Animal Biology (24 credits)

Offered by: Animal Science     Degree: Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences)

Program Requirements

The specialization in Animal Biology is intended for students who wish to further their studies in the basic biology of large mammals and birds. Successful completion of the program should enable students to qualify for application to most veterinary colleges in North America, to study in a variety of postgraduate biology programs, and to work in many laboratory settings.

For information on academic advising, see: http://www.mcgill.ca/macdonald/studentinfo/advising

Required Courses (15 credits)

  • ANSC 312 Animal Health and Disease (3 credits)

    Offered by: Animal Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Animal Science : An introduction to the pathogenesis and control of diseases in farm animals. Immune response and other protective mechanisms. Implications of animal diseases and drug therapy for product safety and public health.

    Terms: Winter 2024

    Instructors: Dicks, Naomi (Winter)

  • ANSC 323 Mammalian Physiology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Animal Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Animal Science : A study of the organization, functions and regulation of various organ systems in mammals. The nervous, endocrine, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, digestive and reproductive systems are discussed.

    Terms: Fall 2023

    Instructors: Zhao, Xin; Laurin, Denyse (Fall)

  • ANSC 324 Developmental Biology and Reproduction (3 credits)

    Offered by: Animal Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Animal Science : Focus on the hormonal, cellular and molecular aspects of reproduction and development (gametogenesis, folliculogenesis, fertilization, embryonic and foetal development, parturition, lactation period, periods before and after puberty). Emphasis on underlying cellular mechanisms and their regulation by hormones and the environment.

    Terms: Winter 2024

    Instructors: Baldassarre, Hernán (Winter)

  • ANSC 420 Animal Biotechnology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Animal Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Animal Science : Applications of animal biotechnology in agriculture, biomedicine and environmental preservation, including culture, manipulation and transformation of somatic cells, isolation of stem cells, reproductive biotechnologies, animal cloning by nuclear transplantation, production of genetically modified and gene-edited animals, and cell and gene therapies.

    Terms: Fall 2023

    Instructors: Bordignon, Vilceu (Fall)

  • PARA 438 Immunology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Parasitology (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Parasitology : An in-depth analysis of the principles of cellular and molecular immunology. The emphasis of the course is on host defence against infection and on diseases caused by abnormal immune responses.

    Terms: Fall 2023

    Instructors: Sonzogni-Desautels, Karine (Fall)

    • 3 lectures per week

    • Prerequisites: AEBI 202 or LSCI 202 or permission of instructor

Complementary Courses (9 credits)

9 credits selected from:

  • ANSC 234 Biochemistry 2 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Animal Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Animal Science : Metabolism in humans and domestic animals. The chemistry of alimentary digestion, absorption, transport, intermediary metabolism and excretion.

    Terms: Winter 2024

    Instructors: Martin, Deborah; Giehl Glanzner, Werner (Winter)

  • ANSC 251 Comparative Anatomy (3 credits)

    Offered by: Animal Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Animal Science : Study of the macroscopic anatomy of mammals based on detailed dissection of the dog. Comparison with other domestic species will be emphasized.

    Terms: Winter 2024

    Instructors: Laurin, Denyse (Winter)

    • Winter

    • 3 lectures and one 3-hour lab

    • A fee of $253.47 will be charged to partially cover the purchase of sufficient quantities of animals and organs for detailed dissection for students in the course.

    • Une redevance de $253.47 dollars sera appliquée afin de couvrir, en partie, les frais des spécimens qui seront utilisés pour la dissection dans le cours

  • ANSC 326 Fundamentals of Population Genetics (3 credits)

    Offered by: Animal Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Animal Science : Population genetics mechanisms in mammals, birds and plant. Factors influencing gene, genotype, and phenotypic frequencies. Effects of different types of selection, Hardy-Weinberg, linkage and recombination, polymorphisms and heterozygosity, population size, random drift and inbreeding on gene and genotype frequencies. Relationship between quantitative genetic parameters and gene frequencies.

    Terms: Fall 2023

    Instructors: Cue, Roger (Fall)

    • Prerequisites: AEMA 310 and LSCI 204, or equivalents, or permission of the instructor.

  • ANSC 400 Eukaryotic Cells and Viruses (3 credits)

    Offered by: Animal Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Animal Science : The basic principles of molecular biology and the underlying molecular basis for various methodologies in molecular biology are covered. The molecular genetic basis for viral infections and tumorigenesis will be covered as examples of the use of molecular genetic approaches to address biological problems.

    Terms: Winter 2024

    Instructors: Madogwe, Ejimedo (Winter)

  • ANSC 424 Metabolic Endocrinology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Animal Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Animal Science : A detailed study of the endocrine system and its role in the maintenance of homeostasis in higher vertebrates, including the endocrine regulation of energy balance.

    Terms: Winter 2024

    Instructors: Duggavathi, Raj (Winter)

    • Winter

    • 3 lectures and one 3-hour lab

    • Prerequisite: ANSC 323

  • ANSC 433 Animal Nutrition and Metabolism (3 credits)

    Offered by: Animal Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Animal Science : Introduction to fundamental aspects of animal nutrition, including gastrointestinal anatomy and physiology; nutrient digestion, absorption, and metabolism; nutrient functions and requirements of livestock species; evaluation of feedstuffs and their use in ration formulation; and feeding strategies. Laboratory classes will include hands-on experience on feed analyses, gastrointestinal tract dissections, nutritional experiments and demonstrations in livestock species as well as computer-based ration balancing exercises.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year.

    • Winter

    • 3 lectures and one 1-hour lab

    • Prerequisites: ANSC 234 or ANSC 330 or permission of instructor

  • ANSC 555 The Use and Welfare of Animals (3 credits)

    Offered by: Animal Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Animal Science : Understanding the roles in which animals are used by Society, especially in food production, companionship, research, and recreation; application of the scientific approaches that are used in assessing and improving animal welfare; and use of ethical approaches that are invoked in the use of animals, often in controversial contexts. An interdisciplinary course, based on active participation and discussion-method learning.

    Terms: Winter 2024

    Instructors: Vasseur, Elsa (Winter)

    • Prerequisites: ANSC 250 or PSYC 301 or WILD 421 or Permission of Instructor

    • Restriction: U3 and graduate students or permission of the instructor

  • ANSC 560 Biology of Lactation (3 credits)

    Offered by: Animal Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Animal Science : An interdisciplinary approach to the study of mammary development, the onset of lactation and its cessation, comparing the differences in mammalian species in mammary development from embryological, pre- and post-pubertal and pre- and post-partum aspects. Lactation at the cellular and biochemical levels.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year.

  • ANSC 565 Applied Information Systems (3 credits)

    Offered by: Animal Science (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Animal Science : Introduction to concepts of an Information System and subsequent application to various scenarios in agriculture. Industry analysis in terms of users, goals, available data/information, communication, delivery structure, decision making, feedback, exploitation of technology and possible improvements using the Internet. Individual case studies and familiarisation with cutting-edge computer applications.

    Terms: Winter 2024

    Instructors: Wade, Kevin (Winter)

    • Winter

    • 3 lectures and one 2-hour lab

  • LSCI 451 Research Project 1 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences)

    Overview

    Life Sciences : A research project on a topic relevant to the life sciences. This course is intended for senior (U3) undergraduates.

    Terms: Fall 2023, Winter 2024

    Instructors: Ronholm, Jennifer; Georges, Elias; Faucher, Sebastien (Fall) Ronholm, Jennifer (Winter)

    • Fall and Winter

    • Prerequisite(s): PARA 438 as a prerequisite or corequisite, and permission of instructor.

    • Restriction: Open to students with a minimum CGPA of 3.0.

    • Enrolment is limited by availability of research project supervisors and to students in the Life Sciences (Biological and Agricultural) Major. Students should make arrangements with a willing supervisor, and the proposed supervisor and project are subject to approval. Recommended for students in their final year (U3).

    • Not open to students who have taken AEBI 451.

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Faculty of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences—2023-2024 (last updated Sep. 12, 2023) (disclaimer)
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