inventor of PCR.
Contribution
In 1983, invented the polymerase chain reaction — enzymatic amplification of specific DNA segments — a bedrock of modern molecular diagnostics and research.
Why It Still Matters
Clinical virology/bacteriology panels, genotyping, and much of AMR gene detection depend on PCR logic. Extensions include Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).
Key Links
- Hub: Medical Microbiology History
- Methods: PCR · Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
- Domains: MOC - Diagnostic & Lab Methods
- MOC: MOC - Fundamentals of Microbiology
Active Recall
- What problem does PCR solve in one sentence?
- Why does PCR positivity still need clinical interpretation?