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. 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. Day-one competences ESEVT SOP 2023: 2, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 22, 24
Prerequisites	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.
Extended program	The gene and its organization in complex genomes: DNA manipulation, genome mapping, molecular markers. Methods for sequencing the genome: DNA sequencing, NGS technologies, assembly of contiguous DNA sequences, 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, sequence alignments and primer design

VETERINARY GENETICS

Code	85004203
CFU	3
Teacher	Katia Cappelli
Teachers	Katia Cappelli
Hours	30 ore - Katia Cappelli
Learning activities	Affine/integrativa
Area	Attività formative affini o integrative
Academic discipline	AGR/17
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	Italian
Contents	Abnormal karyotypes. Classification of intersex. Interspecific hybridization. Allelic and genotipic frequencies. Genetic determinism of oat color. The Hardy-Weinberg law: genetic equilibrium; panmixia; mutations, migrations, selection, and drift. Most frequent Mendelian diseases.
Reference texts	R. Bourdon "Understanding Animal Breeding", Prentice Hall ed.
Educational objectives	D1 - KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING The student must: - know the most frequent abnormal karyotype in animals - know the most frequent genetic diseases in animals - know the main genes determining the coat color - know the principles of population genetics D2 - APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING At the end of the training the student will be able to: -recognize the of mode of inheritance of Mendelian genetic diseases in animals -recognize the phenotype linked to pathology - calculate allelic and genotypic frequencies D3 - MAKING JUDGMENT At the end of the training the student will be able to: - make appropriate use of Mendelian information 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. Day-one competences ESEVT SOP 2023: 1, 2, 3, 4
Prerequisites	Please look at ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS
Teaching methods	The course is organized as follows: - lectures on all subjects of the course; - practical activities in "wet" or "dry" lab (students are divided in small groups)
Other information	Please look at ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS
Learning verification modality	Please look at ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS
Extended program	- Breeds and species. Crossing and hybridization. Normal and abnormal karyotypes. Changes in number or structure of autosomal chromosomes and sex chromosomes. The 1-29 translocation ion cattle. Freemartins. Classification of intersex. (1 CFU) - The genetics of coat color in horse, cattle, dog, and cat: base model, type of melanin, alterations and spotting. The most frequent Mendelian diseases of horse, cattle, dog, and cat.(1 CFU) - Allelic and genotypic frequencies. The Hardy-Weinberg law. Panmixia. Genetic equilibrium. Mutations: classification of crossing; complementarity and heterosis. Selection: lethal genes; balanced polymorphism. Genetic drift and population size. (1 CFU) PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES: diagnosis of cariological and Mendelian diseases. Exercises on genetic equilibrium.

GENETIC EVALUATION OF LIVESTOK

Code	85004302
CFU	2
Teacher	Stefano Capomaccio
Teachers	Stefano Capomaccio
Hours	26 ore - Stefano Capomaccio
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	Recall: basic genetics. Recall: basic statistics. Quantitative genetics. Relationship and inbreeding. Selection: theory and practice. Genetic index. Genomics. Genetics diseases of livestock.
Reference texts	R.M. Bourdon: 'Understanding Animal Breeding ', Pearson ed. Lecturer's stuff 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, calculate the main parameters of a single quantitative locus and of a quantitative trait, estimate individual genetic merit, optimize the genetic progress, and critically analyze the available information on breding animals. Lo studente dovrà essere in grado di applicare le conoscenze acquisite alla soluzione di piccoli problemi: calcolare i rischi derivanti da diversi tipi di accoppiamenti, calcolare coefficienti di parentela e di consanguineità, calcolare i principali parametri del modello additivo a livello di singolo locus o di carattere, stimare il merito genetico individuale, ottimizzare il progresso genetico ed analizzare criticamente le informazioni disponibili sui riproduttori. 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). Day-one competences ESEVT SOP 2023: 1, 2, 3, 12,
Prerequisites	Please look at ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS
Teaching methods	Lectures will deal with all the main topics of the course. Practical training with own laptop (students divided into 4 rotating groups).
Other information	Please look at ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS
Learning verification modality	Please look at ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS
Extended program	LECTURES - Review of basic genetics: DNA, chromosomes, Mendel's laws and their exceptions. Qualitative and quantitative traits; major genes and liability. - Review of basic statistics: probability, binomial distribution, quantitative variables, normal distribution. - Basics of population genetics: gene and genotypic frequencies; Hardy-Weinberg law; forces; genetic distances. - Resemblances between individuals: alike in state or identical by descent; relationships based on genealogical data; inbreeding. Resemblances based on molecular information. - Genetics of quantitative traits: infinitesimal additive model, heritability in broad and narrow sense, repeatability and correlations. - Individual genetic merit: selection index (BLP) and its properties; genetic index (BLUP); genomic index (GEBV: DGV and G-BLUP). - Selection: objective; the key equation: intensity, accuracy, genetic variability and generation interval. Economic indices. Correlated answer. The selection in Italy. - The main hereditary diseases of Italian breeds of cattle. Hereditary diseases of pigs. Genetic prophylaxis of scrapie.