SCV0407 - ANIMAL BIOTECNOLOGY

courses

ID:

SCV0407

Duration (hours):

52

CFU:

SSD:

ZOOCOLTURE

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (28/09/2025 - 29/01/2026)

Course Objectives

The course aims to provide students, through both theoretical and practical activities, with a solid understanding of traditional biotechnologies applied to the animal sector, complemented by essential knowledge of livestock and laboratory species management, with a particular focus on aquatic species. Upon completion of the course and successful assessment, students will be able to: • Understand the anatomy and physiology of major fish species of zootechnical interest; • Acquire knowledge of modern farming techniques that ensure animal welfare; • Apply principles related to feeding and reproduction in aquaculture; • Understand and apply artificial fertilization techniques in various animal species, with particular emphasis on those of commercial importance.

Course Prerequisites

A basic knowledge of Animal Biology and Developmental Biology is required. For a better understanding of the course content, it is recommended that students have successfully completed exams in Chemistry and Physics.

Teaching Methods

The course includes lectures (5 ECTS) and laboratory sessions (1 ECTS). Lectures will be delivered using multimedia presentations and will be supplemented with short educational videos to enhance understanding of the topics covered. Laboratory sessions will take place in the Biological Laboratory, located on the basement level (-1) of the building at Via Dunant, 3. During the sessions, continuous supervision will be provided by the instructor and one or more teaching assistants. Wearing a lab coat is mandatory for the entire duration of laboratory activities. Attendance at laboratory sessions is compulsory. Students with allergies or intolerances to reagents or other substances that may be present in the laboratory must inform the instructor prior to the start of the laboratory module.

Assessment Methods

The student’s preparation will be assessed through an in-depth oral examination, aimed at verifying the acquisition of knowledge related to the topics covered during the course. The exam will consist of three questions: • two on the theoretical component; • one on the laboratory activities, designed to assess a thorough understanding of the practical sessions. The final grade, expressed on a scale of 30, will take into account: • accuracy and completeness of the answers; • quality of reasoning and the ability to justify statements, analyses, and evaluations; • clarity of presentation and appropriate use of scientific terminology; • communication skills demonstrated during the discussion. The exam is considered passed with a minimum score of 18/30. To achieve the maximum grade, students must provide excellent answers to all three questions and demonstrate the ability to critically and coherently connect different aspects of the acquired knowledge.

After a brief introduction to animal biotechnology, the course will outline the main practices used in the production of livestock animals, with a review of the fundamental concepts of morphology and physiology of farmed species. Particular attention will be devoted to aquatic species farming techniques, both for agri-food production and for their use as laboratory model organisms. The course will also examine the limitations of sustainable production and product quality, highlighting how these issues can be addressed through the application of biotechnologies. The program includes: Lectures (5 ECTS, 40 hours). Biotechnologies in the animal production sector. • Sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs: reproductive system; hormonal regulation of reproduction; techniques for planned insemination (evaluation, cryopreservation, and semen sexing). • Fish species: physiology of Osteichthyes with examples of commonly farmed species; techniques for controlled reproduction in fish. • Overview of aquaculture systems: global fish production from capture and aquaculture; sustainability in aquaculture; feeding practices and main diets for economically important species; use of raw materials from the circular economy for fish feed; quality parameters of fish products. Laboratory Activities (1 ECTS, 12 hours) Four practical sessions are planned: 1. Dissection of a fish, with identification and removal of organs and tissues (0.25 ECTS – 3 hours). 2. Macro- and microscopic morphology of gonads (ovaries and testes) from cattle and of male and female gametes; description of in vitro fertilization and culture protocols (0.25 ECTS – 3 hours). 3. Cryopreservation techniques for male and female animal gametes (0.25 ECTS – 3 hours). 4. Extraction of nucleic acids from animal tissues and analysis of gene expression (0.25 ECTS – 3 hours). One of the laboratory sessions may be replaced by a visit to the University Animal Housing Facility.