Genetics: From the Classroom to the Farmyard

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Genetics From the Classroom to the Farmyard

• Dr. Alan G. Fahey
• Lecturer in Animal Breeding
• School of Agriculture, Food Science, and
  Veterinary Medicine
• University College Dublin, Ireland
• October 10th 2009

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Background

• Leaving Certificate Ardscoil Ris, Limerick
• BAgrSc University College Dublin
• MS Purdue University, Indiana, USA
• PhD Purdue University, Indiana, USA

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Teaching

• Animal Breeding I Agriculture Science students
• Animal Breeding II Agriculture Science students
• Experimental Design and Data Analysis
  Agriculture Science students
• Genetics and Breeding Undergrad Vet and GE Vet
  Students

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Research Interests

• Selection Index Theory
• Genotype x Environment Interactions
• Genetic Conservation
• Dairy cattle
• Beef cattle
• Poultry
• Sheep
• Horses

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What is Animal Breeding?
Genetics
Molecular Genetics
Quantitative Genetics (Animal Breeding)
Black Box Approach
Gene Association Studies
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Genotype Environment
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Phenotype Genotype Environment
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Multiple Trait Selection

• Selection of more than one trait at a time
• Profitability of agriculture enterprises depends
  on many traits
• Traits of economic importance are controlled by
  many genes know as quantitative traits
• Traits under the control of many genes have a
  continuous variation e.g. Milk yield

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8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Frequency ()
1500 2000 2500
3000 3500 4000
4500
First lactation milk yield (litres)
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Irish Dairy Selection Index (2000-2007)
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Irish Dairy Selection Index Weightings
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Economic Breeding Index (EBI)

• Informs us of the genetic value of the animal to
  its progeny
• Given an economic value to help farmers
  understand the profitability due to selection of
  particular animals

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Selection indices worldwide
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(No Transcript)
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C
C
www.eurogeneaiservices.com
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How do we use this information?

• We can use it to predict the performance of
  future progeny!

EBI 80
EBI 250
EBI 165
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Why is the EBI of the calf 165

• MEIOSIS

EBI 250
EBI 80
Transmits 50 of his genes EBI Transmitted
250 0.5125
Transmits 50 of her genes EBI Transmitted 80
0.540
EBI 125 40 165
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What if we do not know the EBI of the cow?

• Let her equal to the average EBI
• Average EBI 0

EBI 0
EBI 250
EBI 125
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You may have noticed?
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http//www.icbf.com/services/evaluations/files/mat
erial_industry_article_2_030309.pdf
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OJI has a lot of relatives in the dairy population

• This can lead to inbreeding
• Inbreeding increases homozygosity in the
  population
• Increased probability that homozygous recessives
  will occur possible deleterious effects
• Inbreeding results in inbreeding depression
• Loss of performance due to 1 inbreeding

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Inbreeding Depression

McParland et al., 2009
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Teaching resources

• General Information
• www.icbf.com
• http//www.icbf.com/publications/glossaryatol.php
  (glossary)
• http//www.icbf.com/publications/2008cattlestat.ph
  p (cattle statistics)
• http//www.icbf.com/publications/index.php
  (publications)
• www.sheep.ie
• http//www.sheep.ie/publications/glossary.php
  (glossary)
• http//www.sheep.ie/publications/referencedocs.php
  (publications)
• Sheep Breed Societies
• www.belclaresheep.com
• www.charollaissheep.com
• www.pedigreesheep.com
• www.irishtexel.com
• www.vendeensheep.ie
• www.mayosheepproducers.com
• www.suffolksheep.org

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Teaching resources
Rare Irish Breeds www.kerrycattle.ie www.irishspec
klepark.com www.dextercattle.co.uk

• Dairy Cattle
• www.irishshorthorns.com
• www.ihfa.com
• www.ukjerseys.com
• www.brownswissusa.com
• Beef Cattle
• www.aberdeen-angus.co.uk
• www.irishangus.ie
• www.ibbcs.com
• www.aubrac.ie
• www.irishblondedaquitaine.ie
• www.charolais.ie
• www.irishhereford.com
• www.irishlimousin.com
• www.irishpiemontesesociety.ie
• http//www.irishsimmental.com/

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Teaching resources

• Irish Farmers Journal
• Irish Independent Farming Supplement
• Irish Farmers Monthly
• Ear to the Ground
• Teagasc Booklets
• A.I Station websites and catalogues
• Google!

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Teaching Strategy

• Get students to research different breeds for an
  enterprise e.g. Beef
• Divide the students into two groups and get them
  to debate each other on why their choice of
  breed(s) is the best choice

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Research Opportunity

• SFI Secondary Teacher Assistant Researchers
  (STARs) Programme
• www.sfi.ie

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Questions ?