Learning Heredity & Biology with Herd Genetics

Learning genetics can be complicated, especially when it comes to teaching the intricacies of breeding programs in a classroom. Observing genetic progress in real-time is not practical when generations take years to develop. This makes learning by example almost impossible in the classroom when limited to a single semester. Herd Genetics offers the solution. Utilizing powerful technology, Herd Genetics creates a classroom-level simulation of an animal population. Each student will have their own breeding program to manage and make progress with. Students will be able to share animals with the rest of the class and breed their own animals with other students’ animals.

Herd Genetics allows users to view their herds through the lens of many different kinds of animals. While one student may be working with bovine dairy cattle, another student may prefer working with dogs, horses, or even deer. The Herd Genetics simulation manages all of this behind the scenes, making sure data is converted seamlessly across all species. In addition to allowing different animals per user, Herd Genetics allows a different set of traits for each class using the “traitset” system. Traitsets are set at the class level, ensuring that every student in the class is looking at the same recessives and traits (despite looking through different animal lenses), while also allowing different classes to select and study different aspects of genetics. Some classes may need an industry-tied exhaustive set of traits, such as the dairy cattle industry’s “ANIMAL_SCIENCE_422” traitset, but other classes may need access to a more general set of traits and more animals with traitsets like “ANIMAL_SCIENCE_322.” You can explore the various options for your class using the traitset reference.

Another major advantage of Herd Genetics is the ability of the teacher to restrict what information is available to the students. While Herd Genetics by default shows the genotype, phenotype, PTA/EPD, and Net Merit (NM$) for each animal, the teacher may choose to only show the phenotypes or hide certain traits and recessives altogether. This allows for a more realistic representation of what a breeding program would look like, forcing students to make choices based on visible/observable phenotypes instead of raw genetic data. Herd Genetics is, of course, a computer-based simulation. While it makes every attempt to be true and accurate what is expected in the real world, it is still based on a number of mathematical equations. Herd Genetics provides full transparency on how it evaluates and calculates these biological systems. A list of equations used for calculations can be found in the calculations reference.

Herd Genetics represents a groundbreaking approach to teaching genetics, bridging the gap between theoretical concepts and practical application. By enabling students to manage personalized breeding programs and collaborate using diverse animal populations, it creates an engaging and interactive learning experience. The flexibility of the traitset system further enhances its versatility, catering to the unique needs of different classes and industries. With its innovative design, Herd Genetics not only simplifies complex genetic principles but also inspires the next generation of geneticists to explore, experiment, and understand the intricacies of breeding and heredity like never before.