Mary-Dell Chilton

Mary-Dell Chilton, a revered North Carolinian and groundbreaking biochemist, passed away at 87 in her home in Carrboro, as announced by her son. Her pioneering work significantly shaped the field of plant biotechnology by uncovering fundamental insights into the interactions between bacteria and plants. In the 1970s, Dr. Chilton's research revealed that a soil bacterium can transfer DNA into plants, challenging longstanding beliefs about plant genetics.