Mary-Claire King (born 1946) is an American geneticist. She earned her doctorate in genetics from the University of California, Berkeley, in the early 1970s, where her research demonstrated that humans and chimpanzees are 99% genetically identical, supporting the theory of their divergence five million years ago. While still at Berkeley, she linked inherited mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes to increased risks of breast and ovarian cancers, revolutionizing cancer research and advancing genetic screening and early detection. Since 1990, King's research has expanded to include the genetic causes of hearing loss and schizophrenia. She has also applied her expertise to human rights, identifying missing persons from Argentina's "Dirty War" and reuniting stolen children with their families. King has received numerous honors, including the Lasker Award, the Shaw Prize, the National Medal of Science, and honorary doctorates from Harvard and the University of Barcelona.
#19 from my Women in STEM series: Mary-Claire King
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