Genetics and Animal Breeding

In order to achieve the objectives of the curricular unit, the teaching methodologies are based on:

1. The teacher’s exposure of contents related to the theoretical aspects of this curricular unit;

2. Oriented bibliographic research on some topics of interest;

3. Solving exercises.

Develop in students the skills necessary for a critical appreciation of the applications of genetics at a general level. It is intended that students understand the basics of heredity, from a Mendelian Genetics perspective to Molecular Genetics, recognizing the importance of genetic variability.
It is intended at the end of this Curricular Unit, students, know the basics of Population Genetics and Quantitative Genetics that underlie the methodologies for Animal Breeding.
With this knowledge, it is intended that, students faced with specific situations, will be able to formulate hypotheses and analyze the results obtained.

Module I
1. Cytogenetic analysis.
2. Classical Genetics
2.1. Simple Mendelism; 2.2 Complex Mendelism: mechanisms of gene action; multi-allelism; lethal genes; 2.3. Factorial ligation and chromosomal mapping.
3. Molecular Genetics
3.1- Molecular nature and properties of hereditary molecules; 3.2. Gene expression and regulation
4. Genetic Variability
4.1. Small and large-scale mutations and homologous recombination.
5. Biotechnological Applications in Animal Breeding:
5.1 Recombinant DNA technology: Transgenesis; 5.2. Directed and random mutagenesis.
Module II
6. Population genetics
6.1. Hardy-Weinberg Law 6.2. Evolution factors 6.3. Inbreeding: effective population size, inbreeding and genealogies
7. Quantitative genetics
7.1. Genotypic and phenotypic value, population mean value, mean effect of an allele, additive value
7.2. Heritability, genetic gain and repeatability
7.3. Selection differential
7.4. Factors affecting genetic gain
7.5. Selection programs in livestock species.

NAO