Genetics and Animal Breeding

Biology, 12th year of schooling

In this degree programme: Cell Biology and Microbiology course unit, Chemistry and Biochemistry course unit

1. Theoretical framework-related lectures
2. Oriented bibliographic research on some student’s interest topics.
3. Exercise solving

Students are expected to understand the fundamentals of heredity, from Mendelian genetics to molecular genetics, recognizing the importance of genetic variability.

Upon completion of this course, students should have a basic knowledge of population genetics and quantitative genetics, which form the basis of animal breeding methodologies.

Students will develop the skills necessary for a critical appreciation of the applications of genetics at a general level. 

Students will be able to formulate hypotheses and analyse the results obtained when faced with specific situations.

Part 1

1 Heredity
1.1 Non-hereditary and hereditary characteristics, quantitative and qualitative
1.2 Evolution of the concept of genes
1.3 From genes to proteins to characteristics

2 Mechanisms of hereditary information transmission
2.1 Cytogenetics, mitosis and meiosis
2.2 General genetics: genotypic and phenotypic proportions of a characteristic between generations 

3. Gene mapping 

4. Epigenetics

Part 2 

1. Population genetics
1.1 Hardy-Weinberg law
1.2 Factors of evolution
1.3. Inbreeding: effective population size, inbreeding and genealogies 

2 Quantitative Genetics and Animal Breeding
2.1 Genetic and phenotypic value, population mean value, mean effect of an allele, additive value
2.2 Heritability, genetic gain and repeatability
2.3 Selection differential
2.4 Factors affecting genetic gain
2.5 Selection programmes
2.6 Genetic analysis software

NAO