71541 - Genomic, Nutrigenomic and Traceability Applied to Animal Productions

Learning outcomes

The course will provide the basic knowledge and lab work concerning molecular genetics applied to livestock. Expertise to apply, monitor and evaluate traceability and authentication systems in animal production chains, particularly using new and innovative approaches.

The student should have basic knowledge on the regulation of gene expression, on practical aspects of the genome-nutrient interactions, on the methods used to highlight the functional response to nutrients, on the legislation concerning GM organisms relevant for animal production and the methods of assessment.

Course contents

"Genomic, nutrigenomic and traceability applied to animal productions".

Gene structure. Genetic markers. Molecular techniques (DNA extraction, PCR, sequencing). High throughput platform for genomic analysis. Genomic selection. Traceability and authentication of animal products. Application of traceability systems to animal production chains. Methods and instruments. Planning traceability and authentication systems. Brief elements on regulation of gene expression: transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational. Genome-nutrient interactions: effects of lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, hormones and trace elements. Innovative feeds, nutraceuticals and functional. Methods used to highlight the functional response to nutrients. The effects of maternal nutrition, the role of nutrition in the treatment and prevention of diseases linked to genes. Zootechnical applications for targeted nutrition to the genotype. Legislation concerning GM organisms relevant for animal production. Methods of assessment.

Readings/Bibliography

Pictures, graphs and tables showed during the lectures (powerpoint collection of slides) are available in the appropriate website.

Teaching methods

Lesson and practical exercitations in lab. Applications with software for the evaluation of the gene expression.

Assessment methods

The evaluation of the course of Genomic, nutrigenomic  and traceability applied to animal productions takes into account jointly the level of knowledge and skills acquired by the student in relation to the contents of course.

The assessment of learning is done through an oral test during which the knowledge and skills acquired about each of the theoretical and practical teaching units application will be assessed. The assessment is expressed out of thirty, based on the average score obtained after a total of 4 question, and based on the correspondence of the responses to the training objectives of the course.

In details, here is the possible score grid for oral examinations I would like to adopt in the near future:

- a very thorough knowledge of the topics addressed in the course, together with high skills of critical analysis, connection and a sure command of specific terminology will be evaluated with the maximum score (30-30L);

- a thorough knowledge of the topics addressed in the course, together with good analytical and critical skills and the possession of a sure command of specific terminology will be evaluated with good marks (27-29);

- a technically adequate preparation and a sufficient analytical capacity, even if not particularly articulated, expressed in a correct language, will produce fair evaluations (23-26);

- sufficient preparation and capacity for analysis, expressed in a language which is barely formally correct, will determine the sufficiency (18-22).

All dates, times and locations of the examinations are published on the website of the degree course. To subscribe use the web application AlmaEsami.

Students wishing to take the exam in English must request it to the teacher at least two days before the exam.

Teaching tools

Computer slides and videoprojector , lab instruments

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Bosi

See the website of Luca Fontanesi