Overview
This unit will provide you with a framework for the development and application of agricultural breeding strategies. The applied component of the unit is built on the VET 'Developing and implementing a breeding strategy' unit to demonstrate the application of modern genetic selection tools. You will be provided with a broad overview of both molecular and quantitative genetic selection tools and will develop and implement a breeding program; define the standard required to develop a breeding objective; implement gene-based selection strategies; use industry programs to benchmark and identify sources of genetic material; and monitor progress in a breeding program. The unit will also consider the ethical and social implications of genetic modification and how this might influence management decisions.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2019
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Self-reflection
Need to improve the response rate.
Students will be reminded and encouraged to complete the unit evaluation forms. This will be done during lectures/tutorials and via emails and through Moodle.
- Select appropriate tools for a genetic improvement plan.
- Develop a breeding program based on heritability and economic returns.
- Monitor and evaluate a breeding program.
- Critique the social and ethical implications of genetic modification.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Portfolio - 60% | ||||
| 2 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 40% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Portfolio - 60% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Beef Cattle Production and Trade
(2014)
Authors: Cottle , David & Kahn, Lewis
CSIRO Publishing
Collingwood Collingwood , VIC , Australia
ISBN: 9780643109889
Binding: Paperback
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Microsoft Office
- PowerPoint
- Video/audio recording device (e.g. a andriod/iphone, tablet, Gopro or computer with a webcam)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
j.k.manning@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to genetics and breeding in crops and livestock
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Molecular and quantitative genetics
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Phenotypes and traits
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 (portfolio) Part A - practical report 1 due Week 3 (Monday 29 July, 5 PM).
Module/Topic
Animal selection and breeding
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 (portfolio) Part A - practical report 2 due Week 4 (Monday 5 August, 5 PM).
Assessment 1 (portfolio) Part B - quiz due Week 4 (Friday 9 August, 5 PM).
Livestock field trip 1 this week
Module/Topic
Develop a livestock breeding program
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2 (development of a breeding program plan) Part A - presentation due Week 5 in class
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Crop selection and breeding
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 (portfolio) Part C - OH&S report due Week 6 (Friday 30 August, 5 PM).
Cropping field trip 1 this week
Module/Topic
Develop, monitor and evaluate a crop breeding program
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Cropping field trip 2 this week
Module/Topic
Modern tools in breeding and selection, modelling and simulation
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 (portfolio) Part A - field trip report 1 (cropping) due Week 8 (Monday 9 September, 5 PM).
Module/Topic
Monitor a livestock breeding program
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Evaluate a livestock breeding program
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Livestock field trip 2 this week
Module/Topic
Genetic resources, germplasm banks, adaptation
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 (portfolio) Part A - field trip report 2 (livestock) due Week 11 (Monday 30 September, 5 PM).
Module/Topic
Social and ethical implications of genetic modification in crops and livestock
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2 (development of a breeding program plan) Part B - report due Review week (Monday 14 October, 5 PM).
There are compulsory field trips in Weeks 4, 6, 7 and 10.
This unit is also taught by:
- Salena McBride, QATC Senior Instructor (Diploma of Agriculture): E: Salena.McBride@qatc.edu.au T: 07 4982 8722
- Phillip Morris, QATC Senior Instructor (Diploma of Agriculture): E: Phillip.Morris@qatc.edu.au T: 07 4982 8877
1 Portfolio
The portfolio compromises of three (3) parts and accounts for 60% of your final mark:
PART A - PRACTICAL REPORTS (40%): During your practicals and field trip sessions, you will be required to complete an activity, short report or presentation related to the practical component. There will be 4 submissions in total, each worth 10% each: practical 1 (Week 2), practical 2 (Week 3), field trip report 1 (cropping; Weeks 6 and 7) and field trip report 2 (livestock; Weeks 4 and 10). A copy of each practical and field trip report is available on Moodle. Attendance is compulsory for practical and field trip sessions and you will not be allowed to complete and submit the assessment if you do not complete the associated practical work.
Due date: By the next Monday 5 PM AEST following the practical. These dates will be Week 3 (Monday 29 July), Week 4 (Monday 5 August), Week 8 (Monday 9 September) and Week 11 (Monday 30 September).
PART B - QUIZ (10%): Assessment of content delivered during lectures, tutorials and pracs from Week 1 through to Week 3. The quiz consists of online multiple choice and short answers questions. You have 2 hours to complete the quiz, two attempts, with the highest mark counted. The quiz will open on Monday 5 August for five days.
Due date: Week 4 (Friday 9 August, 5 PM AEST)
PART C - OH&S REPORT (10%): Write a short report (700-800 words) discussing key safe workplace and environmentally responsible practices that are important in a breeding program. You will be required to watch a short video to assist you in completing your short report.
Due date: Week 6 (Friday 30 August, 5 PM AEST)
PART A: the Monday following the practical/field trip (by 5PM AEST); PART B: Week 4 (Friday 9 August by 5PM AEST); and PART C: Week 6 (Friday 30 August by 5PM AEST)
Grades will be returned within 10 working days of submission.
PART A will be based on attendance, participation, completion and submission of practical reports. Attendance and participation for all practical and field trip sessions is compulsory. You will not be allowed to complete and submit the assessment if you do not complete the associated practical work.
PART B will be marked based on correct responses to quiz questions.
PART C will be marked based on the student's ability of identifying and discussing key safe workplace practices.
If students wish to qualify for the QATC Diploma, they will need to obtain at least 50% on every part of the assessment. Resubmissions to QATC can be arranged if 50% is not achieved on the first trial.
- Monitor and evaluate a breeding program.
- Critique the social and ethical implications of genetic modification.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Presentation and Written Assessment
This assessment, “Development of a breeding program plan,” compromises of two (2) parts and accounts for 40% of your final mark:
PART A - Short presentation (10%):
Due date: Week 5 (in class)
You will be required to give a 3-5 minute presentation describing a selected genetic tool to be applied in a genetic improvement plan for a crop or livestock enterprise. Your presentation should discuss the following aspects:
- Introduce your chosen genetic tool that is relevant to an economically important crop or livestock production industry
- Define the current state of knowledge of the selected genetic tool
- Outline and discuss at least one positive and one negative aspect of the selected genetic tool
PART B - Development of a breeding program plan report (30%):
Due date: Review week (Monday 14 October, 5 PM AEST)
Develop a breeding program plan (livestock or crop) based on sound scientific background and economic returns in the form of a written report. Using the genetic tool you presented on in PART A:
- Evaluate your selected genetic tool
- Define the current state of knowledge of the selected genetic tool
- Describe and discuss how the breeding strategy will be implemented
- Outline how you will monitor and evaluate the success of the breeding strategy both in relation to heritability and economic returns
This assessment will be in the format of an essay (1200-1500 words) and must include an introduction, body, conclusion and references.
The marking rubric will be available on Moodle.
PART A: Week 5 (in class); PART B: Week review week (Monday 14 October by 5PM AEST).
Exam Week Friday (25 Oct 2019)
10 working days after due date for each part.
Marks are awarded for:
- Communication and presentation skills
- Introduction and addressing the topic
- Knowledge, content and structure
- Analysis of information
- Identification of appropriate genetic improvement tools
- Discussion of how the breeding strategy will be implemented
- Evaluation of the success of the breeding strategy
- The clarity of English expression, spelling and grammar
- Use of references and accuracy of referencing
- Appropriate timeframe (Part A) and length (Part B)
Detailed marking rubrics will also be available on Moodle.
- Select appropriate tools for a genetic improvement plan.
- Develop a breeding program based on heritability and economic returns.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
