Unit ADVANCED BREEDING

Course
Agricultural and environmental biotechnology
Study-unit Code
A002229
Curriculum
In all curricula
Teacher
Daniele Rosellini
CFU
11
Course Regulation
Coorte 2024
Offered
2024/25
Type of study-unit
Obbligatorio (Required)
Type of learning activities
Attività formativa integrata

ADVANCED ANIMAL BREEDING

Code A002231
CFU 5
Teacher Emiliano Lasagna
Teachers
  • Simona Mattioli (Codocenza)
  • Emiliano Lasagna
Hours
  • 9 ore (Codocenza) - Simona Mattioli
  • 36 ore - Emiliano Lasagna
Learning activities Caratterizzante
Area Discipline biotecnologiche generali
Academic discipline AGR/17
Type of study-unit Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction English
Contents Importance of biotechnologies in animal science and differences with plant science. Biotechnologies in animal reproduction and their applications. Molecular biotechnologies and their applications in animal science.
Reference texts Books:
G. Sali, Manuale di teriogenologia bovina, Edagricole, 1996.R. Renneberg, Biotechnology for Beginners, Academic press, 2007.
R.M. BOURDON Understanding animal breeding.
ED. Prentice Hall Inc. Upper Saddle River (NJ), 1997.
Heiner Niemann,
Christine Wrenzycki
Animal Biotechnology 1: Reproductive Biotechnologies, 2018, Springer

All the teaching material used by the teacher can be downloaded from the Unistudium platform.
Educational objectives The main aims of the course are to provide the necessary skills to be able to apply the main biotechnology applied to the livestock sector of farm animals. More in detail, the course aims to provide to the students the basic knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the reproductive apparatus. We will then provide all the knowledge necessary to implement the main reproductive biotechnology practiced in livestock species in consideration of their potential as part of animal breeding. They will be finally addressed the aspects related to the most recent and modern applications of molecular biotechnology practices of selection and genetic improvement. The main skills acquired by the student at the end of the course will be: laboratory analysis of the semen in breeding animals;- molecular analysis using biological samples from animals;-use of biotechnological tools (reproductive and molecular) for the planning and the implementation of the main strategies for animal breeding.
Prerequisites The students need knowledge of biology, genetics and molecular biology. Background animal husbandry, if not already available, will be provided during the Masters’ course.
Teaching methods The course is organized as follows:
-lectures on all subjects of the course;
-laboratory exercise of individual practice by students. It will be presented the following topics: macroscopic and microscopic analysis of semen to evaluate the bull fertility. Genetic savage techniques. Practical lesson to the ANABIC genetic station. molecular analysis, PCR based, to detect useful and deleterious genes, for the embryo sexing, and for the food molecular traceability.
-educational visits LGS and AVANTEA, Cremona, Italy
Other information Attendance to the lessons.
Optional but strongly advised
Learning verification modality The evaluation consists of a final oral exam, lasting an average of 30-40 minutes. During the oral interview, both the knowledge of the topics and the language skills with which they are reported will be assessed.
Attendance and active participation in lessons and practicals are also part of the evaluation.

For information on support services for students with disabilities and/or DSA visit the page http://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa
In the event that the student intends to bring the exam forward to a year prior to the one scheduled in the study plan, it is recommended to attend the series of lessons and take the exam in the first available session after the lessons have ended, in therefore respecting the teaching planning semester.
Extended program Importance of biotechnologies in animal science and differences with plant science. Animal breeding in livestock systems.

Biotechnologies in animal reproduction and their applications. Anatomy and physiology of animal reproduction. Techniques: artificial insemination, oestrous synchronisation, embryo transfer, Multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET), embryo splitting, embryo vitrification, semen sexing, in vitro fertilization (FIVET) ovum pick up, intra cytoplasmatic sperm injection (ICSI), nuclear transfer and cloning, genetic salvage. Applications: generation gap reduction, increasing of genetic progress, increasing of breeding soundness, conservation of biodiversity.

Molecular biotechnologies and their applications in animal science. Animal cytogenetic: technology and its applications. Techniques: DNA fingerprinting, PCR based tecniques, microsatellites, SNPs, linkage analysis, gene transfer, real time PCR, etc. Applications: parentage analysis, evolutionary studies, identification of advantageous and deletereous loci, embryo sexing, QTLs identification, Marker Assisted Selection, gene assisted introgression, animal transgenesis, conservation of biodiversity, foods molecular traceability. The SNPs markers: genome wide selection and the candidate genes. gEBV of the young bulls.

ADVANCED PLANT BREEDING

Code A002230
CFU 6
Teacher Daniele Rosellini
Teachers
  • Daniele Rosellini
Hours
  • 54 ore - Daniele Rosellini
Learning activities Caratterizzante
Area Discipline biotecnologiche generali
Academic discipline AGR/07
Type of study-unit Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction English
Contents The objective of this unit is to provide to the students a deep knowledge of plant breeding methods and of advanced plant genetic engineering techniques. The topics will be plant reproductive systems, the nature of genetic variation in plant populations, the sources of genetic variation for plant breeding: agricultural genetic resources, intra- and interspecific crosses, , mutagenesis, manipulation of chromosome number, genetic engineering and genome editing. The latter two topics will be integrated by reading scientific literature in class. The methods of crop breeding in self-, cross-fertilizing, and in vegetatively propagated species, and of variety conservation will be examined.
Online exercises on genetic biotechnology and, a problem solving group exercise will be proposed to the students, who will have to outline a project to solve a practical breeding problem in a relevant crop species.
Reference texts Brown et al. Plant Breeding, 2nd edition, Wiley Blackwell, 2014.
Lorenzetti et al. Miglioramento genetico delle piante agrarie. New Business Media, Bologna, 2018.
Material provided by the instructor via web (e-learning platform Unistudium): presentations and scientific articles
Educational objectives Knowledge
- Plant reproductive systems and nature of genetic variation in plant populations
- Methods and techniques of plant genetic engineering
- Applications of plant genetic engineering
- Genome editing in plants
- Plant breeding methods for predominantly self-fertilizing plants
- Plant breeding methods for predominantly cross-fertilizing plants
- Plant breeding methods for vegetatively propagated plants

Abilities
Class discussion on recent scientific literature
In silico identification of transgenic events
Problem solving group exercise:
- Choosing the methods of plant breeding depending on plant material and objectives
- Critical assessment of the plant breeding toolbox and coice of the best strategy
Prerequisites The student should have a good background in genetics, including population and quantitative genetics, plant biology and botany.
Teaching methods Computer-aided presentations, reading and commenting scientific articles in class, computer lab exercises, field trips if possible
Other information The detailed timetable will be provided the first day of class. Contact:
Daniele Rosellini Tel.: 075 5856211, E-mail: daniele.rosellini@unipg.it
Learning verification modality Final oral examination. Active participation in class and the quality of the problem solving exercise will be taken into account.
Extended program - Plant reproductive systems and nature of genetic variation in plant populations
- Sources of genetic variation: plant genetic resources, intra and interspecific crosses, mutagenesis, ploidy change, in vitro culture, plant genetic engineering.
- Applications of plant genetic engineering
- Genome editing in plants
- Plant breeding methods for predominantly self-fertilizing plants
- Plant breeding methods for predominantly cross-fertilizing plants
- Plant breeding methods for vegetatively propagated plants
- Class discussion on recent scientific literature
- In silico identification of transgenic events
- Problem solving group exercise: choosing the methods of plant breeding depending on plant material and objectives and critical assessment of the plant breeding toolbox
Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile 1,2,3
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