Education of Animal Breeding and Genomics

The Animal Breeding and Genomics group contributes to the curriculum of the BSc and MSc programs of Animal Sciences at Wageningen University & Research by offering a variety of courses on topics including wildlife conservation genetics, selective breeding and breeding programs (for livestock species and companion animals), and genomics.

Thesis

Your thesis at ABG

Students who want to do a BSc or MSc thesis or a research practice at ABG can choose from an extensive list of thesis projects.

If you are interested in doing a MSc or BSc thesis at ABG, please contact:

Internship

Students who want to do an internship should contact Dr. Pascal Duenk. Please note: it can take some time to make all the necessary arrangements for you to start your thesis or internship, so make sure you contact him in time (preferably ~6 months before the planned start of your thesis or internship).

Internship document for companies and organisations

Internships are an important element of the development and learning trajectory of our students. These projects provide students with valuable insights into how the theory that they have learned is relevant and implemented in practice. We are always on the lookout for new companies and organisations that would like to join our internship programme. Your company or organisation might be a good fit if you:

  •  Work with animals, genetics, breeding, or related technologies;
  • Have projects that take about 4-5 months to complete;
  • Can provide a supervisor who works at an academic level and has technical knowledge;
  • Would like fresh ideas and an extra set of hands for interesting projects and challenges!

For more information about the benefits and requirements for joining our internship programme, please have a look at our internship document for companies and organisations.

Questions about theses or internships?

If you are interested in doing your thesis at our chair group, but aren't sure about the topic yet, please contact Pascal Duenk (Thesis/Internship coördinator).

dr. P (Pascal) Frank

Thesis and internship coordinator

Courses with ABG course code

Course codeCourse titleCourse description

ABG20306

Animal Breeding and Genetics

Introduces the main principles underlying genetic improvement in livestock and companion animals

ABG31306

Genetic improvement of livestock

Provides advanced knowledge on genetic improvement schemes in livestock and companion animals

ABG30306

Genomics

Discusses the structure and function of genomes of organisms from all kingdoms

ABG51806

Wildlife Conservation Genetics

Discusses forces shaping genetic variation and ways to measure and manage genetic variation in (captive/natural) wildlife populations

ABG60306

Breeding Lab

This course consists of a combination of a ‘group internship’ at a given company and a set of skills training and exercises

ABG50806

Ecology of Animal Life Histories

Focuses on (advanced) concepts and ideas of life history theory and applying these concepts in the design of experiments

ABG30806

Data Analysis for Plant and Animal Breeding

In this course you will become familiar with state-of-the-art methods and skills for quantitative genetic analysis of breeding data, both for animals and plants

Courses with ABG course code

  1. Course code

    ABG20306

    Course title

    Animal Breeding and Genetics

    Course description

    Introduces the main principles underlying genetic improvement in livestock and companion animals

  2. Course code

    ABG31306

    Course title

    Genetic improvement of livestock

    Course description

    Provides advanced knowledge on genetic improvement schemes in livestock and companion animals

  3. Course code

    ABG30306

    Course title

    Genomics

    Course description

    Discusses the structure and function of genomes of organisms from all kingdoms

  4. Course code

    ABG51806

    Course title

    Wildlife Conservation Genetics

    Course description

    Discusses forces shaping genetic variation and ways to measure and manage genetic variation in (captive/natural) wildlife populations

  5. Course code

    ABG60306

    Course title

    Breeding Lab

    Course description

    This course consists of a combination of a ‘group internship’ at a given company and a set of skills training and exercises

  6. Course code

    ABG50806

    Course title

    Ecology of Animal Life Histories

    Course description

    Focuses on (advanced) concepts and ideas of life history theory and applying these concepts in the design of experiments

  7. Course code

    ABG30806

    Course title

    Data Analysis for Plant and Animal Breeding

    Course description

    In this course you will become familiar with state-of-the-art methods and skills for quantitative genetic analysis of breeding data, both for animals and plants

Other courses with large contribution of ABG

Course codeCourse titleCourse description

GEN30806

Population and Quantitative Genetics

Explains genetic and molecular evolution and their relationship to phenotypic evolution in populations

GEN11806

Fundamentals of Genetics and Molecular Biology

Introduces the basic genetic and molecular biological processes in eukaryotes and basic genetic methods

YAS10806

Biology of Domestic Animals

Provides a basic knowledge of biological basis of animal production and biological processes in farm animals and companion animals

YMC61303

Scientific Skills Training

Focuses on (further) developing scientific skills, such as critically assessing scientific papers or creating a poster

BIF50806

Practical Computing for Biologists

Provides a practical basis of advanced computer use for the analysis of biological data

MAE50806

Advanced Molecular Ecology

Discusses how to measure biodiversity, genomic diversity and adaptation of organisms using sequencing of DNA samples (a.o. eDNA)

Other courses with large contribution of ABG

  1. Course code

    GEN30806

    Course title

    Population and Quantitative Genetics

    Course description

    Explains genetic and molecular evolution and their relationship to phenotypic evolution in populations

  2. Course code

    GEN11806

    Course title

    Fundamentals of Genetics and Molecular Biology

    Course description

    Introduces the basic genetic and molecular biological processes in eukaryotes and basic genetic methods

  3. Course code

    YAS10806

    Course title

    Biology of Domestic Animals

    Course description

    Provides a basic knowledge of biological basis of animal production and biological processes in farm animals and companion animals

  4. Course code

    YMC61303

    Course title

    Scientific Skills Training

    Course description

    Focuses on (further) developing scientific skills, such as critically assessing scientific papers or creating a poster

  5. Course code

    BIF50806

    Course title

    Practical Computing for Biologists

    Course description

    Provides a practical basis of advanced computer use for the analysis of biological data

  6. Course code

    MAE50806

    Course title

    Advanced Molecular Ecology

    Course description

    Discusses how to measure biodiversity, genomic diversity and adaptation of organisms using sequencing of DNA samples (a.o. eDNA)

Other courses with contribution of ABG

Course codeCourse titleCourse description

YAS10306

Introduction to Animal Sciences

Provides an introduction to the field of animal sciences, in which animals are kept for e.g. food production, company, care or sport

BHE50306

Life History Evolution

Covers basic life history theory by highlighting major decisions animals have to make with respect to reproduction and adaptation

AFI31306

Life History of Aquatic Organisms

Discusses the biology and ecology of aquatic organisms, with an emphasis on life history theory

FQD21806

Milk in the Dairy Chain

Provides insight in the factors that influence milk composition throughout the dairy chain

YAS33406

Role of Livestock in Future Food Systems

Discusses the current state of livestock production and strategies to improve the role of livestock in a sustainable future food system

YAS21806

Quality of Animal Products

Focuses on quality aspects related to animal products for human consumption

BIF31806

Data Driven Discovery in the Life Sciences: Hypothesis Generation from Omics Data

Focuses on linking domain knowledge to data using data science techniques and skills for omics data

Other courses with contribution of ABG

  1. Course code

    YAS10306

    Course title

    Introduction to Animal Sciences

    Course description

    Provides an introduction to the field of animal sciences, in which animals are kept for e.g. food production, company, care or sport

  2. Course code

    BHE50306

    Course title

    Life History Evolution

    Course description

    Covers basic life history theory by highlighting major decisions animals have to make with respect to reproduction and adaptation

  3. Course code

    AFI31306

    Course title

    Life History of Aquatic Organisms

    Course description

    Discusses the biology and ecology of aquatic organisms, with an emphasis on life history theory

  4. Course code

    FQD21806

    Course title

    Milk in the Dairy Chain

    Course description

    Provides insight in the factors that influence milk composition throughout the dairy chain

  5. Course code

    YAS33406

    Course title

    Role of Livestock in Future Food Systems

    Course description

    Discusses the current state of livestock production and strategies to improve the role of livestock in a sustainable future food system

  6. Course code

    YAS21806

    Course title

    Quality of Animal Products

    Course description

    Focuses on quality aspects related to animal products for human consumption

  7. Course code

    BIF31806

    Course title

    Data Driven Discovery in the Life Sciences: Hypothesis Generation from Omics Data

    Course description

    Focuses on linking domain knowledge to data using data science techniques and skills for omics data

Contact

For questions, reach out to:

ir. DE (Dieuwertje) Lont

Docent

Our Massive Open Online Courses (2)

Course

Genetic Models for Animal Breeding

Learn how to set up a breeding programme and apply genetic models and tools to predict the breeding value. Subscribe to this online course now.

Course

Evaluating Animal Breeding Programmes

Learn how to evaluate an ongoing breeding programme in terms of both genetic progress and genetic diversity.

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