| Department of Large Animal Sciences | |||||||||||||||
| Earliest Possible Year | MSc. 1 year | ||||||||||||||
| Duration | One block | ||||||||||||||
| Credits | 7.5 (ECTS) | ||||||||||||||
| Course Level | MSc | ||||||||||||||
| Examination | Final Examination oral examination Some Aid allowed Project report and 1 page with own notes Description of Examination: An individual oral examination is held at the end of the course. 45-60 minutes examination with discussion of project and general subjects (no preparation). Weight: Oral examination: 100% 13-point scale, external examiner | ||||||||||||||
| Requirement For Attending Exam | A pre-condition for attending the examination is that a mandatory report have been handed in and approved in advance 75% of the minor reports based on the exercise problems must be handed in | ||||||||||||||
| Organisation of Teaching | Lectures, theoretical exercises, practical computer exercises and report writing. | ||||||||||||||
| Block Placement | Block 2 Week Structure: C | ||||||||||||||
| Teaching Language | English | ||||||||||||||
| Optional Prerequisites | Almen husdyravl | ||||||||||||||
| Mandatory Prerequisites | 240040 Quantitative and Population Genetics Quantitative and Population Genetics required | ||||||||||||||
| Areas of Competence the Course Will Address | |||||||||||||||
| Competences within basic science: Evaluation of applied animal breeding including definition of breeding goals, design of breeding schemes, genetic analysis of different traits and use of molecular information. Competences within applied science: Apply genetic and biometric principles to evaluate proposed and running breeding programs with respect to genetic gain, inbreeding, costs and risks. And apply the knowledge by proposing improvements of breeding programs, while taking the biological constraints into consideration. Competences within ethics and values: Are able to discuss the ethic and animal welfare consequences of modern animal breeding. | |||||||||||||||
| Course Objectives | |||||||||||||||
| After attending the course students should be able to understand the basics of genetic development of livestock species using population genetic theory, biometrical methods for genetic analysis, DNA technology and reproductive technologies. | |||||||||||||||
| Course Contents | |||||||||||||||
| Part 1: Initially, theory and methodology of genetic analysis is introduced for estimation of genetic parameters and prediction of breeding values. This includes using information from phenotypes, pedigrees, and DNA markers. Part 2: Afterwards, the basic theory for definition of breeding goals is introduced. This includes setting up predictions for future production conditions and estimation of economic values. Furthermore, alternative methods for defining breeding goals, e.g. desired gains, are presented. Part 3: Later on, the focus will moved towards designing breeding programs. This includes choice of selection and mating strategy, evaluation of breeding plans, e.g. using the gene low method, the use of deterministic and stochastic simulation methods, crossbreeding, interactions between genetic and environmental components, and the use of reproductive technologies and their impact on possibilities for design of breeding programs. | |||||||||||||||
| Teaching And Learning Methods | |||||||||||||||
| Lectures, theoretical exercises, practical computer exercises and report writing. In connection with lectures and exercises, the students are expected to participate actively in mutual discussions. Part 1 will be supported by both theoretical and computer exercises The practicals in Part 1 will be based mostly on theoretical problem solving exercises. Part 3 will be supported mainly by computer exercise utilising different simulation methods in order to illustrate the impact of different factors in a breeding program and to introduce the simulation method. The report writing is done in groups of two to four students. The topic of the report is of the students own choice and supervision will be available. The structure of the report should follow that of a scientific paper, but the work load is less. The project leading to the report should not only involve a literature study but include a data analysis of some sort, either real data, simulations or analytical work. | |||||||||||||||
| Course Litterature | |||||||||||||||
| Jensen, P. 2000. Notes on Estimation of Breeding Values. van Arendonk, J.A.M. 1999. Breeding value estimation. Lecture notes. Wageningen Agricultural University. | |||||||||||||||
| Course Coordinator | |||||||||||||||
| Lars Gjøl Christensen, lgc@life.ku.dk, Department of Large Animal Sciences/Populationsbiology, Phone: 35333052 Thomas Mark, thm@life.ku.dk, Department of Large Animal Sciences/Populationsbiology, Phone: 35332890 | |||||||||||||||
| Study Board | |||||||||||||||
| Study Committee NSN | |||||||||||||||
| Course Scope | |||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||