Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University

MADRAS VETERINARY COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL GENETICS AND BREEDING

The Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding established during 1949 is one of the oldest Departments of Madras Veterinary College. The M.V.Sc. degree programme was introduced during the year 1957 and Ph.D. programme in 1978. This was the first Department of Madras Veterinary College recognized by the University of Madras for Ph.D. programme. The Department has a well-equipped Cytogenetics Laboratory, Tissue Culture Laboratory, Biometrical and Computer Laboratory, Core Laboratory and Frozen Semen Bank. Besides teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students, the faculty and PG students take up research work in the frontier areas of biometrical genetics, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, gamete research and cryopreservation of gametes. The objectives of the Department are:

To impart education in Animal Genetics and Breeding at undergraduate and postgraduate levels
To carry out characterization and conservation of native germplasm
To network livestock farms in Tamilnadu and establishment of production data bank
To formulate breeding policy and surveillance in the field and farms
To develop human resources in the areas of Animal Breeding, Cytogenetics, Molecular Genetics and Artificial Breeding
To cater to the needs of stakeholders through training and advisory services

FACULTY

Name and Designation	Major Areas of Research	E-Mail Address & Phone
Dr.P.S.Rahumathulla, Professor and Head	Biometry, Animal Breeding	shafeerahmath@yahoo.co.in Phone (R) : 044-25615765
Dr.S.N.Sivaselvam Professor	Artificial Breeding, Conservation Genetics	snsivaselvam@hotmail.com Phone (R) : 044-24810823
Dr.S.M.K.Karthickeyan Associate Professor	Molecular Genetics, Animal Breeding	kannikarthi@yahoo.co.in Phone (R) : 22311003
Dr.K.Thilak Pon Jawahar, Associate Professor	Artificial Breeding, Conservation Genetics	ponthilak@yhoo.com Phone (R) : 044-26630219
Dr.R.Thiagarajan, Assistant Professor	Molecular Genetics, Animal Breeding	thiagarajan.ramasamy@gmail.com Mobile : 09865379907
Dr.V.Jeichitra Assistant Professor	Biometry, Animal Breeding	jeichitra@tanuvas.org.in Phone (R) : 044-22320864
Dr.D.Cauveri Assistant Professor	Cytogenetics, Molecular Genetics	cauveri74@rediffmail.com Mobile: 09486491199
Dr.R.Selvam Assistant Professor	Artificial Breeding, Molecular Genetics	drselvam@gmail.com Mobile: 09940308012

FACILITIES AVAILABLE

This Department is functioning in two blocks: (1) second floor of the Animal Husbandry block (Dr.V.Rathnasabapathy Block) and (2) Frozen Semen Bank block. The frozen semen bank has facilities for maintenance of breeding bulls, semen collection, cryopreservation, storage of frozen semen and liquid nitrogen production. This Department has facilities for carrying out research in various fields of Animal Genetics and Breeding.

Has sufficient infrastructure to conduct UG and PG programmes and to impart training in various fields of Animal Genetics and Breeding. Well established Cytogenetics, Molecular Genetics, Tissue Culture, Biochemical Genetics, Biometrical Genetics and Cryopreservation laboratories with modern equipments are available.

Has advanced DNA sequencing electrophoresis apparatus, PCR, photomicroscope, spectral imaging, liquid nitrogen plant, refrigerated centrifuge, computer aided semen analyzer (CASA), programmable freezer, CO2 incubators, stereozoom microscope, etc.

Adequate class rooms, laboratories, audio-visuals aids for conducting UG and PG classes.

A departmental library with 169 titles of basic and reference books on Animal Genetics and Animal Breeding, reports and theses of M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. is available.

A mobile artificial insemination unit is functioning for the benefit of cattle owners of Chennai city.

ACTIVITIES

1.Teaching

Undergraduate Programme (B.V.Sc.)

Veterinary Council of India (VCI) syllabus under credit based semester system is followed since 2000-2001.

The courses offered are:
AGB 111 Biostatistics and Computer Application 2+1
AGB 121 Principles of Animal Genetics and Population Genetics 2+1
AGB 211 Livestock and Poultry Breeding 2+1

Postgraduate Programme (M.V.Sc.)

This Department offers Master of Veterinary Science in Animal Genetics and Breeding. The programme consists of four semesters including two semesters of course work and two semesters of research work, which is evaluated by an external examiner before award of the degree. Up to 2009, 120 M.V.Sc. graduates have been produced.

The courses offered are:

AGB 601	Molecular Genetics	2+1
AGB 602	Quantitative Genetics	2+1
AGB 603	Biochemical and Immunogenetics	2+0
AGB 604	Artificial Breeding	2+1
AGB 605	Cattle and Buffalo Breeding	2+1
AGB 606	Biometry, Animal Breeding	2+1
AGB 607	Small Farm Animal Breeding (Sheep, Goat, Swine and Rabbit)	2+1
AGB 608	Design and Analysis of Animal Breeding Experiments	3+1
AGB 609	Cryopreservation of Gametes and Embryos	1+1
AGB 610	Poultry Breeding	2+1
AGB 611	Genetics of Growth, Reproduction and Disease Resistance in Farm Animals	2+0
AGB 612	Laboratory Animal Breeding	2+0

Doctoral Programme (Ph.D.)

The Ph.D. programme consists of one semester of course work and research work of 6 to 12 semesters. Up to 2009, 48 persons got Ph.D. degree. The courses offered are:

AGB 801	Quantitative Genetics	2+1
AGB 802	Molecular Genetics	2+1
AGB 803	Advanced Cytogenetics	2+0
AGB 804	Conservation Genetics	2+1
AGB 805	Statistical Genetics	2+1
AGB 806	Immunogenetics	2+0
AGB 807	New Technologies in Animal Breeding	2+1
AGB 808	Genetic Disordres	3+1

RESEARCH

Salient Achievements

Animal Breeding / Biometrical Genetics

Evolved “Meyer strain” of chicken for egg production
Evolved “Sandyno”, a synthetic breed of sheep for fine wool
A design for progeny testing of bulls for a herd size of 300 was evolved
Standardised the economic traits in all farm animals for selection programmes
Evolved selection programmes against genetic antagonism of egg production traits in layers
Evolved selection programmes against genetic antagonism of body weight and reproductive traits in broilers
Selection indices were formulated for rapid improvement of body weight in Large White Yorkshire pigs
Characterization of Umblachery breed of cattle
Characterization of Bargur and Pulikulam breeds of cattle and Katchaikatti sheep

Artificial Breeding

Introduction of frozen semen for the first time in Tamilnadu State by establishing Semen Bank in 1973
A mini freezer for semen freezing was designed for field use
Cryopreservation techniques for bull, buffalo, ram, buck and dog semen developed
Quality improvement of bull semen by filtration techniques
Developed zona-free hamster egg penetration bioassay to assess the fertility of bovine spermatozoa
Introduced Artificial Insemination in goats at Madras Veterinary College

Cytogenetics

Chromosomal studies in cattle, buffalo, horse, sheep, goat, dog, pig, rabbit, chicken, quail and wild animals
Deduced Robertsonian translocation by chromosomal analysis in Jersey cattle
Cytogenetic characterization of Ongole, Umblachery, Kangayam cattle and Toda buffalo
Established the modal chromosomal number (2n=50) in Toda buffaloes
Comparative gene mapping of cattle and buffaloes by FISH technique
Class I and Class II major histo-compatibility complex (MHC) genes were assigned to a small acrocentric chromosome 23 in cattle and to submetacentric chromosome of buffaloes

Biochemical Genetics

Genetics of blood potassium, heamoglobin and transferrin were studied in various breeds/ species of animals
Alkaline phosphatase, esterases, glutathione polymorphisms in sheep, poultry and rabbits and their association with production traits

Tissue Culture

Somatic cell hybridization technique developed for gene mapping in buffaloes
Developed a hybridization protocol for fusion of buffalo fibroblast and leucocytes of mouse for gene mapping in buffaloes
Skin and embryo kidney fibroblast culture technique for chromosomal analysis of farm animals

Molecular Genetics

Gene synteny between G6PD, PGK and X-GAL was identified and assigned to X-chromosome and the gene synteny of LDH, PEP and TPI was identified and assigned to the chromosome 4 of buffaloes
Core Laboratory for south India was established in 1996 for molecular characterization of indigenous breeds of livestock
Molecular characterization of eight cattle breeds (Kangayam, Umblachery, Bargur, Pulikulam, Ongole, Amrithmahal, Hallikar, Krishnavalley), eight sheep breeds (Madras Red, Mecheri, Nilagiri, Vembur, Kilakarsal, Ramnad White, Coimbatore and Tiruchy Black), four goat breeds (Kanni Adu, Salem Black, Tellicherry and Barbari) have been completed
Bone morphogenic protein 15 (BMP15) gene as a candidate gene for prolificacy in Nilagiri sheep.
Association of FecB gene mutation with prolificacy in Nilagiri sheep.
Sexing of ostrich and emu using molecular techniques.
DNA repository established

Completed Research Projects

1)Zona-free hamster egg penetration bioassay for in-vitro fertility assessment of spermatozoa
2) Ex-situ conservation of Kangayam cattle
3) Genetic upgradation of goats by artificial insemination
4) Survey and characterization of Umblachery breed of cattle
5) Characterization and conservation of native cattle breeds of Tamilnadu
6) Identification of gene synteny by using somatic cell hybrids in buffaloes
7) Development of tissue culture technique for the production of hybrid cell line by cloning
8) Somatic cell hybridization to identify the gene markers

Ongoing Research Projects

Sl. No.	Name of the Scheme	Funding Agency	Principal Investigator	Year of Start
1.	Network Project on Core Laboratory	ICAR–NBAGR	Dr.S.M.K.Karthickeyan	1996
2.	DST Project on Fund for Improvement in S & T Infrastructure	Science & Technology	Dr.R.Prabakaran	2005
3.	Establishment of Andrological Laboratory for Certified Semen Services	TNLDA & TANUVAS	Dr.S.N.Sivaselvam	2006
4.	Cryopreservation of goat semen	State Government	Dr.A.Subramaniam	1990

(३)EXTENSION EDUCATION

Farm Advisory Service

Advice on artificial insemination, frozen semen and breeding are rendered through mass contact programmes and mass media

Training

Training on Laboratory Techniques for Evaluation of Frozen Semen to the technical staff working in the frozen semen banks across the country
Refresher Training on Frozen Semen Technology and Artificial Insemination to the field veterinarians
Refresher Training on Bovine Breeding to the field veterinarians
Training on Cytogenetic Techniques for the Diagnosis of Genetic Disorders to the field veterinarians
Refresher Training on Infertility in Bovines to the field veterinarians
Training on Computer Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA) Technique in Cryopreservation of Semen
Training on Artificial Insemination in Goats

(4) PUBLICATIONS

Research papers : more than 450
Popular articles : more than 200

Books

A Text Book on Animal Genetics – P.Kanakaraj
A Text Book on Elements of Breeding and Breeds of Cattle and Buffaloes – P.Kanakaraj
Deep Freezing of Semen – M.John Edwin and V.Ulaganathan

Monographs

Umblachery Breed Draught Cattle of Tamil Nadu by A.Mahalinga Nainar, P.Thangaraju and R.Rajendran

Manuals

Bovine Breeding
Somatic cell hybridization technique
Laboratory Techniques for evaluation of frozen semen
Cytogenetic technique for diagnosis of genetic disorders

Multimedia CD on Karyotyping – P.Kanakaraj and P.Kumarasamy