Animal Genetics and Improvement

Code:

MV214

Acronym:

GMA

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Animal Production

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S (of 16-09-2024 to 10-01-2025)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Population Studies
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Masters Degree in Veterinary Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIMV	77	Official Study Plan	2	-	5	56	135

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

It is intended that students develop and deepen knowledge of the applications of population, quantitative and molecular genetics in the improvement and conservation of animal species; Assessment of the impact of different mating systems (inbreeding and crossing) on ​​animal production; Development of genetic evaluation methods and prediction of the expected response to selection; Planning of organized improvement schemes for different livestock and fish species.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of this discipline, students should have acquired the basic concepts of animal genetics, being able to apply quantitative genetics for animal conservation and improvement. Students should be able to define objectives and methodologies in developing selection programs. They must be able to apply biotechnology tools to identify and manipulate genes of interest and analyze genetic and phenotypic data to make informed decisions about animal breeding. They must also be able to establish improvement and conservation programs for various livestock and fish species.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Basic concepts of  Mendelian genetics: alelle, genotype, dominance, recessive, modes of inheritance.

Other models of genotype-phenotype correlations: Codominance, lethal genotypes, multiple alleles, epistasis.

Genetic linkage analysis and mendelian deviations (sex-linked and polygenic traits)

Population Genetics and Animal Breeding: Allelic and genotypic frequencies. Hardy-Weinberg Law. Genetic drift, mutation, migration, selection, types of crossing. Hetersosis. Inbreeding.

Selection: Response to selection, differential selection differential, heritability.

Principles of Animal Breeding.

Aplication of biotechonology techniques in Animal Breeding (livestock and fish species): reproductive technologies.

Genetic markes; cloning; transgenesis.

Gene Editing in Animal Breeding

The role of Genomics in maintenance of animal biodiversity

Mandatory literature

Vleck L. Dale Van; Genetics for the animal sciences (fot.). ISBN: 0-7167-1800-6

Complementary Bibliography

Mrode R. A.; Linear models for the prediction of animal breeding values. ISBN: 0-85198-996-9
Vleck L. Dale van; Selection index and introduction to mixed model methods. ISBN: 0-8493-8762-0
Chapman A. B. ed.; General and quantitative genetics. ISBN: 0-444-41836-9
Pirchner, F; Population Genetics and Animal Breeding
Falconer D. S.; Introduction to quantitative genetics. ISBN: 0-582-24302-5
Grosu, H., L. Schaeffer, P. A. Oltenacu, D. Norman, R. Powell, V. Kremer, G. Banos, R. Mrode, J. Carvalheira, J. Jamrozik, C. Drăgănescu and S. Lungu; HISTORY OF GENETIC EVALUATION METHODS IN DAIRY CATTLE, The Publishing House of the Romanian Academy, 2013. ISBN: 978-973-27-2347-0

Comments from the literature

During classes, review papers will be given.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical and Pratical classes.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	90,00
Participação presencial	0,00
Trabalho escrito	10,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	33,00
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Trabalho escrito	46,00
Total:	135,00

Eligibility for exams

Students must attend to practical lessons, at least 75% of them.

Calculation formula of final grade

Written final examination with theoretical content (90%) and written essay (10%).