Animal Biotechnology

- Identify the main existing techniques for genetic modification and their practical applications.

- Distinguish existing approaches for animal phenotyping.

- List the ethical principles and current legislation in relation to genetic manipulation and animal experimentation.

- Understand the importance of using genetically modified animal models to respond to a specific biomedical and/or biotechnological problem.

- Introduction to the use of genetically modified animals (GMA). GMA types.

- Specific ethical aspects of the use of GMA.

- Genetically modified mice (GMM). Transgenic mice. Generation of transgenic mice by DNA microinjection into fertilized oocyte nuclei. Other methods of generating transgenic mice (viral infection, manipulation of ES cells). Knock-out mice. Generation of knock-out mice by aggregation or microinjection of ES cells. Conditional models. Other types of GMM. Knock-in mice. Use of RNAi technology in the generation of GMM: knock-down mice. Genomic building techniques.

- Isolation of the gene of interest Use of the available bioinformatic resources necessary for the study prior to the design of the vector used to generate the GMM. Obtaining and subcloning the sequence of interest. Vector construction. Design and generation of the necessary vectors to obtain both transgenic animals and knock-out, knock-in and conditional models. GMM generation. High-quality DNA production that allows its subsequent microinjection into pronuclei of fertilized oocytes and for genetic modification through homologous recombination of ES cells. Genotyping of animals. Genotyped by DNA analysis: Southern Blot or PCR.

- Maintenance of GMM colonies. Facilities, equipment, care and management. Specific requirements of the sanitary state. Impact of the use of GMMs on the experimental design.

- Phenotypic characterization of animal models. Approaches to phenotypic analysis. Prenatal and postnatal effects. Influence of the genetic background on the phenotype. Techniques and examples of systems phenotyping.

Seminars
- Resolution of problems and questions.

Basic references:

Kaufman,M.H. & Bard,J.B.L. The Anatomical Basic of Mouse Development: Academic Press; 1999.

Papaioannou VE, Behringer RR. Mouse Phenotypes. A handbook of mutation analysis: CSHL Press; 2005.

Popesko P, Rajtova V, Horák J. A colour Atlas of anatomia of small laboratory animals. Vol. 2: Ed. Saunders; 2002.

Holland, EC. Mouse Models of Human Cancer. 1ª Ed: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA; 2004.

Behringer R, Gertsenstein M , Nagy K, Nagy A. Manipulating the Mouse Embryo: A Laboratory Manual, 4ª ed: CSHL Press; 2014.

Complementary references:

Nature Biotechnology
Trends in Biotechnology
Current Opinion in Biotechnology
Transgenic Research
Animal Reproduction Science

Links:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/

http://emice.nci.nih.gov/emice/

http://www.eumorphia.org

http://www.bugalicia.org

http://busc.usc.es

https://secal.es/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/00-GENETICA-indice.pdf.pdf


Alternative support material:

The support material provided by the professors will be avaliable at CampusVirtual platform:
http://www.usc.es/campusvirtual/

Knowledge/Contents: Con01, Con02, Con05
Abilities/Skills: H/D01, H/D02, H/D03, H/D04, H/D05, H/D06, H/D07, H/D08, H/D09, H/D10, H/D13
Competencies: Comp01, Comp02, Comp03, Comp04, Comp05, Comp08

Master classes, in which the teacher will explain the concepts of the subject with the support of audiovisual and computer media; It can have different formats (theory, problems and / or general examples, general guidelines for the subject), promoting student participation.

Seminars in small groups, in which applications of the theory are proposed and solved, exercises, problems, case simulations, etc. are carried out. Active participation of students is required.

Tutorials (individual or group) to clarify doubts, provide information or guide students, as well as to know the progress in the acquisition of skills.

General criteria

The evaluation will be the same for all students and on both opportunities. Continuous evaluation will always be complementary to the exam. Attendance at lecture classes and seminars is mandatory, unless justified. To pass the subject, attendance at the exam is also mandatory.
In cases of fraudulent performance of exercises or tests, the provisions of the Regulations for the evaluation of students' academic performance and the review of grades will apply.

Specific evaluation criteria

Continuous assessment. Continuous evaluation will be done through oral and/or written tests, work delivered and/or presented, student participation in the classroom and tutorials (20%).
Learning outcomes assessed: Con01, Con02, Con05, H/D01, H/D02, H/D03, H/D04, H/D05, H/D06, H/D07, H/D08, H/D09, H/D10 , H/D13, Comp01, Comp02, Comp03, Comp04, Comp05, Comp08

Final exam. It will include all the content taught in the subject (80%).
Learning outcomes assessed: Con01, Con02, Con05, H/D01, H/D02, H/D03, H/D04, H/D05, H/D06, H/D07, H/D08, H/D09, H/D10 , H/D13, Comp01, Comp02, Comp03, Comp04, Comp05, Comp08

Lectures: Hours 27 / Attendance 100%

Interactive class seminar: 21 hours / Attendance 100%

Group tutoring: 2 hours / Attendance 100%

Individualized tutorials: 1 hour / 100% attendance

Exam and review: 3 hours / Attendance 100%

Personal work: 96 hours / Attendance 0%

Previous knowledge in genetics, cellular, animal and molecular biology.

The two official languages of the course are Galician and Spanish. It is left to the teacher's discretion to use any of them.