Dr. Ames is Professor, and Chairman of the Department, of Biochemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. He is internationally.known for developing the "Ames test," a simple and inexpensive test system for the detection of mutagens and potential carcinogens. His work has helped to provide major support for the idea that DNA damage is an important aspect of carcinogenesis. He has published widely and has received numerous honors including election to membership in the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His many awards include the ACS Eli Lilly Award In 1964, the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Award for Research in Life Sciences in 1976, the Char1es S. Mott Prize of the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation in 1983 and the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement in 1985.