Manfred Eigen, who has died aged 91, was a phenomenally versatile German chemist and physicist who founded two major scientific disciplines, first in chemical reaction kinetics and later in the development of a molecular approach to evolutionary biology.

He also co-founded two biotechnology companies – Evotec, now a €3.29 billion concern, and Direvo, which was acquired by Bayer Healthcare for $300 million in 2008.