William C. Boyd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William C. Boyd
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William C. Boyd and Lyle G. Boyd c. 1953
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| Born |
William Clouser Boyd
March 4, 1903 |
| Died | February 19, 1983 (aged 79) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Harvard University (1925) Boston University (Ph.D. 1930) |
| Known for | Blood type, Lectin |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Immunologist |
| Institutions | Boston University School of Medicine (1926-1968) |
William Clouser Boyd (March 4, 1903 – February 19, 1983) was an American immunochemist. In the 1930s, with his wife Lyle, he made a worldwide survey of the distribution of blood types.
Biography
Born in Dearborn, Missouri, Boyd was educated at Harvard and Boston University. His career led to appointment as Professor of Immunochemistry at Boston University.
Boyd's signal contribution was to discover that human blood groups are inherited and not influenced by environment. By genetic analysis of blood groups he hypothesized that human races are populations that differ by alleles. On that basis, he divided the world population into 13 geographically distinct races with different blood group gene profiles. In 1955, Boyd co-published the book Races and People with Isaac Asimov; they were both then professors at Boston University School of Medicine.
Later, Boyd coined the term 'lectin'. He also studied the blood groups of mummies.
Boyd also wrote and published several science fiction short stories in collaboration with Lyle G. Boyd under the name "Boyd Ellanbee" (obviously standing for "Boyd, L and B", for Lyle and Bill).
Boyd's papers were donated to the National Library of Medicine by Mrs. Cassandra Boyd in 1983.
