Overview
The advancement in genomic research provides scientists with the opportunity to address some of Africa’s agricultural sector problems. Vast amounts of genetic data, including whole genome sequences is now available to researchers. This training has been arranged to support those working in livestock genomic research in Africa to utilise the available datasets in their studies.
This free online course will provide participants with both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills to utilise genetic data to address research questions in the field of livestock genomics and breeding. Delivered by researchers from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), the CTLGH training course has been funded by a Global Impact Accelerator Award from the University of Edinburgh, as part of its annual Scottish Funding Council – Global Challenges Research Fund (SFC-GCRF) allocation, and builds on the Centre’s current capacity building and knowledge exchange activities in Africa.
Course Schedule
This course will be delivered entirely online. The format will include daily two-hour live sessions, recorded lectures, tutorials and assignments over a two-week course period (24 May – 4 June 2021 ). Further details will be sent to registered participants.
Learning Outcomes
– Introduction to bioinformatics and biological databases
– Introduction to UNIX and R
– Introduction to NGS technologies
– Basic NGS data analysis; file formats, quality control, read mapping, variant calling and variant annotation
– Estimating population genetics parameters
– Population structure analyses, including PCA, admixture and phylogenetic relationship
– Method of detecting genomic signatures of positive selection in Livestock species
– Application of genomics in livestock improvement e.g., estimating breeding values, breed composition
Instructors
- Professor Erik Bongcam-Rudloff (SLU)
- Dr Anna Maria Johansson (SLU)
- Dr Renaud van Damme (SLU)
- Dr Yuri Utsunomiya (UNESP)
- Dr Abdulfatai Tijjani (ILRI/CTLGH)
- Dr Setegn Worku (ILRI)
- Dr Chinyere Ekine (ILRI)
Application Process
This course is intended for postgraduate students, lecturers and early career scientists who are engaged in livestock genomics research in Africa. The course is free but will be limited to 40 participants. Please register your interest here by 10 May 2021.
If you have any questions, please contact Emelie Zonabend König @ Emelie.Zonabend@slu.se or Abdulfatai Tijjani @ a.tijjani@cgiar.org
