Evaluación de Quizizz y Edpuzzle para incrementar la participación del alumnado y la interacción profesor-alumno

El objetivo de este proyecto de innovación docente es seleccionar, validar y consolidar el uso de dos herramientas docentes en abierto, Quizizz y Edpuzzle, para incrementar la participación de los estudiantes y la interacción profesor-alumno.Depto. de Producción AnimalFac. de VeterinariaFALSEunpu

Detección de introgresión genética en la perdiz roja (Alectoris Rufa), mediante análisis del ADN mitocondrial

The analysis of D-Loop, the source of mtDNA replication, in populations from different species of partridges, has proved the existence of differential haplotypes for the Red, Greek and Chuckar partridges. Based on this, we have used a technique using the mitochondrial D-Loop amplification and sequencing which allows the detection of specific mutations, so that inter-specific crossings in the maternal line can be traced. A total of 1410 partridges divided into 282 groups of 5 individuals have been analysed. Results show that in 87 of these groups, there is genetic introgression of partridge species different from the red in at least one individual

Demography and rapid local adaptation shape Creole cattle genome diversity in the tropics

The introduction of Iberian cattle in the Americas after Columbus’ arrival imposed high selection pressures on a limited number of animals over a brief period of time. Knowledge of the genomic regions selected during this process may help in enhancing climatic resilience and sustainable animal production. We first determined taurine and indicine contributions to the genomic structure of modern Creole cattle. Second, we inferred their demographic history using approximate Bayesian computation (ABC), linkage disequilibrium (LD), and Ne Slope (NeS) analysis. Third, we performed whole genome scans for selection signatures based on cross‐population extended haplotype homozygosity (XP‐EHH) and population differentiation (FST) to disentangle the genetic mechanisms involved in adaptation and phenotypic change by a rapid and major environmental transition. To tackle these questions, we combined SNP array data (~54,000 SNPs) in Creole breeds with their modern putative Iberian ancestors. Reconstruction of the population history of Creoles from the end of the 15th century indicated a major demographic expansion until the introduction of zebu and commercial breeds into the Americas ~180 years ago, coinciding with a drastic Ne contraction. NeS analysis provided insights into short‐term complexity in population change and depicted a decrease/expansion episode at the end of the ABC‐inferred expansion, as well as several additional fluctuations in Ne with the attainment of the current small Ne only towards the end of the 20th century. Selection signatures for tropical adaptation pinpointed the thermoregulatory slick hair coat region, identifying a new candidate gene (GDNF), as well as novel candidate regions involved in immune function, behavioural processes, iron metabolism and adaptation to new feeding conditions. The outcomes from this study will help in future‐proofing farm animal genetic resources (FAnGR) by providing molecular tools that allow selection for improved cattle performance, resilience and welfare under climate change

Genomics of dwarfism in Italian local chicken breeds

The identification of the dwarf phenotype in chicken is based on body weight, height, and shank length, leaving the differentiation between dwarf and small breeds ambiguous. The aims of the present study were to characterize the sequence variations associated with the dwarf phenotype in three Italian chicken breeds and to investigate the genes associated with their phenotype. Five hundred and forty-one chickens from 23 local breeds (from 20 to 24 animals per breed) were sampled. All animals were genotyped with the 600 K chicken SNP array. Three breeds were described as “dwarf”, namely, Mericanel della Brianza (MERI), Mugellese (MUG), and Pepoi (PPP). We compared MERI, MUG, and PPP with the four heaviest breeds in the dataset by performing genome-wide association studies. Results showed significant SNPs associated with dwarfism in the MERI and MUG breeds, which shared a candidate genomic region on chromosome 1. Due to this similarity, MERI and MUG were analyzed together as a meta-population, observing significant SNPs in the LEMD3 and HMGA2 genes, which were previously reported as being responsible for dwarfism in different species. In conclusion, MERI and MUG breeds seem to share a genetic basis of dwarfism, which differentiates them from the small PPP breed.Depto. de Producción AnimalFac. de VeterinariaTRUEMinistry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies (Italy)China Scholarship Councilpu

Syringohydromyelia in Dogs: The Genomic Component Underlying a Complex Neurological Disease

Syringohydromyelia (SHM) is a neurological disorder characterized by the appearance of fluid-containing cavities within the spinal cord. Although SHM is thought to be under multigenic control, the molecular basis of this disease remains poorly defined. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was carried out comparing the whole genome sequences (WGS) from 12 dogs with SHM and 2 panels of 26 dogs (either older than 5 years and showing the absence of SHM or belonging to breeds not susceptible to SHM) to identify candidate genes associated with the development of SHM. Seven candidate genes were identified. Of these, five genes were determined to be involved in bone development (PLXNA2, HHAT, MBOAT2, ITGAV) and calcium homeostasis (HPCAL1). Although further validation is needed at the transcript level, it is worth highlighting the association of a possible pathogenic variant which generated a new intronic branch-site sequence in PLXNA2 (T/C, CFA7:7043294). Considering previous studies in dogs that show SHM related to craniocervical junction (CCJ) malformations, these genes can be considered good candidates for the development of this disease. This report dissects the genomic component of SHM in dogs, which paves the way for further research on this complex disease found both in canine and human species

Age Effects Aggressive Behavior: RNA-Seq Analysis in Cattle with Implications for Studying Neoteny Under Domestication

The reactive type of aggression is regulated mostly by the brain’s prefrontal cortex; however, the molecular changes underlying aggressiveness in adults have not been fully characterized. We used an RNA-seq approach to investigate diferential gene expression in the prefrontal cortex of bovines from the aggressive Lidia breed at diferent ages: young three-year old and adult four-year-old bulls. A total of 50 up and 193 down-regulated genes in the adult group were identifed. Furthermore, a cross-species comparative analysis retrieved 29 genes in common with previous studies on aggressive behaviors, representing an above-chance overlap with the diferentially expressed genes in adult bulls. We detected changes in the regulation of networks such as synaptogenesis, involved in maintenance and refnement of synapses, and the glutamate receptor pathway, which acts as excitatory driver in aggressive responses. The reduced reactive aggression typical of domestication has been proposed to form part of a retention of juvenile traits as adults (neoteny)

Domestication of cattle: two or three events?

Cattle have been invaluable for the transition of human society from nomadic hunter-gatherers to sedentary farming communities throughout much of Europe, Asia and Africa since the earliest domestication of cattle more than 10,000 years ago. Although current understanding of relationships among ancestral populations remains limited, domestication of cattle is thought to have occurred on two or three occasions, giving rise to the taurine (Bos taurus) and indicine (Bos indicus) species that share the aurochs (Bos primigenius) as common ancestor ~250,000 years ago. Indicine and taurine cattle were domesticated in the Indus Valley and Fertile Crescent, respectively; however, an additional domestication event for taurine in the Western Desert of Egypt has also been proposed. We analysed medium density Illumina Bovine SNP array (~54,000 loci) data across 3,196 individuals, representing 180 taurine and indicine populations to investigate population structure within and between populations, and domestication and demographic dynamics using approximate Bayesian computation (ABC). Comparative analyses between scenarios modelling two and three domestication events consistently favour a model with only two episodes and suggest that the additional genetic variation component usually detected in African taurine cattle may be explained by hybridization with local aurochs in Africa after the domestication of taurine cattle in the Fertile Crescent. African indicine cattle exhibit high levels of shared genetic variation with Asian indicine cattle due to their recent divergence and with African taurine cattle through relatively recent gene flow. Scenarios with unidirectional or bidirectional migratory events between European taurine and Asian indicine cattle are also plausible, although further studies are needed to disentangle the complex human-mediated dispersion patterns of domestic cattle. This study therefore helps to clarify the effect of past demographic history on the genetic variation of modern cattle, providing a basis for further analyses exploring alternative migratory routes for early domestic populations

Diversity, identity and influence of other breeds in the development of Creole populations of domestic animals

Creole breeds of the various livestock species mainly derive from animals imported to America from the Iberian Peninsula, starting in the early years of discovery and colonization. Creoles have undergone a long period of selective adaptation to a very diverse set of environmental conditions in the American continent, and over the last two centuries some Creole populations have been admixed with breeds originating from other European countries and India. In spite of the various threats undergone, some Creole populations are still maintained nowadays, especially in marginal regions, but they need to be better known, in order to recognize their identity and establish conservation programs. In this paper, we review the results published over the last five years by various Consortia established under the framework of the CONBIAND network, with the goal of studying the genetic diversity, structure and breed relationships in Creole breeds. In all species, Creole breeds reveal high levels of genetic diversity and clear signatures of their Iberian origin, even though many breeds also show signs of genetic erosion, due to either accumulated inbreeding or admixture with exotic breeds. The research conducted until now demonstrates that the vast majority of Creoles still maintain their own identity, even though they are seldom recognized and protected. These results can be used as a basis for recognition, conservation and genetic improvement of Creoles, which are the result of more than 500 years of selective adaptation