Paul D. Boyer was born July 31, 1918, in Provo, Utah. He graduated from Provo High School's college preparatory course in 1935, and went on to study chemistry at Brigham Young University (BYU). While a student at BYU, he met Lyda Whicker; they were married in 1939, the same year Paul earned his bachelor of science degree. They have three children.

While at BYU, Boyer won a scholarship to the University of Wisconsin. The atmosphere at Wisconsin was "superb," stimulating Boyer's interest in enzymes. After college graduation, Boyer decided to study biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He received his master's in 1941, and his Ph.D. in 1943.

He then became a research associate at Stanford University, working there from 1943 to 1945. From there, he went to the University of Minnesota. He remained with Minnesota until 1963 when he accepted a position at the University of California at Los Angeles.

Until 1990, he was...