Polymerase Chain Reaction

 
The other day I was talking with several colleagues about PCR, or the polymerase chain reaction. We first started to hear about it in the mid-1980's and I was not very impressed. It was a cool reaction but what the heck was it good for? I didn't think I would ever have a need to learn about PCR.

Today's citation classic on The Evilutionary Biologist proves just how wrong I was about PCR [This Week's Citation Classic]. John Dennehy talks about it's inventor Kary Mullis, an "interesting guy" (one of the understatements of the year). Mullis is by far the most embarrassing Noble Laureate.

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