DR. A. E. FREEMAN
HONORED BY AAAS

Dr. A. E. Freeman, known internationally for his research with dairy cattle, was recently elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was elected "...for excellence in research in quantitative genetics and immunogenetics in dairy cattle, excellence in investigations of mitochrondrial DNA and excellence in graduate teaching." Freeman said most of his work with dairy cattle involves finding improved methods of sire and cow evaluation. He and co-workers developed ways to determine which sire's daughters would be born with the least difficulty.

Dr. Freeman has also made advances in the understanding and function of mitochrondria of dairy cattle cells. According to Freeman the mitochondria of dairy cattle cells produce tremendous amounts of energy, and that is why it is important to study the mitochondria. Freeman said a cow that produces 19,000 pounds of milk per year could provide milk for a family that drinks three gallons of milk a week for 14 years 7 months.

Collaborating with Dr. Marcus E. Kerhli Jr. of the National Animal Disease Center and Al Kock (akuck@mail.wiscnet) of 21st Century Genetics, Freeman has also helped predict sires' immune profile. "Working with 60 sires, we are determining if we can predict the health of the sires' daughters in commercial herds using the immune profiles of their sires," Freeman said.

After receiving his Ph.D. from Cornell University, Freeman came to ISU in 1957. "I didn't think I was going to be here this long, but Iowa State has been a good place to work. I have had great opportunities here," he said.

Parts of this story were originally written by Tracy Deutmeyer and appeared in the November 5, 1996 edition of the Iowa State Daily.

answeb@iastate.edu