Birth and education

Neal L. First was born in 1930 in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. He completed his M.S. and Ph.D. from Michigan State University

Michigan State University

Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...

.

Research

Neal L. First is known for his contributions to animal genetics by the development of systems of bovine embryo cloning, gene transfer, and in-vitro production of livestock embryos. Because of his research, there has been a major advances in the application of biotechnology to reproduction in farm animals, eliminating the need for brood cows in beef cattle breeding.
His research has focused on sperm and oocyte maturation, in vitro production of embryos, cloning of cattle, and methods for producing transgenic embryos.

Awards and honours

Neal L. First has received several awards in his life. He has received the Animal Science Morrison Award, the Upjohn Research Award, the Society for the Study of Reproduction Research Award, the National Association of Animal Breeders Research Award and the Von Humboldt Award. In 1996/7, he received the Wolf Prize in Agriculture "for his pioneering research in the reproductive biology of livestock".He was at the faculty of the University of Wisconsin–Madison

University of Wisconsin–Madison

The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...

when he received the prize.

He is also a member of the National Academy of Science.