prof.dr. RPMA (Richard) Crooijmans

The Animal Breeding and Genomics (ABG) group focuses on unraveling the genetic and genomic characteristics of animal populations. Richard Crooijmans’ molecular research specifically addresses adaptive plasticity and the conservation of genetic diversity in traditional livestock, with an emphasis on ruminants (cattle, sheep, and goats). Central to this work is understanding how these animals survive and perform across diverse ecosystems, and identifying their limits within the rapidly changing environments caused by global climate change. Increased attention is needed for research into the conservation and adaptation of these traditional breeds. The objective is not only to make these breeds more resilient but also to enhance them through selection for specific traits, such as beneficial milk components that support both their offspring and human consumption particularly for children in developing countries.

Richard Crooijmans (1964) grew up on a mixed farm with dairy cattle and pigs. After studying Biochemistry at the Higher Laboratory School, he spent four years at the radiotherapy department of the Radboud University Medical Centre in Nijmegen, researching the recovery mechanisms of tumour cells after irradiation. In 1990, he joined the Animal Breeding and Genomics group at Wageningen University.

Here, he initiated his molecular genetic research on chickens. He played a key role in sequencing the chicken reference genome by developing the first DNA markers (microsatellites) and creating the chicken BAC library (large chicken DNA fragments cloned in a bacterial system). This molecular DNA research culminated in his PhD in 2000.

Following his doctorate, he continued as a researcher within the same group, focusing on mapping various genomes (pig, turkey, great tit) and studying biodiversity in relation to evolution and domestication. By establishing worldwide DNA collections (biobanking), he enabled the accurate mapping of biodiversity across different species. For the past decade, his research has focused on global genomic variation and the unique adaptive traits of traditional livestock breeds—such as cattle, sheep, and goats—within their specific ecosystems.