An increasing proportion of Agricultural Research funding is being directed to biotechnology and to cell and molecular biology. This shift in funding has two effects on animal production research. First it provides a certain amount of novel information and technology with which to improve current production systems. Second, it leaves less of the research budget for whole animal experiments. It behoves us therefore to keep abreast of the achievements and aspirations of the molecular and cellular biologists. The diverse interests and expertise of the BSAP membership in research, development, advisory work and teaching make the Society a unique forum for conducting the open and on-going debate that is needed to ensure that the results of modern biotechnology are examined critically and applied to the animal production industries in an efficient and acceptable manner.