New research investment - US - Cobb has expanded its research team with the appointment of two senior molecular biologists Dr Albert Paszek and Dr Ron Okimoto.

The appointments come as progress, particularly in identifying gene markers, is bringing ever greater precision to the broiler breeder selection techniques.

"We are already using biotechnology to accelerate genetic progress in health, food safety and animal welfare," says John Hardiman, vice president for research and development, Cobb-Vantress, Inc. "Some of the earliest benefits will be seen in enhanced disease resistance.

"Increasing knowledge about the chicken genome is improving our understanding of the polygenic nature of many of the key broiler and breeder traits, enabling advances to be made through selecting specifically for genotype rather than phenotype."

Dr Paszek, who is now director of biotechnology with Cobb, began his career in Poland where he studied animal science and production at the Agricultural University of Warsaw. In 1986 he moved to the University of Minnesota in the USA where he undertook graduate and post-doctorate work on swine genome mapping. Dr Paszek was a research manager for the Dekalb Swine Breeders, Inc. and later assistant professor in the department of veterinary pathobiology at the University of Minnesota in 1998. For the past five years he has managed a research program in animal productivity and genomics with the Cargill corporation.

Dr Okimoto, now molecular geneticist with Cobb, studied genetics at the University of California, Berkeley. He began studying genetic markers initially in cattle and then in poultry in his post doctorate work at the University of Salt Lake City, continued his work at Michigan State University and then became involved in use of molecular tests for selection - research funded by Cobb - at the University of Arkansas where he was assistant professor in the poultry science department.

Dr Ron Okimoto

Dr Albert Paszek

Source: Cobb - 17th January 2006