The legacy of Kary Mullis

Abstract: Many envy or ignore it; others, including myself, consider it ahead of its time. Molecular medicine is defined as something that comes before and after the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Today, there are undoubtedly various modifications or variants of PCR: nested PCR, multiplex PCR, and even a pre-reaction has been added, giving rise to RT-PCR. His legacy is indelible and lasting; it was not for nothing that he received the news of his Nobel Prize in 1993 while surfing in California. This admirable technique has been used in several attempts to scrutinize the genome of any pathogen, whether DNA or RNA. Without going any further, SARS-CoV-2 variants can be identified by applying this technique in conjunction with nucleotide sequencing. In the time we have left, and if another pathogen of human or veterinary interest were to emerge (as will happen), we already have a powerful technique to try to understand its genome, its possible variants, and be in a better position to confront it.