ECTS credits ECTS credits: 3
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Hours of tutorials: 1 Expository Class: 12 Interactive Classroom: 12 Total: 25
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary subject Master’s Degree RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology
Areas: Genetics
Center Higher Polytechnic Engineering School
Call: Second Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable | 1st year (Yes)
Genetic Improvement is the application of Genetics to the performance of domestic animals. The basic objective is the prediction of the genetic value of an individual from data obtained from itself or its relatives. The purpose of genetic assessment will be to identify the best animals, carrying an appropriate combination of genes that they are expected to be transmitted to their offspring, in order to increase the value of a particular trait in the population.
Genetic markers and applications in Biotechnology. Selection programs. Breeding value. Mass selection. Familiar selection. QTLs. Marker-assisted selection. Inbreeding. Heterosis.
Development of these contents are made through these sections or topics:
1.- Introduction
Genetic improvement and the productive characters. Quantitative and qualitative characters. Genetic variability and genetic improvement. 1HP/2HNP
2.- Population Genetics
Genes in populations. Genotypic and allelic frequencies. Genetic diversity. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Assortative breeding. Inbreeding. Changes in genic frequencies. Mutation. Migration. Selection. Genetic Drift. 4HP/7HNP
3.- The basic genetic model
Quantitative vs qualitative variation. Analysis of quantitative traits. Johanssen´s experiments. Multifactorial hypothesis: Nilsson-Ehle´s experiments. The statistic model of Quantitative Genetics. Mean effect of alleles. Breeding value. 4HP/6HNP
4.- The genetic model in terms of variance
Components of variance. Heritability in broad sense (H2). Estimation of H2. Significance of H2. Repeatability. Genetic components of variance. Narrow sense heritability (h2). 3HP/5HNP
5.- Estimation of heritability
Resemblance between relatives. Estimation of heritability. Offspring and one parent regression. Offspring and mid-parent regression. Half sibs correlation. Full sibs correlation. Values of heritability for various characters in animal species. 3HP/5HNP
6. The response to selection
Selection. Concept of response to selection. Selection differential / intensity of selection. Improvement of response. Limit to selection. Information from relatives. Selection methods. Index selection. Inbreeding depression. Heterosis. Detection of QTLs. 3HP/5HNP
BASIC:
- PIERCE, B. 2015. “Genética : un enfoque conceptual ”. Editorial Médica Panamericana. Available on-line (https://www.usc.gal/gl/servizos/area/biblioteca-universitaria).
-FRANKHAM, R.; BALLOU, J.D.; BRISCOE, D.A. 2004. A primer of Conservation Genetics. Cambridge University Press
-CABALLERO, A. 2017. Genética Cuantitativa. Ed. Síntesis.
-FALCONER, D.S. y MACKAY, T.F.C. 2006. “Introducción a la Genética Cuantitativa”. Ed. Acribia.
COMPLEMENTARY:
-GJEDREM, T. (Editor). 2005. Selection and Breeding Programs in Aquaculture. Springer.
-LEGATES, J.E. y WARWICK, E.J. 1992. "Cría y Mejora del Ganado". Ed. Interamericana.
-MARTÍNEZ, P.; FIGUERAS, A. 2007. Genética y Genómica en Acuicultura. Publicaciones científicas y tecnológicas del Observatorio Español de Acuicultura.
-NICHOLAS, FW. 2010. “Introduction to veterinary genetics”. Wiley-Blackwell.
Knowledges:
Con03. 1.3. Possession, with a critical sense, of the state-of-the-art knowledge in his/her speciality.
Skills / Abilities:
H/D04. 2.4. Ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems in emerging areas of his/her speciality.
Competences
Comp20. CE-13 Adequate knowledge and ability to develop and apply own technology in the management of research projects and development of new technologies applied to animal production processes: biotechnology and animal improvement.
Lectures and interactive seminar classes:
Lectures and interactive seminar classes will be the basic nucleus of the teaching methodology of this subject and will be taught to the entire group. In the lectures the specific contents of the program will be treated (Con03. 1.3), and the application of these contents will be done in the interactive classes through problems or practical cases.
The development of the contents will be done with the help of any material that facilitates the understanding of the concepts that are treated (PowerPoint presentations, videos, animations, blackboard, etc.). During the development of the lectures the teacher will propose questions or problems to the students to check their level of understanding.
Problem bulletins
Students will have bulletins of problems and issues of increasing complexity; most problems will be solved in class. Each student will in turn solve a set of specific problems; the result will be delivered to the teacher in charge for evaluation.
Laboratory / computer practices
There are three practices to be carried out in the subject, each of them has a specific script that the teacher will present to the group of students. After the end of the practice, each student will take a questionnaire that they will deliver for evaluation.
Together with the problem seminars, they are expected to contribute to the reinforcement of subject knowledge and to equip students with the ability to deal with problems and practical cases related to the practice of their profession (H/D04. 2.4.; Comp20. CE-13).
Practice 1.- Estimation of genetic diversity using data from microsatellite loci and the application of the GENEPOP program. Area de Genética, Pabellón IV, Facultad de Veterinaria.
Practice 2.- Analysis of genetic variation in a quantitative trait in natural conditions. Area de Genética, Pabellón IV, Facultad de Veterinaria.
Practice 3.- Biometry of a metric character of commercial interest and the estimation of its heritability by linear regression. Area de Genética, Pabellón IV, Facultad de Veterinaria.
The evaluation system is based on continuous evaluation. Attendance to the lectures and interactive classes is mandatory (> 80%) to pass the subject. When the grade obtained in the continuous assessment is not enough to pass the subject, a final exam is expected, which may encompass all or part of the contents of the subject.
The resolution of specific questions and problems, as well as questionnaires or any other periodic evaluation system carried out throughout the course by each student will account for 50% of the grade final; Another 30% includes the interpretation of each of the practices carried out by each student; the remaining 20% will take into account attendance at lectures and problem seminars and their active participation in them.
This system will allow to evaluate the acquisition of knowledges (Con 03.1.3), skills (H/D04.2.4) and the expected competences (Comp20. CE-13 Adequate knowledge and ability to develop and apply own technology in the management of research projects and development of new technologies applied to animal production processes: biotechnology and animal improvement).
Repeating students will be exempt from carrying out the practices (whose grade from the previous year will be kept). The other aspects of the evaluation will be comparable to the newly enrolled students.
The attendance exemption, in those students who meet the official requirements, is complete, the final exam being the only evaluation method that will suppose 100% of the final grade, both in the first and the second opportunity.
When the Examen Final were the only evaluation method the maximun qualification will be 8,0.
Students are reminded that, as stated in Article 16 of the Normativa de Avaliación do Rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión de cualificacións, approved by Consello de Goberno on June 15, 2011, "fraudulent completion of any exercise or test required in the evaluation of a subject it will imply the qualification of fail...” and that “... it is considered fraudulent to carry out plagiarized works or those obtained from sources accessible to the public without re-elaboration or re-interpretation...”
Lectures and interactive seminar classes: Will require a total of 18 contact hours; 30 hours of work will be by the student.
Practical classes: 6 classroom hours and compulsory attendance by the student.
A total of 15 hours is expected to be necessary for the student to understand problems and prepare the results of the practices.
• Asking questions that may arise during the development of the lectures or interactive classes.
• Laboratory practices are a good time to refresh ideas or concepts, as well as to raise questions that may remain.
• Make the problem sheets while advancing in the development of the concepts.
• Use tutorials to resolve doubts or questions.
• Read and consult sources of scientific information (databases, books, magazines, web pages, ...) that will enrich their perspective since they understand much more casuistry than that dealt with during the development of the classes.
Jaime Castro Alberto
Coordinador/a- Department
- Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology
- Area
- Genetics
- jaime.castro [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: Temporary PhD professor
Adrian Casanova Chiclana
- Department
- Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology
- Area
- Genetics
- adrian.casanova [at] usc.es
- Category
- Posdoutoral USC_Campus Terra