Department of Basic Animal and Veternary Sciences, University of Copenhagen The department of Basic Animal and Veterinary Sciences was established in January 2004 when a merger between the departments of Anatomy and Physiology, Animal Production and Health, and the sections of Genetics and Nutrition occurred.
The mission of the department is to improve the research, teaching and advisory services that relate to basic and applied animal production science, biotechnology and veterinary science, encompassing such subjects as anatomy, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, nutrition and physiology.
Our mission necessitates that the department is at the forefront of those research fields mentioned above, with respect to establishing novel basic research and contributing to an improvement in animal health and animal production systems that will benefit not only producers, but students and society alike.
The department employs approximately 60 scientists who are very professionally supported by approximately 40 technical members of staff, funded by both internal and external resources. Members of staff are attached to one of four subject groups: Anatomy & Cell Biology, Genetics & Bioinformatics, Animal Nutrition and Physiology & Biochemistry.
The research with the department ranges from the molecular level to fully integrated organism studies, from genome structure through transcription to proteomics "functional genomics", comparative genomics, cell growth and death, cell differentiation and stem-cell biology, embryo and foetal development, as well as nutrient turnover and use in diverse body systems. Furthermore, research is directed towards improving our knowledge of such physiological processes as muscle function, pain and the origins of cardiovascular disease.
Special focus areas within the department include, reproduction biology, cancer research, genome analysis and bioinformatics, cardiovascular disease and the nutritional and physiological aspects of foetal development, milk, egg and meat production.
The department teaches a number of courses, which at present are designed to train a total of approximately 140 veterinary students, approximately 45 animal science students and approximately 45 biology/biotechnology students each year. In addition, the department plays a major teaching role in the animal biology subjects taught at LIFE.
The department has extensive International collaboration, which covers both research and teaching duties in connection with foreign Universities and Research Centres.
Finally, the department plays an active role in a national network of collaboration with other Danish Universities, Research Centres and Professional Organisations.
