QUANTITATIVE GENETICS
ANSC 6335
Spring Semester, 2009
SYLLABUS
Instructor: S. D. Lukefahr, Regents Professor
Office: Kleberg AG 115
Office Hours: The schedule of my teaching activities is posted on my office door (appointments are not necessary).
Phone/Fax/E-mail: 593-3699/ 593-3788/ s-lukefahr@tamuk.edu
Classroom: AG 126
Class Time: 9:30-10:45, TR
Text: Introduction to Quantitative Genetics by Falconer and Mackay (4th Ed.). 1996. Longman Group, Ltd., NY. (ISBN 0582-24302-5). A student of this institution is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from a university-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.
Grading: Five homework problems @ 20 points each, two examinations @ 100 points each, and a comprehensive final worth 100 points. Total of 400 points. For Ph.D. candidates, more in-depth problems on homework assignments and examinations will be required involving greater problem solving skills and computer competency.
360-400=A, 320-359=B, 280-319=C, 240-279=D, 0-239=F
Final Examination: May 9, Saturday (8:00-10:30)
Catalogue Description: Quantitative methodologies for altering the genetic properties and/or achieving genetic progress in livestock populations. Application of genetic software packages.
Course Objective: To provide instruction on advanced topics of theoretical and applied quantitative aspects of Animal Breeding & Genetics in relation to livestock production.
Student Learning Outcomes:
1) Students will demonstrate a basic understanding of the concepts and applications of quantitative genetics by passing a comprehensive final examination.
2) Students will master key concepts and applications and comprehend the basis of genetic parameters of populations and individual values, such as animal coancestry, breeding value, genetic trend, heritability, heterosis, inbreeding depression, and selection gain.
3) Students will understand Henderson's mixed-model procedures involving the animal model application used to provide genetic evaluations of animals for economic traits.
4) Students will gain experience and proficiency in using available software programs designed to estimate genetic parameters and values, such as AIREML, LSMLMW, and MTDFREML.
Useful Website Locations for Study:
Genup (A collection of genetic software programs: http://www-personal.une.edu.au/~bkinghor/genup.htm)
Course Contents:
Chapter Subject
______________________________________________________________
6 Continuous Variation
7 Values and Means
8 Variance
9 Resemblance between Relatives
10 Heritability
11 Selection: I. The Response and its Prediction
The Animal Model: Introduction and Applications
- The full animal model for genetic evaluations
- Model for maternally-influenced traits
- Model for correlated traits
- Model for multiple breed evaluations involving purebred and crossbred data
Policies of Attendance, Excused Absences, Make-up Exams: Regular attendance is required for satisfactory completion of the course. According to university policy, excessive absences -- three consecutive absences or eight in total -- will result in the student being officially removed from the course. It is the student's full responsibility to obtain information from any missed lecture or lab, whether excused or unexcused. There are no make-ups for missed exams or quizzes. If the student is participating in a university-sponsored event, s/he is expected to contact Dr. Lukefahr BEFORE an exam is missed (barring medical emergency).
Disability statement:
“Students with disabilities, including learning disabilities, who wish to request accommodations in class, should register with the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office early in the semester so that appropriate arrangements may be made. In accordance with federal laws, a student requesting special accommodations must provide documentation of their disability to the SSD coordinator.”
Academic misconduct statement:
“You are expected to practice academic honesty in every aspect of this course and all other courses. Make sure you are familiar with the Student Handbook, especially the section on academic misconduct. Students who engage in academic misconduct are subject to university disciplinary procedures.”
Forms of academic dishonesty:
a. Cheating: deception in which a student misrepresents that he/she has mastered information on an academic exercise that he/she has not mastered; giving or receiving aid unauthorized by the instructor on assignments or examinations.
b. Academic misconduct: tampering with grades or taking part in obtaining or distributing any part of a scheduled test.
c. Fabrication: use of invented information or falsified research.
d. Plagiarism: unacknowledged quotation and/or paraphrase of someone else's words, ideas, or data as one's own in work submitted for credit. Failure to identify information or essays from the Internet and submitting them as one's own work also constitutes plagiarism.
Nonacademic misconduct statement:
“The university respects the rights of instructors to teach and students to learn. Maintenance of these rights requires campus conditions that do not impede their exercise. Campus behavior that interferes with the instructor’s ability to conduct the class or the ability of other students to profit from the instructional program will not be tolerated. An individual engaging in such disruptive behavior may be subject to disciplinary action.”
Sexual misconduct statement:
“Sexual harassment of students or employees at Texas A&M University-Kingsville is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Any member of the university community violating this policy will be subject to disciplinary action."