David Riley

David Riley, Ph.D., is a professor of animal breeding and genetics in the Department of Animal Science. He received a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics, a master’s degree in animal breeding and a doctorate in genetics, all from Texas A&M University.

Dr. Riley teaches these 3 graduate courses:  Quantitative Genetics, Genetic Prediction, and Advanced Quantitative Genetics. Research efforts include the association of genes, gene combinations, and other molecular variants with beef cattle production traits, especially those traits related to reproduction and efficiency. Research interests include the incorporation of genomic information in traditional animal breeding strategies and prediction of breeding values using such information.  Other research efforts include the assessment and quantification of the epigenetic variation in livestock traits, and the expression of heterosis by crossbred animals for important traits.

Before joining Texas A&M University in 2009, he worked as Research Geneticist at the USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Subtropical Agricultural Research Station in Brooksville, FL, and earlier worked in swine breeding stock production, selection, and service.