NEWS RELEASE - 6 April 2004
Prof John Woolliams is this year's winner of the prestigious British Society of Animal Science (BSAS), Sir John Hammond Memorial Award for outstanding contribution to animal science.
The citation for the award recognised the contribution that John has made to research in Animal Science, particularly the development of both theoretical and practical applications in the fields of animal breeding and the conservation of genetic resources.
From his research in livestock genetics, novel and practical breeding systems have been developed which allow selection to be maximised while at the same time managing genetic variation.
The insights gained through this work have relevance to both the scientific community and practical application for the livestock industries, in the way that they describe the relationship between genetic gain and loss of genetic variation through inbreeding.
In accepting the award, Prof Woolliams stressed that while genetic improvement was an established and effective approach to solving problems; its capability is now greatly empowered by being able to identify, read and understand DNA. As a result our ability to tackle health and welfare problems in livestock populations, as and when they arise, will be much more dependent on our information infrastructure, in effect, the quality of our databases and our ability to handle huge datasets.
Dr Woolliams, is a graduate of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he also undertook his postgraduate studies. He is currently at the Roslin Institute, Edinburgh where he leads research in quantitative genetics and is a special professor at the University of Nottingham.
Dr Woolliam's current research interests are in the area of linkage disequilibrium mapping, which aims to identify more efficiently the key genes that have large effects on continuously varying traits.
Dr Woolliams paid tribute to Gerald Wiener and Roger Land - pioneers in physiological genetics - the forerunner of functional genomics today.
ENDS
For further Information please contact:
Dr Janice Harland, BSAS Press Officer (Tel: 01285 810250)
Mike Steele, BSAS Office (Tel: 0131 445 4508)
Picture available from BSAS office:
CAPTION: Prof Woolliams receiving Sir John Hammond Memorial Award from BSAS President Dr John Newbold.