​   Bioinformatics analysis, Classical and Modern animal breeding techniques (Marker-Assisted Selection and Genomic Selection), Quantitative Genetics, Molecular Genetics, Population Genetics, Functional Genomics, and wool-mohair research are among the study areas of the department. In addition, the conservation of farm animal genetic resources at FAO standards and ensuring their sustainable use are among the duties of the department. Three active units and laboratories, namely Genetics Laboratory, Cell Culture Laboratory- Gen Bank and Wool-Mohair Laboratory are located under the department.

 1. Genetics Laboratory

The laboratory was established primarily as a Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory in order to perform identity verification and parentage assignment analyses in cattle. In addition, many national, international and subject-based R&D projects in cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and chicken species are currently carried out in our laboratory.

The main molecular techniques used in our laboratory are as follows.

1. DNA isolation from various biological materials such as blood, tissue, hair follicle and semen.
2. DNA quality and quantity determination with UV-Spectrophotometer technique.
3. PCR amplification by conventional technique.
4. Quality, quantity analysis and RFLP, AFLP, SSCP, RAPD-PCR results with vertical and horizontal gel imaging techniques.
5. Sanger sequence with the genetic analyser device, Microsatellite Fragment analysis, Snapshot analysis.
6. Gene expression analysis by Real Time PCR.
7. DNA genotyping and RNA expression analysis via micro-arrays representing the entire genome.

Within the scope of the National Genomic Selection project, which is carried out in partnership with the General Directorate of Livestock and the Central Cattle Breeders Association, the reference population establishment of Siyah-Alaca (Holstein) cattle studies are being carried out. For this purpose, the cattle is genotyped with SNP-panel including 50,000 SNP markers.

2. Cell Culture Laboratory and Gene Bank

In addition to molecular genetic studies in our department, a gene bank was established within the scope of the Turkish-Hay-Gen-1 project carried out jointly with TUBITAK in 2007, and DNA samples of domestic cattle, sheep, goats and some horse breeds are stored in the bank. The routine viability control of the cell culture samples stored in accordance with the end-of-project application procedure is carried out by our cell culture laboratory. Additionally, the establishment of a gene bank and a cell culture laboratory at the FAO standards with the storage capacity of approximately 400,000 samples (sperm, embryo, and tissue and cell culture) is in progress under our department.

3. Wool-Mohair Laboratory

In the laboratory, animal fibres such as wool and mohair are analysed. Analysis of the fleece and mohair belonging to sheep and goats in our institute and the fleece and mohair from other institutions are carried out in this laboratory. Physical properties of wool and mohair such as diameter, length, elasticity, strength and efficiency are examined.

  The laboratory's annual animal fibre sample processing capacity is 3,000 samples. The laboratory is the most modern and well-equipped laboratories in this field in Turkey. There is also a fleece and mohair museum within the laboratory. In the museum a total of around 300 wool and mohair samples of sheep, goats and other breeds from Turkey and various countries are exhibited.

The last 5 years analysis amounts of the laboratory are given in the table below.

The last 5-year analysis of the Wool-Mohair laboratory