"Fundamentally, we were trying to learn about these systems to prevent people from dying unnecessarily from heat," said Kevin Gurney, an atmospheric scientist.
The practice, in which users inject the blood of already intoxicated individuals, has fueled one of the fastest-growing H.I.V. epidemics in the Pacific and grown widespread in South Africa.
His work in the manipulation of cells laid the foundation for stem cell biology and regenerative medicine and led to the first cloned large mammal, a sheep named Dolly.