Introduction to Genetics and Breeding

1. Explain the structure and function of animal cells and their components.
2. Describe the principles of Mendelian and non-Mendelian inheritance.
3. Differentiate between quantitative and qualitative traits.
4. Apply selection principles to improve livestock.
5. Evaluate different breeding methods for specific goals.

13 weeks, about 68 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1: The Molecular Basis of Heredity – The Animal Cell, Its Components and the Genetic Code

   • Unit 1: Structure of an animal cell and functions of the major components · 4 hours

     Study the structure of animal cells and their major components.. Understand the functions of the nucleus, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, peroxisomes, and mitochondria.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment 1..

   • Unit 2: Chromosomes · 3 hours

     Identify the structure of a chromosome.. Explain the essential parts of a chromosome, including the centromere and telomere.. Understand the role of each segment in cell division.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment 2..

2. Week 2Module 1: The Molecular Basis of Heredity – The Animal Cell, Its Components and the Genetic Code

   • Unit 3: DNA and RNA · 4 hours

     Explain the meaning of DNA and RNA and state their roles.. List the four different types of bases contained by each of DNA and RNA.. Understand the structural components of DNA and RNA.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment 3..

   • Unit 4: The Genetic code · 3 hours

     Understand the concept of genetic code.. Name the scientists that were among the first to crack the code.. Understand the components of amino acids.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment 4..

3. Week 3Module 2: Mendelism: The Fundamental Principles of Inheritance

   • Unit 1: Definitions of Some Genetic Terms · 5 hours

     Define genetics and animal breeding.. Distinguish between animal genetics and animal breeding.. Define other genetic terminologies: gene, allele, dominant, recessive, homozygous, heterozygous, genotype, phenotype, heredity, and variation.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment 5..

4. Week 4Module 2: Mendelism: The Fundamental Principles of Inheritance

   • Unit 2: History of Genetics I (Darwin, Mendel and others) · 4 hours

     Mention some important dates in the historical lives of Charles Darwin, Gregor Mendel, and others.. Highlight major contributions made by Gregor Mendel regarding principles of genetics.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment 6..

5. Week 5Module 2: Mendelism: The Fundamental Principles of Inheritance

   • Unit 3: History of Genetics II (Watson and Crick and others) · 5 hours

     Highlight the major contributions made by Morgan Thomas, Watson and Crick, as well as Ian Wilmut.. Briefly explain the Human Genome Project.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment 7..

6. Week 6Module 3: Mendelian Genetics and Non Mendelian Inheritance

   • Unit 1: Mendelian genetics I (Mendel's first law and the law of dominance) · 5 hours

     Explain how Mendel conducted his experiment.. State Mendel's first law and show how to calculate the monohybrid ratio of 1:2:1.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment 8..

7. Week 7Module 3: Mendelian Genetics and Non Mendelian Inheritance

   • Unit 2: Mendelian genetics II (Mendel's second law and the Punnet Square) · 5 hours

     State Mendel's second law, also known as the law of independent assortment.. Use the Punnet square in solving dihybrid crossing and calculations leading to the dihybrid ratio of 9:3:3:1.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment 9..

8. Week 8Module 3: Mendelian Genetics and Non Mendelian Inheritance

   • Unit 3: Non Mendelian inheritance I (Types of gene action) · 5 hours

     Explain the various inheritance patterns that disobey Mendel laws, including incomplete dominance, multiple alleles, incomplete penetrance, and variable expressivity.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment 10..

9. Week 9Module 3: Mendelian Genetics and Non Mendelian Inheritance

   • Unit 4: Non Mendelian inheritance II (Types of gene action) · 5 hours

     Explain the various inheritance patterns that disobey Mendel laws, including sex-limited traits, sex-influenced traits, sex-linked traits, and lethal genes.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment 11..

10. Week 10Module 4: Quantitative and Qualitative Characters and their Mode of Inheritance

    • Unit 1: Quantitative and qualitative inheritance · 5 hours

      Define quantitative trait as well as qualitative trait.. Give some examples of traits that are quantitative and those that are qualitative.. Understand the concept of heritability of a trait.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment 12..

11. Week 11Module 4: Quantitative and Qualitative Characters and their Mode of Inheritance

    • Unit 2: Heritability and repeatability · 5 hours

      Define heritability and repeatability of a trait.. Categorize heritability into its two components and explain each.. Mention the importance of both heritability and repeatability.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment 13..

12. Week 12Module 4: Quantitative and Qualitative Characters and their Mode of Inheritance

    • Unit 3: Animal variation and selection principles · 5 hours

      Define natural and artificial selection.. List and describe the methods of selection for a single trait: mass selection, pedigree selection, family selection, and progeny selection.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment 14..

13. Week 13Module 4: Quantitative and Qualitative Characters and their Mode of Inheritance

    • Unit 4: Breeding methods · 5 hours

      Define breeding method or mating system.. Explain the various breeding methods available, including random mating, inbreeding, outbreeding, and crossbreeding systems.. Complete Tutor Marked Assignment 15..