Applied Genetics

Code:

RM26

Acronym:

GA

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Marine Biology and Ecology

Instance: 2023/2024 - 2S

Active?	No
Responsible unit:	Microscopy
Course/CS Responsible:	Master Degree in Marine Sciences - Marine Resources

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MCMRM	0	Oficial Plan 2018	1	-	5	50	135

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

The goal is to equip students with a solid understanding of the fundamental principles of Population Genetics applied to species conservation and the monitoring of genetic health in natural aquatic species, particularly those of economic interest (fishery resources). Additionally, students should comprehend and be adept at using parameters of quantitative genetics as tools for intervention in Animal Production and Welfare applied to aquaculture.

Learning outcomes and competences

In addition to mastering the basic concepts of population genetics and evolutionary biology applied to conservation and the study of aquatic populations and species, by the end of the course, students should be proficient in the application of the  state-of-the-art genomic techniques and next-generation sequencing methods. They should also be able to estimate genetic parameters, interpret genetic diversity metrics, define simple conservation programs, design monitoring of population genetics health, establish objectives and criteria for the development of selection programs, and determine the genetic progress of a population over time.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Population Genetics and Conservation: Diversity and genetic diversity estimators. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and the evolutionary forces affecting this equilibrium: migration, drift, selection, mutation. Quantification of these evolutionary forces and species' evolution and phylogeography. F-statistics, methods for estimating effective population size applied to monitoring and/or conservation of aquatic organisms or fish resources. Gametic disequilibrium. Genetic traceability of aquatic species for origin certification, detection of hybrids, and recurrent hybridization. Detection of adaptive selection in aquatic organisms. Detection of migrants.

Genomic Sequencing: Different platforms for massive sequencing (NGS). Main techniques and objectives of genomic sequencing: exome sequencing, whole genome sequencing (WGS), reduced genomic library sequencing (GBS, RADseq), metagenomics, transcriptomics.


Quantitative Genetics: Polygenic systems, quantitative traits. Selection and response to selection, "Breeding Value"; environmental and epistatic effects. Strategies for improvement. Phenotypic variance and its decomposition. Normal distribution. Covariance, correlation, and regression. Decomposition of genetic variance; broad and narrow heritability. Repeated traits, permanent and temporary environmental effects; repeatability and prediction of observations. Genetic relationships between individuals. Inbreeding, coefficient of relationship. Genetic regression on phenotype. Prediction of genetic values. Prediction accuracy. Prediction based on individual performance and that of relatives. Response to selection (genetic progress per generation and per year), selection differential, selection intensity. Alternative selection plans. Simultaneous selection, correlated response. Mating strategies. "Inbreeding" and "Linebreeding". "Crossbreeding", heterosis.

Mandatory literature

Vleck L. Dale Van; Genetics for the animal sciences (fot.). ISBN: 0-7167-1800-6
Lacadena Juan-Ramón; Citogenética. ISBN: 84-89365-58-X
Pisano E 340; Fish cytogenetics. ISBN: 978-1-57808-330-5
Purdom Colin E.; Genetics and fish breeding. ISBN: 0-412-33040-7
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. 340; General and quantitative genetics. ISBN: 0-444-41836-9
Falconer D. S.; Introduction to quantitative genetics. ISBN: 0-582-24302-5
Mrode, R., J. Carvalheira and L. Schaeffer. Chapter 13: Test Day Models; History of Genetic Evaluation Methods in Dairy Cattle, 2013. ISBN: 978-973-27-2347-0

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical and Pratical classes. Theoretical classes are fundamentaly oral presentations. Pratical classes designed to exercices and analyse of case studies.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	50,00
Participação presencial	10,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	40,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	80,00
Total:	120,00

Eligibility for exams

To be admitted to final examination, students must attend to practical lessons, at least 75% of them, and a minimum performance of 9.5 in 20 points.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Grade = Final Exam Grade (50%) + Presentation Grade¹ (30%) + Laboratory Evaluation (10%).

(1) Each student will be required to orally present 1 project (based on a practical case supported by scientific articles, maximum duration of 15 minutes), focusing on an application of genetics to the study of aquatic organisms or on the improvement of aquaculture species.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Distributed through the pratical classes

Classification improvement

Only possible for writen exame.