Jens C. Skou was one of three men who shared the 1997 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Skou received the award in recognition of discovering the first "molecular pump," Na⁺, K⁺ ATPase, an enzyme that promotes movement through the membrane surrounding a cell and maintains the balance of sodium ions (Na⁺) and potassium ions (K⁺) in a living cell.

Jens Christian Skou was born October 8, 1918, in Lemvig, Denmark, to Magnus Martinus Skou, a timber merchant, and Ane-Margrethe (Jensen Knak) Skou. He received his M.D. degree (cand.med.) from the University of Copenhagen in 1944. Ten years later, he received his Doctor of Medical Sciences degree (dr.med.) from Aarhus University. In 1948 he married Ellen-Margrethe (Nielsen); they have two children, Hanne and Karen.

After receiving his M.D., Skou went for clinical training at the Hospital at Hjørring and Orthopaedic Clinic at Aarhus, Denmark. He remained there until 1947, when...