CONSERVATION GENETICS

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Academic Year of enrolment:

2019/2020

Optional/Mandatory:

Compulsory

Degree:

Master's Degree Programme in LAND AND ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT

Language:

Italian

Segments:

CONSERVATION GENETICS

2 credits
CONSERVATION GENETICS

4 credits

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

SCANDURA Massimo

Hours of classroom activity:

Prerequisites:

Principles of Genetics

AF code:

A001412

Assessment Methods

Verification of learning:

Student’s project evaluation and written test on the content of the course.
These evaluation methods will allow to assess the specific skills achieved by the student during the course. In particular the project presentation will make clear which degree of autonomy he/she has reached in dealing with the general subject of the course, in using the methodological and electronic tools available to collect the needed data, and in presenting clearly and synthetically an own project.

Teaching period

First semester

Objectives

The course of Conservation Genetics provides a basic knowledge to comprehend the value of genetic diversity and the micro-evolutionary processes that shape it, as well as to identify the major threats to their maintenance.
Specifically, the main skills achieved by the students will be:
- concept of genetic diversity and its relevance
- elements of population genetics
- methodological approaches in DNA-based surveys
- effects of demography, fragmentation and hybridization
- taxonomical issues and phylogenetics
- forensic genetics on endangered species
- genetic management of threatened taxa.
The preparation of a project referred to a specific case study will induce the student to develop capacities of critical reasoning, through an autonomous technical-scientific activity, evaluating and interpreting published experimental data. The project presentation will contribute to train the communication skills, favoring an attitude to clearly expose information, scientific data and personal conclusions to an audience of specialists and non-specialists. The preparation of this project will offer the occasion to use data banks and scientific publications on international journals, to collect data on which the student will apply the knowledge acquired attending the course.

Contents

The course will deal with the following topics:
- Introductory concepts: conservation biology, genetic diversity, molecular markers, alleles and genotypes, allelic frequencies and regulating forces
- Issues with small populations: bottleneck and genetic drift
- Effective population size (Ne) and inbreeding
- Gene flow and genetic population structure
- Mutation, selection, adaptation and fitness
- Hybridization and introgression
- Genetic aspects in translocations and reintroductions
- Genetic management of endangered taxa: in situ and ex situ conservation
- Forensic applications in animal conservation and non-invasive genetic monitoring
- Threats to the conservation of genetic diversity: case studies
- Laboratory methods: DNA isolation and genotyping
- Practice on data analysis: taxonomical determination and analysis of non-invasive genetic data
Through these educational experiences the student will allow to appreciate the importance of genetic diversity and its evolution, to know the methods to monitor such diversity in natural and captive populations, and to comprehend the cause-effect mechanisms that lead to a loss of diversity with negative impacts on population viability. This will provide to the student the knowledge to define experimental protocols for genetic monitoring of populations and the implementation of adequate investigation approaches and innovative technologies.

Recommended Bibliography

ENG: Introduction to Conservation Genetics -FrankhamR., BallouJ.D., BriscoeD.A. (2010) 2nd edition. Cambridge University Press
ENG: Conservation and the Genetics of Populations – Allendorf F.W., LuikartG.H.,Aitken S.N. (2012) John Wiley & Sons
The slides and supplementary materials used for lectures and practicals will be made accessible to the students through online platform.

Methods of Provision

Conventional

Teaching Methods

The course has a theoretical-practical nature and is organized in two parts:
Part 1 (32 hours) - lectures on theoretical aspects. This part will give the student a base knowledge on genetic diversity, how to measure it, what induces its changes and which are the main threats,
Part 2 (16 hours) – practicals including lab work and statistical training on genetic data. Through this practical experiences the student will acquire the capacity to obtain genetic data in the lab and to perform calculations and statistical tests on them in order to assess the genetic status of a population.
Students will be also asked to prepare a short project, dealing with an animal species, a threat and a possible evaluation of its impact on the genetic diversity of the species. The project will be presented to the class at the end of the course. This activity is aimed to develop critical and communication skills in the student, by training him/her to gather information on a specific issue, to define autonomously an investigation approach, to come out with a possible management solution, and to publicly expose it.

Contacts/More Information

Contacts:
Dipartimento di MEDICINA VETERINARIA
VIA VIENNA 2A, 07100 SASSARI
Tel. 079 228628
e-mail: scandura@uniss.it

Readiness to offer individual assistance in a foreign language to incoming students (English): YES
Availability of supporting material and bibliographic references also in a foreign language (English): YES
Readiness to accept examination of incoming students also in a foreign language (English) : YES

CONSERVATION GENETICS

Course year: 1

Course year: 2

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CONSERVATION GENETICS