Mullis practiced clandestine chemistry throughout his graduate studies, specializing in the synthesis of LSD; according to his friend Tom White, “I knew he was a good chemist because he’d been synthesizing hallucinogenic drugs at UC Berkeley.”[18] He detailed his experiences synthesizing and testing various psychedelic amphetamines and a difficult trip on DET in his autobiography.[50]: 167–170 In a Q&A interview published in the September 1994 issue of California Monthly, Mullis said, “Back in the 1960s and early 1970s I took plenty of LSD. A lot of people were doing that in Berkeley back then. And I found it to be a mind-opening experience. It was certainly much more important than any courses I ever took.”[55][verification needed] During a symposium held for centenarian Albert Hofmann, Hofmann said Mullis had told him that LSD had “helped him develop the polymerase chain reaction that helps amplify specific DNA sequences”.[56]
Allow me to light my pipe. I’ll sit in my chair by the fire as some kind soul tells me the story…
Mullis practiced clandestine chemistry throughout his graduate studies, specializing in the synthesis of LSD; according to his friend Tom White, “I knew he was a good chemist because he’d been synthesizing hallucinogenic drugs at UC Berkeley.”[18] He detailed his experiences synthesizing and testing various psychedelic amphetamines and a difficult trip on DET in his autobiography.[50]: 167–170 In a Q&A interview published in the September 1994 issue of California Monthly, Mullis said, “Back in the 1960s and early 1970s I took plenty of LSD. A lot of people were doing that in Berkeley back then. And I found it to be a mind-opening experience. It was certainly much more important than any courses I ever took.”[55][verification needed] During a symposium held for centenarian Albert Hofmann, Hofmann said Mullis had told him that LSD had “helped him develop the polymerase chain reaction that helps amplify specific DNA sequences”.[56]