Alton L. Blakeslee, chief science writer for The Associated Press and one of the nation's most honored and widely read science and medical reporters, died Sunday after a yearlong battle with cancer. He was 83.

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From microbiology to moon landings and acupuncture to astrophysics, Blakeslee covered major science events for three decades, starting out when the science beat was a bit more adventurous.His first major assignment was as AP's correspondent for the 4 1/2-month Antarctic expedition of Adm. Richard E. Byrd in 1946.

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