208-328 Biodiversity and Genetics

202-103 Biology for Land and Food Resources, 202-101 Chemistry for Land and Food Resources, 208-211 Plants Communities in Action.

This subject should give students an understanding of the applications of animals and plant genetics in conservation management and food and fibre production, covering both indigenous and domestic species. Students will investigate the importance of biodiversity, the philosophy of genetic modification, genetic engineering, gene pool control, the use of genetically modified organisms in food and fibre production and in the protection of endangered species.

Topics include:

• heritability and normal variation in populations;

• process of speciation;

• mutations and hybridization;

• breeding, cross-breeding, composite breeds, hybrid vigour;

• animal and wildlife management and use of stud books;

• domestic animal breeding programs and artificial insemination;

• vegetation provenances and their importance;

• use of seedbanks and seedbank resource inventory;

• resistance to disease and the environmental adaption of organisms;

• plant propagation and breeding; and

• genetic engineering, genetically modified organisms, crops and food.

Three-hour examination (50%), assignment equivalent to 3000 words (25%), practical report equivalent to 3000 words (25%).