65860 - Methods of Molecular Genetics for the Improvement of Livestock Production

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the students have basic knowledge of molecular genetics and of the main applications to livestock needs. Themes concerning the knowledge of animal genomes will be developed  and also the main technologies to study strucural and functional genome  of livestock will be reported to the students. Moreover the possible applicative perspectives of the genome analysisi in livestock will be described in order to improve  the efficiency of selection.

The teaching  is part of an integrated course  aimed to give to the students a deep knowledge  of the reproduction animal physiology and of the main reproductive biotechnologies in livestock; the knowledge of the animal genome in livestock specie will be cosnsidered mainly with reference to structural and functional genomics to identify the genes influencing productive and reproductive traits and the main applications.

Course contents

Programme description . Dna Structure - Gene strucure .RNA the main aspects of the  genetic code, Transcription, translation, Protein synthesis , The Mutations, The main knowledge on cells biology and cell genetics. The genetic markers.

The PCR, the sequencing  of DNA nad RNA . RFLP. The variability of the genome and of the gene in the different part of a gene.Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) , Microsatellites , Copy Number variants Micro RNA . Methods of SNP search. Gene candidate approach Methods to identify a candidate gene. RFLP. Candidate genes and causative genes.

Ouline on microarray  and gene expression study  to identify candidate genes influencing the traits.

Methods of analysis of RNA mRNA, miRNA.  QTL and QTL search. Methods of QTL search.Linkage equilibrium and linkage disequlibrium. Major genes associated to milk and meat production Examples. Use of the genetic markers for traceability of the products .Use of microsatellites to define relationships in livestock.

DNAChip - Use of the DNAChip for genomic selection GWAS analysis in livestock .Ouline on methods of genetic Index estimation in livestock Use of the genetic markers to improve the efficiency of selection.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Slides Power Points  that will be presented during the lessons that will be frontal lessons and /or on line lessons  and  the slides will be available on IOL platform.

There aren't books  adequate for the exam preparation 

Teaching methods

The teaching metod of the course is based on slide  in Power Point presentation during the lessons .

Experts will be invited to improve the knoedge of specific arguments

Assessment methods

The course of "Molecular genetics applied to the improvement of animal products" belongs to the Integrated Course Of "Biotechnology applied to animal productions" together with the course of "Innovative reproductive technologies in farm animals".The final exam will be obtained only  at the end of the lessons in the above citated teaching courses and consists in an oral exams with three questions to check the acquisition of the studnet on the level of knowledge planned following the programme of the course. The whole evaluation considers jointly  the degree of knowledge on the arguments developed  during the lessons in both the two modules of the Integrated Course.The final exam consists  in an oral exam of  20 minutes approximately. During the exam  the level of knowledge achieved  by the studen and the  skills aquired  concenring the issues described during the lessons will be verified. The vote will express the degree of achievement of a comprehensive vision  of the temes faced  during the lessons together with their critical capacity.  High level of knowledge  of the topics  described during the lessons together with high qualities of critical analysis, abilities of connection between the developed themes  and acquisition of a elevated level of understanding  and accurate wording will enables high scores to be achieved. The knowledge mainly mechanical and mnemonics of the matter and absence of critical assesment  of the tissue presneted during the course will determine fair evaluations; training gaps, bad language and minimal knowledge on the  examination material will determine votes that don't get a sufficient grade. Lack of training, inapproprate language, lack of orientation within the materials of study  provided during the course will  determine a negative evaluation . Moreover  right property of language and a preliminary adequate  knowledge of elements of genetics and cell biology are necessary  to follow in a profitable way the lessons and to pass the exam.

The final vote of the IC , expressed in thiertieths, considers  the evaluations obtained in the examinations of each module included in the Integrated Course.

 

Teaching tools

A complete lecture note prepared by DrMartina Zappaterra who is an expert of the arguments of this course will be available to the students on VIRTULA website  during the lessons  to eliminate the deficiencies of knowledge  considering the very large heterogeneity of the students .

Slides Power points will be available on VIRTUAL web site of UniBo l  during the lessons .

Lessons of support could be necessary to  equalize and to align the level of knoweldge of the students  and in this case Martina Zappaterra can perfom 1 -2 lessons of alignment.

Seminars and meetings with experts can be planned.

Office hours

See the website of Roberta Davoli