There is no required textbook for this course. A range of excellent textbooks relevant to Animal Breeding and Genetics can be found in the University Library. These include:
Genetic improvement of sheep and cattle. G. Simm
Introduction to Veterinary Genetics. F. Nicholas
Genetics for the Animal Sciences. D. van Vleck
Introduction to Quantitative Genetics. D. Falconer

MyUni: Teaching materials and course documentation will be posted on the MyUni website (http://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/).

A student enrolled in a 3 unit course, such as this, should expect to spend, on average 12 hours per week on the studies required. This includes both the formal contact time required to the course (e.g., lectures and practicals), as well as non-contact time (e.g., reading and revision).

The course content will include the following:

Lecture topics

• Breeding programs
• Natural selection
• Impact of reproductive technologies
• Parentage testing
• Inbreeding coefficients
• Mendelian and non-mendelian modes of inheritance
• Gene mapping
• Selection index
• Calculation of economic values

Practical topics:

• Cattle physical traits
• Adelaide Zoo visit
• Sheep stud visit
• Turretfield Research Centre visit

Tutorial topics:

• Genetic and environmental effects
• Maximising response to selection
• Development of relationship matrix
• Calculation of inbreeding
• Genome mapping

Practical classes within laboratories require a minimum of sneakers and the wearing of a laboratory gown (that will be supplied). Students must wear any required safety or protective clothing as directed. Practicals involving animal handling will require appropriate footwear and overalls.

Attendance at practicals and tutorials is compulsory. Students are able to apply for an allowed absence from a class by submitting the application form, with appropriate supporting documentation, to the Course Co-ordinator. Application forms can be downloaded from http://www.sciences.adelaide.edu.au/current-students/forms/savs-allowed-leaveofabsence-tute-prac.pdf.

Mid semester exam (15% of the total grade)
Students will sit a 1hr mid semester exam that will cover topics already completed in lectures, practicals and tutorials. Students will be able to gauge their understanding of the topics so far presented in preparation for the end of semester exam.

Practical reports (30% of the total grade)
Students will complete a series of activities within the allotted practical periods based around setting goals against a series of overall objectives. These goals will be evaluated and reassessed during semester as students progress through particular areas. Overall, goal setting exercise is a small percentage of the final grade (5%). Remainder of the practical report allotment divided between computing practical reports/write-ups and a project based on a topic in the field of genomics. Students and course co-ordinator agree on percentage splits at the beginning of the course.

Breeding program (20% of the total grade)
Students must write a breeding program for a species and traits that they wish to improve. The breeding program is presented as an essay, following a detailed list of questions/topics to be addressed. Word limit is 3000 words.

Final Exam (35% of the total grade)
Students will sit a 3 hr final exam that will cover all topics from the course. Questions will be a variety of short and long answer.

Submission of work for assessment
For the written assignment and the practical reports, an electronic copy of the assignments and practical reports must be submitted via MyUni. A hard copy with a signed cover sheet attached must also be submitted into the course collection box at the Reception Desk in the Williams Building, Roseworthy Campus. All assignments must be submitted electronically by 11.59 pm on the due date and the hard copy must be submitted by 12 noon the following day. Cover sheets are available on MyUni and at the Reception desk.

Extensions for Assessment Tasks
Extensions of deadlines for assessment tasks may be allowed for reasonable causes. Such situations would include compassionate and medical grounds of the severity that would justify the awarding of a supplementary examination. Evidence for the grounds must be provided when an extension is requested. Students are required to apply for an extension to the Course Co-ordinator before the assessment task is due. Extensions will not be provided on the grounds of poor prioritising of time. The assessment extension application form can be obtained from: http://www.sciences.adelaide.edu.au/current/ 

Penalty for Late Submission of Assessment Tasks
Assessment tasks must be submitted by the stated deadlines. Any assessment item submitted after the published date, without prior approval of an extension on medical or compassionate grounds, will not be marked.

Provision of Feedback to Students
Marked reports will be returned as soon as possible after the due date. Feedback on assignments will be via annotations on reports. Should students wish to have verbal feedback on assignments an appointment should be made with the course coordinator. Any assessment items not collected by the end of the examination period for Semester 1 will be destroyed.

Late submission of assessments
If an extension is not applied for, or not granted then a penalty for late submission will apply. A penalty of zero will be allocated to late submitted assessment.