72709 - Advanced Genomic in Animal Production

Learning outcomes

Student knows high-throughput technologies to identify genes involved in production and reproduction traits in livestock species. Student understands the methodologies for functional and stuctural genomics for improving the efficiencies of breeding schemes. Students knows the most common bioinformatics resources used in animal breeding.

Course contents

The course is organized in lectures (32 hours) and practical seminars, including seminars and case-study analysis of scientific papers (16 hours).

The program of the course is: 1) animal production systems: domestication, milk and meat production systems; 2) Advanced phenotyping techniques for animal breeding; 3) genome mapping; 4) genome sequencing: from Sanger to Next Generation Sequencing; 5) phenotype-genotypes association: candidate gene approach and genome-wide association studies; 6) resemblance among individuals: genetic and genomic relationship, inbreeding; 7) animal breeding: quantitative traits, methods for the estimation of breeding values; response to selection and association between traits, genomic selection and its applications; 8) applications of genomics to study livestock biodiversity; 9) applications of genomics for animal products traceability; 10) case-study analysis of scientific paper with the organization of a Student Journal Club.

Readings/Bibliography

Slides, lectures notes and scientific papers provided during the course.

The following books are suggested for more details of lectures topics:

Genetica animale - applicazioni zootecniche e veterinaria. Giulio Pagnacco, casa editrice Ambrosiana.

Genomi 4. T.A. Brown, casa editrice EdiSES.

Teaching methods

The course is organized into lectures (32 hours) and practical seminars (16 hours), with the possibility of remote access (Microsoft Teams). In the last lectures students will be divided into groups and each group will present a scientific article on topics studied during the course.

Assessment methods

Written exam during with multiple response and open questions related to the topics studied during the course. The evaluation of the activities of the Journal Club will countribute to the final evaluation.

Teaching tools

PC, video-projector, webcam, vitual whiteboard, Microsoft Teams.

Office hours

See the website of Giulio Visentin