Information Package / Course Catalogue
Variance Components and Genetic Parameter Estimation
Course Code: ZZO529
Course Type: Area Elective
Couse Group: Second Cycle (Master's Degree)
Education Language: Turkish
Work Placement: N/A
Theory: 2
Prt.: 2
Credit: 3
Lab: 0
ECTS: 8
Objectives of the Course

The aim of the course is to give the basic theory and skill for analysis of animal breeding data to obtain variance components and genetic parameter estimations

Course Content

1. Definition of variance components 2. Data sources used for estimations (phenotypic data pedigree records) 3. Design of experiments for genetic parameter estimations 4. Genetic and phenotypic parameters in animal breeding: heritability, repeatability, genetic and phenotypic correlations. 5. Logic of genetic parameter estimations and areas for their use. 6. Definition of model types 7. Prerequisites of estimation methods 8. Principle of main methods for the estimations 9. Introduction and use some software for estimation of variance component

Name of Lecturer(s)
Assoc. Prof. Onur YILMAZ
Learning Outcomes
1.Ability to recognize the importance of term of variance and variance components obtaining genetic parameters
2.Ability to recognize the importance of genetic parameters in animal breeding
3.Ability to define the methods of variance component estimations
4.Ability to acquire the skills on using some software for estimation of variance component
5.Learning the use of variance elements in genetic improvement programs
Recommended or Required Reading
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
Week 1 - Theoretical & Practice
Basic information of genetic parameters, logic of prediction and their use
Week 2 - Theoretical & Practice
Terms of variance, separation of phenotypic variance components
Week 3 - Theoretical & Practice
Variance components and design of experiments for genetic parameter estimations.
Week 4 - Theoretical & Practice
Definition of variance components and data sources used for estimations
Week 5 - Theoretical & Practice
Importance of pedigree informaiton and evaluation. Degree of relationship, coefficient of inbreeding, calculation of relationship matrices
Week 6 - Theoretical & Practice
Heritability, the importance of animal breeding, to estimate of heritability
Week 7 - Theoretical & Practice
Repeatability, the importance of animal breeding, to estimate of repeatability
Week 8 - Theoretical & Practice
Genetic correlations, the importance of animal breeding, to estimate of genetic correlations
Week 9 - Theoretical & Practice
Model types: fixed, random and mixed models. Prerequisites of estimation methods
Week 10 - Theoretical & Practice
Main methods and software (SAS, HARVEY, MTDFREML, WOMBAT, VCE, ASREML, etc.) for the estimations of variance components
Week 11 - Theoretical & Practice
Obtaining variance components by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Least square methods (LSM).Problem solving with SAS and VCE application
Week 12 - Theoretical & Practice
Henderson 1, 2 and 3 methods. Problem solving with Harvey application
Week 13 - Theoretical & Practice
Using Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML) methods. Problem solving with MTDFREML, WOMBAT and ASREML applications
Week 14 - Theoretical & Practice
Using Minimum Norm Quadratic Unbiased Estimation (MINQUE) and Minimum Variance Quadratic Unbiased Estimation (MIVQUE) methods. Solving problems.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Type of AssessmentCountPercent
Midterm Examination1%30
Final Examination1%70
Workload Calculation
ActivitiesCountPreparationTimeTotal Work Load (hours)
Lecture - Theory142256
Lecture - Practice140228
Assignment58250
Laboratory40312
Midterm Examination120222
Final Examination130232
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours)200
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
PÇ-1
PÇ-2
PÇ-3
PÇ-4
PÇ-5
PÇ-6
PÇ-7
OÇ-1
5
5
5
3
3
2
5
OÇ-2
5
5
5
3
3
2
5
OÇ-3
5
5
5
3
3
2
5
OÇ-4
5
5
5
5
3
2
5
OÇ-5
4
3
4
3
3
2
4
Adnan Menderes University - Information Package / Course Catalogue
2026