Animal Anatomy and Genetics
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
The course supplies basics of vertebrate biology, and an
introduction to the structural organization and
physiological mechanisms of domestic animals. It has the
aim to provide basic acquaintance and specific knowledge,
necessary to the studies of animal nutrition and animal
production. The course provides also knowledge about the
basic principles of genetics and their applications to farm
animal species.
introduction to the structural organization and
physiological mechanisms of domestic animals. It has the
aim to provide basic acquaintance and specific knowledge,
necessary to the studies of animal nutrition and animal
production. The course provides also knowledge about the
basic principles of genetics and their applications to farm
animal species.
Expected learning outcomes
Basic acquaintance and specific knowledge of structure
and function of domestic animals, with emphasis on
physiological systems of importance to animal nutrition
and animal production. Ability of comparing the anatomy
and the physiology of different mammals. Skills in
biological and technical language necessary to describe
physiological processes. Knowledge of the hereditary
transmission of qualitative and quantitative traits in farm
animal species.
and function of domestic animals, with emphasis on
physiological systems of importance to animal nutrition
and animal production. Ability of comparing the anatomy
and the physiology of different mammals. Skills in
biological and technical language necessary to describe
physiological processes. Knowledge of the hereditary
transmission of qualitative and quantitative traits in farm
animal species.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Anatomy Part (Prof. Gandolfi)
Animal Genetics Part (Prof. Parma)
The recorded lectures will be made available to students on the ARIEL teaching platform for the entire semester. Furthermore, on the ARIEL platform a chat will be made available to non-attending students through which they can contact the teacher to request clarifications and insights on the teaching topics. Practical classes will be arranged through a specific on-line platform with groups of students
Exams will be taken online in the same way as those taken in person.
Animal Genetics Part (Prof. Parma)
The recorded lectures will be made available to students on the ARIEL teaching platform for the entire semester. Furthermore, on the ARIEL platform a chat will be made available to non-attending students through which they can contact the teacher to request clarifications and insights on the teaching topics. Practical classes will be arranged through a specific on-line platform with groups of students
Exams will be taken online in the same way as those taken in person.
Course syllabus
Anatomy Part (Prof. Gandolfi)
Basic notions on animal tissues (types and functions of epithelial, connective, muscular and nervous tissues).
Locomotor apparatus: Structure and physiology of the bone. Anatomy and physiology of the muscle fiber.
Circulatory system: Anatomy: heart, arteries, veins and capillaries. Physiology: myocardium, cardiac cycle, regulation of cardiovascular functions. Figured elements of blood. Plasma and serum. Hematopoiesis, hemostasis and coagulation. Lymph and lymphatic pathways.
Respiratory system: Anatomy: respiratory tract, lungs, pleurae. Physiology: respiratory cycle, transport of gases, nervous control of breath.
Digestive system: Anatomy: oral cavity, salivary glands, esophagus, stomach in monogastric, stomach in polygastric, intestine, pancreas and liver. Physiology: food chewing, salivary secretion, swallowing, motility of the stomach and prestomachs, rumen fermentation, gastric, pancreatic and enteric juice, bile, intestinal motility, digestion and absorption.
Urinary system: Anatomy: kidney, ureter, bladder and urethra, renal circulation. Physiology: glomerular filtration, reabsorption and secretion, endocrine regulation, renal hormones, water-saline homeostasis, urine composition.
Female reproductive system: Anatomy: ovary, tube, uterus. Physiology: oogenesis, estrous cycle, female reproduction hormones. Pregnancy and childbirth.
Male reproductive system: Anatomy: testicle and spermatic pathways, accessory sex glands. Physiology: spermatogenesis, reproduction hormones, male accessory glands and their function.
Integumentary system and annexed glands. Mammary gland biology: breast morphology, notes on lactogenesis (milk and colostrum), lactation endocrinology and milk synthesis.
Endocrine system: Outline of glands: thyroid and endocrine pancreas.
Animal Genetics Part (Prof. Parma)
The following topics will be covered during the course:
1. Mendel's laws and its exceptions (3 hours)
2. The Mitosis and Meiosis process (2 hours)
3. Genetic linkage (4 hours)
4. The composition of the genetic material (DNA and RNA) (1 hour)
5. The transcription process (2 hours)
6. The translation process (2 hours)
7. Quantitative characters (7 hours)
8. Basis of population genetics (7 hours)
9. Natural selection (fitness) (2 hours)
10. Hardy-Weiberg law and its consequences and applications (5 hours)
11. Genetic markers (VNTR and SNP) and their use in the artificial selection process (5 hours
The topics will be presented in the order in which they are listed. The program does not differ between attending and non-attending students.
Basic notions on animal tissues (types and functions of epithelial, connective, muscular and nervous tissues).
Locomotor apparatus: Structure and physiology of the bone. Anatomy and physiology of the muscle fiber.
Circulatory system: Anatomy: heart, arteries, veins and capillaries. Physiology: myocardium, cardiac cycle, regulation of cardiovascular functions. Figured elements of blood. Plasma and serum. Hematopoiesis, hemostasis and coagulation. Lymph and lymphatic pathways.
Respiratory system: Anatomy: respiratory tract, lungs, pleurae. Physiology: respiratory cycle, transport of gases, nervous control of breath.
Digestive system: Anatomy: oral cavity, salivary glands, esophagus, stomach in monogastric, stomach in polygastric, intestine, pancreas and liver. Physiology: food chewing, salivary secretion, swallowing, motility of the stomach and prestomachs, rumen fermentation, gastric, pancreatic and enteric juice, bile, intestinal motility, digestion and absorption.
Urinary system: Anatomy: kidney, ureter, bladder and urethra, renal circulation. Physiology: glomerular filtration, reabsorption and secretion, endocrine regulation, renal hormones, water-saline homeostasis, urine composition.
Female reproductive system: Anatomy: ovary, tube, uterus. Physiology: oogenesis, estrous cycle, female reproduction hormones. Pregnancy and childbirth.
Male reproductive system: Anatomy: testicle and spermatic pathways, accessory sex glands. Physiology: spermatogenesis, reproduction hormones, male accessory glands and their function.
Integumentary system and annexed glands. Mammary gland biology: breast morphology, notes on lactogenesis (milk and colostrum), lactation endocrinology and milk synthesis.
Endocrine system: Outline of glands: thyroid and endocrine pancreas.
Animal Genetics Part (Prof. Parma)
The following topics will be covered during the course:
1. Mendel's laws and its exceptions (3 hours)
2. The Mitosis and Meiosis process (2 hours)
3. Genetic linkage (4 hours)
4. The composition of the genetic material (DNA and RNA) (1 hour)
5. The transcription process (2 hours)
6. The translation process (2 hours)
7. Quantitative characters (7 hours)
8. Basis of population genetics (7 hours)
9. Natural selection (fitness) (2 hours)
10. Hardy-Weiberg law and its consequences and applications (5 hours)
11. Genetic markers (VNTR and SNP) and their use in the artificial selection process (5 hours
The topics will be presented in the order in which they are listed. The program does not differ between attending and non-attending students.
Prerequisites for admission
Anatomy Part (Prof. Gandolfi)
Basic knowledge in animal biology, The following exams are recommended: Biology.
Animal Genetics Part (Prof. Parma)
No previous knowledge is required, both in the case of attending and non-attending students.
Basic knowledge in animal biology, The following exams are recommended: Biology.
Animal Genetics Part (Prof. Parma)
No previous knowledge is required, both in the case of attending and non-attending students.
Teaching methods
Anatomy Part (Prof. Gandolfi)
Frontal lessons + exercises
Animal Genetics Module (Prof. Parma)
The couse is composed by lectures (3 ECTS) and exercises (1 ECTS); this last will be held in preparation for the written exam. All the teaching material used in the course is made available on ARIEL. The exercises are structured in such a way as to reinforce the knowledge presented during the lectures and consider real field examples. Attendance to the course is not compulsory; however it is recommended.
Frontal lessons + exercises
Animal Genetics Module (Prof. Parma)
The couse is composed by lectures (3 ECTS) and exercises (1 ECTS); this last will be held in preparation for the written exam. All the teaching material used in the course is made available on ARIEL. The exercises are structured in such a way as to reinforce the knowledge presented during the lectures and consider real field examples. Attendance to the course is not compulsory; however it is recommended.
Teaching Resources
Anatomy part (Prof. Gandolfi)
HG Liebich
Istologia e anatomia microscopica dei mammiferi domestici e degli uccelli
PICCIN Data Pubblicazione: 2012
ISBN: 978-88-299-2099-0
Oystein V. Sjaastad, Iav Sand, Knut Hove.
Fisiologia degli Animali Domestici.
Casa Editrice Ambrosiana. Data Pubblicazione: 2013
ISBN: 9788808182937
As an alternative to the two above
Viscardo Beghelli, Ruggero Bortolami, Emilio Callegari, Paolo Clavenzani
Anatomia e fisiologia degli animali domestici
Edagricole. Data Pubblicazione: 2009
ISBN 978-88-506-5311-9
Slides of the lectures and study materials will be available in the website Ariel (http://ariel.unimi.it/)
Animal genetic part (Prof. parma)
Recommended text
ELEMENTS OF GENETICS RUSSELL, WOLFE, HERTZ, MCMILLAN, EDISES 2016 ISBN 978-88-7959-908-5
Recommended text for further information:
Giulio Pagnacco, Animal genetics, Zootechnical and veterinary applications, Third edition, 2020. ISBN: 9788808520173
Furthermore, all the material presented in lectures and exercises (slides, concept maps, spreadsheets, scientific articles) will be available on the Ariel website.
Students with disabilities will be supported as required by law
HG Liebich
Istologia e anatomia microscopica dei mammiferi domestici e degli uccelli
PICCIN Data Pubblicazione: 2012
ISBN: 978-88-299-2099-0
Oystein V. Sjaastad, Iav Sand, Knut Hove.
Fisiologia degli Animali Domestici.
Casa Editrice Ambrosiana. Data Pubblicazione: 2013
ISBN: 9788808182937
As an alternative to the two above
Viscardo Beghelli, Ruggero Bortolami, Emilio Callegari, Paolo Clavenzani
Anatomia e fisiologia degli animali domestici
Edagricole. Data Pubblicazione: 2009
ISBN 978-88-506-5311-9
Slides of the lectures and study materials will be available in the website Ariel (http://ariel.unimi.it/)
Animal genetic part (Prof. parma)
Recommended text
ELEMENTS OF GENETICS RUSSELL, WOLFE, HERTZ, MCMILLAN, EDISES 2016 ISBN 978-88-7959-908-5
Recommended text for further information:
Giulio Pagnacco, Animal genetics, Zootechnical and veterinary applications, Third edition, 2020. ISBN: 9788808520173
Furthermore, all the material presented in lectures and exercises (slides, concept maps, spreadsheets, scientific articles) will be available on the Ariel website.
Students with disabilities will be supported as required by law
Assessment methods and Criteria
Anatomy Part (Prof. Gandolfi)
Anatomy Part (Prof. Gandolfi)
Student knowledge will be assessed through a written exams of 33multiple choice questions.
Animal Genetics Part (Prof. Parma)
The verification of knowledge privilages the student's ability to relate the various topics covered in the course, as well as the ability to apply the right strategies to obtain the correct results.
The exam consists of a written test and an oral test. The written part lasts 60 minutes and involves the resolution of 15 problems (all similar to those presented in the course); each problem has 4 possible answers, of which only one is correct. Considering that each question is worth 2 points, a minimum of 14 points must be achieved to be admitted to the oral exam. The final grade of the module is then established following the oral exam (which in any case takes into account the evaluation received in the written part). Any additional material necessary for the performance of the test will be provided by the teacher. Failure to pass the oral part, or the refusal of the grade assigned, does not invalidate the written part. There are no intermediate tests.
The results of the written tests are communicated on the ARIEL website of the course (in respect of privacy).
Final Note
The student must achieve a pass in both modules and the final grade is given by the average of the two grades.
Anatomy Part (Prof. Gandolfi)
Student knowledge will be assessed through a written exams of 33multiple choice questions.
Animal Genetics Part (Prof. Parma)
The verification of knowledge privilages the student's ability to relate the various topics covered in the course, as well as the ability to apply the right strategies to obtain the correct results.
The exam consists of a written test and an oral test. The written part lasts 60 minutes and involves the resolution of 15 problems (all similar to those presented in the course); each problem has 4 possible answers, of which only one is correct. Considering that each question is worth 2 points, a minimum of 14 points must be achieved to be admitted to the oral exam. The final grade of the module is then established following the oral exam (which in any case takes into account the evaluation received in the written part). Any additional material necessary for the performance of the test will be provided by the teacher. Failure to pass the oral part, or the refusal of the grade assigned, does not invalidate the written part. There are no intermediate tests.
The results of the written tests are communicated on the ARIEL website of the course (in respect of privacy).
Final Note
The student must achieve a pass in both modules and the final grade is given by the average of the two grades.
Anatomia e fisiologia degli animali domestici
AGR/17 - LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS, ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS
VET/01 - VETERINARY ANATOMY
VET/01 - VETERINARY ANATOMY
Practicals: 8 hours
Lessons: 28 hours
Lessons: 28 hours
Professor:
Gandolfi Fulvio
Genetica animale
AGR/17 - LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS, ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS
VET/01 - VETERINARY ANATOMY
VET/01 - VETERINARY ANATOMY
Field activity: 16 hours
Lessons: 24 hours
Lessons: 24 hours
Professor:
Parma Pietro
Professor(s)
Reception:
From Monday to Friday upon appointment
Office or after the lectures
Reception:
by appointment
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, Building 6