MADRAS VETERINARY COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL GENETICS AND BREEDING
The Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding was established during 1949. The M.V.Sc. degree programme was introduced during the year 1957 and Ph.D. programme in 1978. The department of Animal Genetics and Breeding was the first department recognized by the Madras University for Ph.D. programme. To its credit, the department has a well-equipped Cytogenetics Laboratory, Tissue Culture Laboratory, Biometrical and Computer Laboratory, Core Laboratory and Semen Bank. Besides teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students, the faculty and PG students take up research work in the frontier fields of biometrical genetics, cytogenetics, molecular genetics and recent technologies in gamete research and cryopreservation. The main objectives of the department of Animal Genetics and Breeding are:
- To teach the subject of Animal Genetics and Breeding to undergraduate and postgraduate students
- To conduct research in the fields of Genetics such as Cytogenetics, Molecular Genetics, Biometrical Genetics, Biochemical Genetics, Animal Breeding and Semen Preservation To impart training on artificial breeding and frozen semen technology, karyotyping etc., to the field veterinarians and research workers
| Name and Designation | E-Mail Address & Phone | Major Areas of Research |
| Dr.P.S.Rahumathulla, Professor and Head |
rahumathshafee@yahoo.co.in Resi. Phone: 044-25541765 |
Biometry, Breeding |
Dr.P.Kumarasamy, |
pksamy_2000@yahoo.com |
Cytogenetics, Molecular Genetics |
| Dr.K.Thilak Pon Jawahar, Associate Professor |
ponthilak@yhoo.com Resi. Phone: 044-26630219 |
Frozen Semen Technology, Artificial Breeding |
| Dr.R.Thiagarajan, Assistant Professor |
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| Dr.V.Jeichitra Assistant Professor |
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| Dr.D.Cauveri Assistant Professor |
This department is functioning in two buildings: one at the main building houses all laboratories and a separate building with two floors for semen bank. The semen bank has facilities for maintenance of breeding bulls, semen collection, cryopreservation and liquid nitrogen production. This department has facilities for carrying out research in various fields of Animal Genetics and Breeding. The main library at Madras Veterinary College subscribes several journals in the field of Animal Genetics and Breeding.
A departmental library containing basic and reference books, reports, journals and periodicals with back volumes and theses of M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. is available.
- This department has sufficient infrastructure to conduct UG and PG programmes and also impart training in various fields of Animal Genetics and Breeding. Well established independent laboratories with modern equipments are available to conduct research in the fields of Cytogenetics, Molecular Genetics, Tissue Culture, Biochemical Genetics, Biometrical Genetics and Cryopreservation
- The department has advanced DNA sequencing electrophoresis apparatus, PCR, Photomicroscope, Liquid Nitrogen Plant, Refrigerated centrifuge, Computer aided semen analyzer (CASA), Programmable freezer, CO2 incubators, Stereozoom microscope etc.
- Adequate class rooms, laboratories, audio-visuals are available for conducting UG and PG classes
- A mobile artificial breeding unit is functioning for the benefit of cattle owners of Chennai city and to get feed back information on Artificial Insemination technology
For the undergraduate programme, syllabus recommended by the Veterinary Council of India (VCI) was introduced from the academic year 2000-01 under credit based semester system by TANUVAS. From the year 2001, VCI syllabus and VCI minimum regulations for undergraduate programme are followed. The duration of B.V.Sc. degree is 9 semesters (2+2+2+2+1) with a mandatory internship programme for 6 months duration.
- A text book on Animal Genetics was published based on the syllabus recommended by VCI
- A text book on Elements of Breeding and Breeds of Cattle and Buffaloes
- Lecture notes on Principles of Genetics, Biometrical Genetics and Animal Breeding courses
- Practical manuals for the undergraduate students for all the courses
This department offers a 2-year Master degree programme 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. During the last 25 years, 106 M.V.Sc. students have completed their Masters degree.
TThe Ph.D. programme consists of one semester of course work and 50 credits of research work registered over a period of 3-6 years. During the last 25 years, 45 Ph.D. students have completed.
Co-ordinated the postgraduate programmes in the college for about 15 years. Prepared manual on the “Guidelines for the PG Programme” and “Thesis Writing” for the benefit of PG students and staff.
s
- Evolved Meyer strain of chicken for egg production
- Standardised the economic traits in all farm animals for selection programmes
- Evolved Sandyno, a synthetic sheep for fine wool
- A design for progeny testing of bulls for a herd size of 300 was evolved
- 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 Burghur and Pullikulam breeds of cattle and Katchaikatti sheep
- Introduction of frozen semen for the first time in Tamil Nadu state by establishing Semen Bank
- Standardised the cryopreservation techniques for bull, buffalo, ram, buck and dog semen
- Introduced Artificial Insemination in goats at Madras Veterinary College
- A mini freezer for semen freezing was designed for field use
- Developed the zona-free hamster egg penetration bioassay to assess the fertility of bovine spermatozoa
- Improvement of the quality of semen by filtration techniques
- Standardised the techniques for chromosomal studies in cattle, buffalo, horse, sheep, goat, dog, pig, rabbit, chicken, quail and wild animals.
- Comparative gene mapping between cattle and buffaloes by FISH technique was carried out and the class I and class II major histo-compatibility complex (MHC) genes were assigned in cattle to a small acrocentric chromosome 23 and to submetacentric chromosome of buffaloes
- Cytogenetic characterization of Ongole, Umblachery, Kangayam cattle and Toda bufallo were carried out
- Deduced a Robertsonian translocation by chromosomal analysis in an infertile Jersey cattle
- Established the modal chromosomal number (2n=50) in Toda buffaloes of Nilagiri
- Genetics of blood potassium, heamoglobin and transferrin were studied in various breeds / species of animals
- Alkaline phosphatase, esterases, glutathione in sheep, poultry and rabbits were investigated and their association with the production traits was confirmed
- Standardised the technique of somatic cell hybridization for gene mapping in buffaloes
- Developed a hybridization protocol for fusion of buffalo fibroblast and leucocyte with mouse cells for gene mapping in buffaloes
- Standardised the skin and embryo kidney fibroblast culture technique for chromosomal analysis of farm animals
- 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 southern region was established in 1996 for molecular characterization of indigenous breeds of livestock with microsatellite markers
- Molecular characterization of 6 cattle breeds namely Kangayam, Umblachery, Ongole, Amrithmahal, Hallikar and Krishnavalley, 6 sheep breeds – Madras Red, Mecheri and Nilagiri, 2 goat breeds – Kanni adu and Tellicherry have been completed
Sl. No. |
Name of the Scheme |
Funding Agency |
Principal Investigator |
Year of Start |
| 1. | Network Project on Core Laboratory | ICAR–NBAGR | Dr.P.Kanakaraj | 1996 |
| 2. | DST project on FIST | Science & Technology | Dr.P.Kanakaraj | 2005 |
| 3. | Establishment of Andrological Laboratory for Certified Semen Services | TNLDA & TANUVAS | Dr.P.Kanakaraj | 2006 |
| 4. | Cryopreservation of goat semen | State Government | Dr.A.Subramaniam | 1990 |
- Advice on artificial insemination, frozen semen and breeding are rendered through mass contact programmes and mass media
- More than 1000 Veterinary Assistant Surgeons were trained on Frozen Semen Technology
- Training programme on “Laboratory Techniques for the Evaluation of Frozen Semen” is being conducted
- Training programme on “Cytogenetic Techniques for the Diagnosis of Genetic Disorders” for the field workers is being conducted
- Conducted training programme on “Computer Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA) Technique in Cryopreservation of Semen”
- Conducted training programme on “Breeding of Livestock” to farmers at University Centres
- 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
Multimedia CD on Karyotyping – P.Kanakaraj and P.Kumarasamy
Umblachery Breed Draught Cattle of Tamil Nadu – A.Mahalinga Nainar, P.Thangaraju and R.Rajendran
- Bovine Breeding
- Somatic cell hybridization technique
- Laboratory Techniques for evaluation of frozen semen
- Cytogenetic technique for diagnosis of genetic disorders