Molecular Genetics and Animal Models

The integrated course of Molecular Genetics and Animal Models of the Biotechnology Degree Course, Veterinary curriculum, aims to provide students basic theory, main applications and techniques in molecular genetics in animal breeding and selection. Regarding breeding and genetics of laboratory animals, specific aspects are described.
The Laboratory Animal Breeding module, provides the basis for training a biotechnologist regarding the sustainable management of laboratory animals (rodents, lagomorphs) in compliance with current European legislation and the 3R principle. Finally, emphasis is given to animal welfare, also illustrating non-invasive imaging methods for studying the thermoregulation of the animal during its use for experimental purposes.

Students will acquire basic information regarding the management of laboratory animals in the technical-managerial, environmental and with aspects of biology respecting the welfare standards in force at European level. To achieve this goal, in addition to lectures, it is planned to carry out exercises at research facilities in the sector and at specialized centers for the breeding of laboratory animals. Students will consolidate their knowledge of general genetics and will acquire specific information about the genetic principles and techniques underlying breeding, selection, and diagnostic in domestic and laboratory animals with a molecular genetic approach. To achieve these objectives, in addition to lectures, molecular genetics exercises and practical seminars are planned at facilities of the Univesity of Milan , as well as in other centers of excellence of the territory.

Module Prof. Longeri
Lectures (24hs)

- The selection of farm, pet and laboratory animals (mainly rodents). Concepts of kinship and consanguinity. Breeder associations, studbooks, registers, the concept of genetic evaluation of breeding stock (2hs)

- Qualitative and quantitative characters (2hs)

- Genes of veterinary interest. Concepts of mutation and genetic polymorphism. Principles and methods of PCR, allele-specific PCR, PCR / RFLP and electrophoresis techniques. (6hs)

- Principles and methods of automated nucleotide sequencing on clones, gDNA and mtDNA (4 hs)

- Molecular markers and their applications: genetic profile, paternity test, traceability of animals and products, estimation of genetic diversity. Principles and methods of fragment analysis. (6hs)

- Association and linkage. Molecular markers for genetic maps, gene mapping, haplotype concept. Hints on gene mapping with SNP microarray (4hs)

Practicals (32hs)

- Educational visits to service and research laboratories specialized in animal molecular genetics (12hs)

- Individual practice of in silico analysis on the following topics: design of primers for PCR, identification of enzymes to set up a restriction, reading and alignment test of nucleotide sequences. Navigation in NCBI and Ensemble genomics databases (12 hs)

- Seminars (8Hs)

Prof. Luzi module

Mouse and rat breeding (total hours 2)
Guinea pig breeding (total hours 1)
Rabbit farming (total hours 1)
Environment and welfare of the laboratory animal (total 2 hours)
Current European legislation and ethical aspects (total hours 2)
Thermography as refinement technology (total hours 4)
Imaging techniques for the study of animal welfare (total hours 4)

Training sessions (16 hours)
Non-invasive imaging exercises (total hours 6)
Visits to industries operating in the field of facilities for laboratory animals (total hours 5)
Visits to research centres using laboratory animals (total hours 5)

[Program for not attending students with reference to descriptor 1 and 2]:
identical to that of the attending students