Vincent Du Vigneaud was a pioneer in studying the role of sulfur in biological compounds. He was the first to synthesize oxytocin, a polypeptide hormone, opening the door to synthesis of many larger, more complex hormones for medical use. He also identified the vitamin biotin. In 1955 he received the Nobel prize in chemistry for his work with sulfur and oxytocin.

Du Vigneaud was born in Chicago, where his father was an inventor and machinery designer. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1923. A Biochemistry major at the University of Rochester, Du Vigneaud was especially interested in studying insulin. He received his Ph.D. in biochemistry in 1927, studied at Johns Hopkins University, and worked with amino acids and peptides at the Max Planck Institute in Germany. After returning to the United States, Du Vigneaud served on the faculties at the University of Illinois, the George Washington University School...