Unit ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS

MOLECULAR GENETICS APPLIED TO DOMESTIC ANIMALS

Code	85104202
CFU	2
Teacher	Katia Cappelli
Teachers	Katia Cappelli
Hours	26 ore - Katia Cappelli
Learning activities	Caratterizzante
Area	Discipline della zootecnica, allevamento e nutrizione animale
Academic discipline	AGR/17
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	Italian
Contents	Introduction to genomics and genomes anatomy. Genome sequencing, Next Generation Sequencing, Molecular markers and their applications. Genes controlling hereditary diseases. Gene expression and epigenetic regulation. Gene Editing. Brief overview of Bioinformatics and data management.
Reference texts	Genomi 3 "T.A. Brown" Edises. Genetica Animale "Giulio Pagnacco", Zanichelli -tirdh edition. Introduzione alla Bioinformatica "Arhur M.Lesk" McGraw-Hill. Sides of the lectures
Educational objectives	The course aims to illustrate the molecular genetics theory and the main applications to the breeding and production of animals of veterinary interest. D1 - KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING At the end of the training, the student must: - know the basics of molecular genetics applied to domestic animals. - know the origin of genetic variability and the tools to take advantage of it. D2 - ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING At the end of the training, the student must: - know how to implement all the tools necessary to carry out molecular diagnosis and the prevention of genetic diseases - to be able to evaluate the characters of interest in animal populations from a genetic-molecular point of view - choose and evaluate the appropriate genetic / genomic tool for each disease - interpret the results of any genetic-molecular test carried out by another competent laboratory or facility. D3 - AUTONOMY OF JUDGMENT At the end of the training, the student must: - be able to evaluate the genomic characteristics of the different species and apply them according to the characters / pathologies to be investigated - to know advanced genetic-molecular research methodologies to be applied for the investigations and more suited to the case in study D4 - COMMUNICATION SKILLS At the end of the training, the student must: - be able to appropriately and completely present the acquired knowledge - demonstrate language properties through the use of correct genetic terminology. D5 - LEARNING SKILLS At the end of the training, the student must: - be able to consult and understand scientific texts, field web tool, bibliographic updates as well as critically evaluate procedures and technologies; - be able to present the topics dealt with in a critical and interconnected way demonstrating the ability to use this knowledge to support other disciplines acquired or in acquisition
Prerequisites
Teaching methods	The course include 18 hours of theoretical lectures on all scheduled topics and 8 hours of practical classes imparted as molecular biology laboratory exercises and as computer room exercises. The practical lessons in the laboratory will involve a maximum of 15 students at same time that will participate provided of white coat. The practical classes in a computer room will involve a number of students equal to the stations available and in any case not more than 20.
Other information
Learning verification modality
Extended program	The gene and its organization in complex genomes: DNA manipulation, molecular markers. Methods for sequencing the genome: DNA sequencing, NGS technologies, interpretation of genome sequences. Functional genomics: transcription and gene expression, mobile genetic elements, epigenetic signals. Genes that control hereditary diseases and their possible molecular diagnosis. Bioinformatic elements: nucleic acids and proteins databases, primer design, molecular tests in silico.

VETERINARY GENETICS

Code	85004203
CFU	3
Teacher	Maurizio Silvestrelli
Teachers	Maurizio Silvestrelli
Hours	30 ore - Maurizio Silvestrelli
Learning activities	Affine/integrativa
Area	Attività formative affini o integrative
Academic discipline	AGR/17
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	Italian language
Contents	Mutation. Gene and genotype frequencies. Interspecific hybridization. Abnormal karyotypes. Freemartins. Classification of intersex. Genotype and phenotype. Coat colour, pathology and selection in dog, cat and horse. Inherited defects. The Hardy-Weinberg law. Extentions of the Hardy-Weinberg law. Summary and practical implications.
Reference texts	The suggested book is "Genetica animale applicata" ("Applied animal genetics") by G. Pagnacco
Educational objectives	This teaching is the only test that the student faces about inherited defects within the degree program that is proposed as a main target to provide the basic knowledge of the relation genotype/phenotype for pahtologic and veterinary aspects. D1 - KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING The student must: - know dog, cat and horse breeds and selection, - know the abnormal karyotype in animals, - know the Mendelian genetic diseases in animals. D2 - APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING At the end of the training the student will be able to: -recognize the of mode of inheritance (dominant/resessive) of Mendelian genetic deseases in animals, -recognize the phenotype linked to pathology, D3 - MAKING JUDGMENT At the end of the training the student will be able to: -use of genotipe in practical animal breeding D4 - COMMUNICATION At the end of the training the student will be able to: - organize, prepare and exhibit, to an audience made up of people of equal level of preparation, a presentation on a Mendelian disease with their own evaluations supported by appropriate arguments, - support an adversarial process with people of equal preparation and experts in different issues, of a regulatory, scientific, procedural and / or technological nature, - demonstrate language properties in both written and oral form, as well as the ability to use terminology that is sufficiently appropriate for a correct approach to the profession, which is also important for job interviews. D5 - LIFELONG LEARNING SKILLS At the end of the training the student will be able to: - consult and understand scientific texts, even innovative ones, bibliographic updates, normative dictations, so as to employ them in contexts not only usual for the profession, including research, but also originals, - manage a sufficiently broad mastery of the subject to guarantee an acceptable basis for continuing professional updating through ongoing lifelong learning.
Prerequisites
Teaching methods	The course is organized as follows: -lectures on all subjects of the course; -exercise at the microscope lab to see chromosome aberrations in cattle. Students will be divided into groups (maximum 20 students per group) and there will be 1 tutorial of 2 hours
Other information
Learning verification modality
Extended program	Introduction. Dog, cat and horse breeds. Single genes in population, genetics and animal breeding. Mutation. Gene and genotype frequencies. Evolution of karyotypes. Interspecific hybridization. Abnormal karyotypes: abnormal autosomal chromosome number (translocation, monosomy and trisomy). Abnormal chromosome structure: deletion, duplication and inversion. Abnormal sex chromosome number. Freemartins. Classification of intersex. Genotype and phenotype. Coat colour and pathology in dog, cat and horse. Inherited defects: autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, X-linked dominant, X-linked recessive. The Hardy-Weinberg law. Extentions of the Hardy-Weinberg law. Summary and practical implications

GENETIC EVALUATION OF LIVESTOK

Code	85004302
CFU	2
Teacher	Camillo Pieramati
Teachers	Camillo Pieramati
Hours	26 ore - Camillo Pieramati
Learning activities	Caratterizzante
Area	Discipline della zootecnica, allevamento e nutrizione animale
Academic discipline	AGR/17
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	Italian
Contents	Selection against genetic diseases. The animal merit: the genetic index, the marker assisted selection, and the genomic evaluation.
Reference texts	R.M. Bourdon: 'Understanding Animal Breeding ', Pearson ed. Lecturer's notes, presentations, spreadsheets and datasets are available from the UniStudium website.
Educational objectives	D1 - The student must acquire a solid knowledge of the theoretical foundations of animal genetic improvement: in particular, he/she will have understood the principles of a plan for the prophylaxis of Mendelian diseases and genetic liability to diseases, the practical importance of the additive infinitesimal model, fundamentals of methods for estimating genetic value and the practical use of molecular information in genetic selection. D2 - The student must be able to apply the acquired knowledge to the solution of small problems: calculate the risks deriving from different types of matings, calculate (additive) relationship and inbreeding coefficients, estimate environmental effects and individual genetic values, critically analyze the available information on sire catalogues. D3- The student must be able to independently judge the advantages and disadvantages of the various strategies to solve the problems that may arise at the different levels of a livestock genetic selection plan. D4- The student must be able to communicate efficiently and effectively with the other operators (veterinarians, breeders, zootechnics) of the supply chain, using the technical-scientific vocabulary of the sector in an appropirate manner. D5- The student must be able to learn the insights that may prove necessary for his/her subsequent professional activity. EAEVE Day One Competences: 2.3 (The structure, function and behaviour of animals and their physiological and welfare needs, including healthy common domestic animals, captive Wildlife and laboratory-housed animals) and 2.4 (A knowledge of the businesses related to animal breeding, production and keeping).
Teaching methods	Lectures will deal with all the main topics of the course. Practical training will be in a PC lab, and the students divided into 4 rotating groups. The practical and supervised activities are organized in order to help the student in understanding the toughest topics (e.g. the statistical and mathematical aspects).
Extended program	LECTURES. - Introduction to the course. The aim, the programme, the schedule; the text and the other didactic stuff. The step in a selection program. [1.5 h] - The population. Animal identification. Breeders' association. Herd book and Italian livestock registry. [1.5 h] - The breeding goal: quantity, quality, and sustainability. Animal recording. Linear evaluation. [1.5 h] - The additive infinitesimal model: phenotype component and variance component. [1.5 h] - Heritability in broad and narrow sense, repeatability of a trait, genetic correlation. Progeny test, performance test, sib test. [1.5 h] - Selecting for more traits: the tandem method, independent culling levels, selecion index. The effect of selection. [1.5 h] - Alike in state vs identical by descent. Direct and collateral relationship. Additive relationship, dominance relationship, interaction (epistatic) relationship. [1.5 h] - The tabular method for calculating additive relationship. genomic relationship. [1.5 h] - Relationship and inbreeding. The effective size of a population. The effect of inbreeding on recessive genes and the inbreeding depression. [1.5 h] - Estimating the individual genetic merit. Genetic index and genomic index: BLP, BLUP e GEBV (DGV and G-BLUP). [1.5 h] - Mendelian disease; liability to a treshold disease. Test mating. [1.5 h] - The main genetic prophylaxis in Italian livestock: Holstein, Brown, Italian beef cattle breeds, the halothane gene, the scrapie haplotypes. [1.5 h] PRACTICAL AND SUPERVISED ACTIVITIES (in PC lab by means of "R" software). - Calculating a selection index (BLP): the least squares method and the adjustment of the phenotypes. [2 h] - The pedigree file and the calculations of inbreeding and relationship. [2 h] - Phenotypic (co)variance, phenotype-"true value" covariance, weighting the records, calculating the index. [2 h] - Accuracy and reliability of an index. The genetic progress. [2 h]