The estimate of biological variability. Elements of mendellian Genetics. Genetic analysis at the molecular level. Genomics. Molecular markers in forestry research.
Population genetics: parameters and equilibrium. Dynamics of populations and speciation.
The interaction with the environment. The genetic analysis of complex traits. Heritability.
Genetic improvement of forest plants: traditional methods and markers assisted selection.
The variability in space and time. Phylogeny.
Suggested readings and notes are reported into the e-learning platform of the course
Learning Objectives
Understanding the genetic basis of biological variability in forestry. Basic knowledge of the main techniques of molecular analysis and processing of the experimental data. Acquisition of modern techniques of genetic improvement and of enhancement and protection of forest biodiversity.
Ability to understand and comment a scientific paper on a research related to forest genetics.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge in Genetics and plant Biology are required.
Teaching Methods
Lecture and practical exercises. Use of the e-learning platform.
Further information
Attendance to lectures and other activities, although not compulsory, is strongly recommended.
Type of Assessment
The exam consists of a written test with multiple-choice questions on all topics of the course. The student can choice (only if he passed the written exam) to integrate the exam including the critical exposition of a scientific publication in English relating to topics covered in the course (this second test allows to add up to six points to the assessment of the written test).
Course program
Basic laws of inheritance and mendelian ratios. Basic of molecular genetics. The genome, its dimension and characteristics in some forest species. Genome evolution.
The molecular markers, characteristics and use to estimate of the genetic structure of populations, to study complex traits and for traceability.
The genetic structure of populations. Estimate of genotypic and gene frequencies, The ideal population and the Hardy-Weinberg law.
Variation in populations and evolutive forces: mutation, gene flow, selection, genetic drift. Joint effects of evolutive forces.
Effect of mating system and of finite (small) populations on the genetic structure. Inbreeding and heterosis.
Disequilibrium of the gamete phase and linkage disequilibrium.
The joint effect of genotype and environment: the theoretic bases of the genetics of complex traits.
The genetic variance, its partition into components and methods used to measure genetic variation. Heritability of a quantitative trait. The genetic correlation.
Breeding of forest species. Traditional methods and molecular approaches: MAB (Marker Assisted Breeding).
Genetic variation in space and time: natural variation in forest tree populations. Geographic variation. Evolutive history and phylogenesis. Coevolution.