The Poultry Podcast Show - #46 - Poultry Genetics: From Genes to Environmental Adaptations

Poultry genetics is a fascinating field that has significantly contributed to agriculture and shown a lot of potential. Every year, breakthroughs in poultry genetics technologies emerge – one such major development has been our ability to investigate the genetics of birds on a larger scale, simultaneously analyzing multiple genes, their structural differences, their variable expressions across tissues, and how these might change due to exposure to bacteria. In this episode, Dr. Susan J. Lamont shares her expertise in integrating molecular genetics and immunology as well as discusses how natural genetic variation in poultry populations influences their ability to respond well to environmental stressors.

What you’ll learn:

1. Current research on and the use of modern genetic technologies

2. Poultry genetic lines history and the development of new ones

3. Maintaining genetic lines over time

4. Changes in housing and management settings 

5. Balancing improvements to the immune system and production traits

6. Keeping certain traits or lines going

7. Changing several variables at once from a genetic standpoint

8. Genetic preservation

Meet the guest

Dr. Susan J. Lamont

Experience

      ○ Current: Distinguished Professor in the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University 

Background

      ○ Ph.D., Anatomy/Physiology (University of Illinois)

Hobbies: reading, walking in nature, making floral designs

Favorite book, movie or TV series: I enjoy detective and spy novels and TV series, because I like to see if I can figure out "who's done it" before the characters do.  Also, I like to catch errors in how different assays are portrayed.

Favorite quote: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”   – Martin Luther King Jr.

A tip for success: Identify your passions and decide how you can make them a part of your daily activities – both at work and outside it.

  Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn