212-314 Genetics and Breeding

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Subject Description

It is expected that on the completion of this subject, students should gain an understanding of the principles and methodology of crop and animal breeding and a knowledge of genes at the levels of populations and their contribution to development of quantitative traits. The topic includes evolutionary processes and genetic variability of plant populations, world wide distribution and conservation of plant genetic resources; methods of breeding self and cross pollinating plants; development of hybrids; chromosome manipulation and polyploidy; breeding methods for disease and insect resistance in agricultural plants; marker-assisted selection; special techniques used in plant breeding: induced mutations, poly ploidy, double haploids, somatic hybridization and tissue culture; commercialisation and intellectual property issues; quantitative genetics in plant and animal breeding; and breeding programs for the economic improvement of livestock.

Assessment

A 2-hour end-of-semester examination and one written assignment (up to 3000 words).