From the time of initial domestication of wild birds, poultry have served humans as a source of food and a subject of cultural use, similar to other livestock species. The role of poultry production in global food provision has been steadily growing since the nine- teenth century. Different needs of humans have led to a rise in poultry breeding and use of pure (fancy) breeds, indigenous populations, laboratory lines, and commercial poultry. Being notable for high efficiency and rapid development dynamic, the poultry indus- try now exceeds other livestock sectors in production growth rate and efficacy. Intensification of commercial poultry production has placed emphasis on selection and improvement of breeds and strains and on the development of novel lines and crosses. This, in turn, has required new genetic and selection approaches and technologies, and utilization of genetic resources adapted to variable and diverse specific environments. The importance of a deeper knowledge of avian biol- ogy including heredity, variation, and genomics is paramount. Substantial progress in poultry produc- tion can be achieved through advances in several areas, including selection, veterinary, nutrition, avian genetics, and genomics.