ABSTRACT
The study was undertaken to determine biometric characterization of locally adapted Muscovy ducks in Nasarawa South Agricultural Zone. Three hundred matured Muscovy ducks were randomly selected from three randomly selected LGAs in the Nasarawa south Agricultural zone and used for the experiment. Body weight and body linear measurements as well egg qualities characteristics were determined across lafia doma and Awe Local Government Area of Nasarawa South. The data collected were analysed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the SPSS statistical package version 21. The results obtained indicated that, birds from Awe (location 3) had significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight (2.22±0.07 kg), wing length (40.74±0.73cm), tail length (18.93±0.26cm), egg weight (66.79±0.64g), albumen length (10.20±0.17mm) and albumen width (6.60±0.16mm) compared to those from locations 1 and 2 (Lafia and Doma). However, birds from Lafia (location 1) had significantly (P<0.05) higher chest circumference (14.76±0.26cm) and comb length (2.16±0.46cm) compared to birds from Doma and Awe (locations 2 and 3). Similarly, birds from locations 1 and 2 (Lafia and Doma) had significantly (P<0.05) higher shank length (5.91±0.16cm and 5.93±0.17cm, respectively) toe web (5.97±0.14cm and 5.92±0.14cm, respectively) and egg length (6.13±0.02mm and 6.07±0.02mm, respectively) compared to birds from location 3 (Awe). From the finding of this research, it was concluded that location have effect on Muscovy duck as such selection of these birds should be location based and subsequently be cross bred to utilise heterosis.

ABSTRACT
This abstract describes the Genomic Impact of science on society. How progress in Genomic has provided us enormous benefits for designing drugs like AZQ to treat brain cancer and at the same time raised some serious ethical problems. Instead of finding new treatment of cancers by the old trial-and-error methods, we are developing rational drug design to treat cancers based on the genetic make-up of a specific disease. Sequencing Human Genome has identified 24,000 genes that provides total information to make us. In our genome, we carry 16,000 good genes that code for good proteins that keep us healthy. There are 6,000 bad or mutated genes responsible for causing six thousand different diseases. There are 2,000 Pseudogenes that have lost their functions because they are no longer in use. The 6,000 mutated genes are damaged by radiations, chemical or environmental pollution, viral infection or genetic inheritance. The mutated genes code for wrong proteins which make them responsible for causing diseases. For example, when we sequence a bad gene and compare with the Reference Sequence, we could easily identify the location of the mutated gene on a specific chromosome. The rational drug design requires that we synthesize drugs based on the genetic make-up of the sequence. AZQ (US Patents 4,146,622 and 4,233,215) was rationally design to attack Glioblastoma, the Brain Tumor. This abstract present not only the discovery of AZQ, but also presents some possible solutions to serious ethical problems.

ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to assess allelic and genotypic frequencies at the selected blood protein [Albumin (Alb.), Haemoglobin (Hb.) and Transferrin (Tf)] loci in indigenous turkey populations in Southern Guinea Savannah of Nigeria. Blood samples were collected from 42 birds, 14 birds each from Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa States via purposive sampling. The blood was analysed by electrophoresis. The genetic relationship of the population was determined by using Tools for Population Genetics Analysis (TFPGA), version 1.3. Result obtained indicated that, two co-dominant alleles (A and B) which controlled three different genotypes (AA, AB and BB) were observed for Alb and Tf while only two genotypes (AA and BB) for the Hb polymorphic loci were observed. Sexual differences in gene and genotypic frequencies of Alb, Hb and Tf of male and female turkeys showed that genotype Alb AB and allele A were prevalent in the male while genotype Alb BB and Allele B were predominant in the female turkey. However, at the haemoglobin locus, genotype HbAA and allele A were prevalent in the male and female turkey, respectively. For tranferrin, genotype TfAB was most predominant in the male with equal frequencies in both alleles while genotype TfBB and allele B were most prevalent in the female. From the estimates of variability parameters in the populations under study, it can be concluded that the populations are under similar evolutionary forces and there were no appreciable differences among them. It was recommended that the result of this study be used as initial guide for defining objective of genetic improvement and developing strategies for conservation of Nigerian indigenous turkey.

ABSTRACT
Abstract: The knowledge of gene action and heterosis also helps in identification of superior F1 hybrids in order to use further in future breeding programs. The objectives of this study was, therefore, to estimate heterosis and combining ability of maize inbred lines for yield and yield related traits. The analysis of variance showed there is highly significant variation between the hybrids for all the traits considerd. All crosses showed significant and positive heterotic effects over mid and better parents for grain yield. None of the crosses showed significant standard heterosis in desired direction. Mid-parent heterosis of day’s maturity ranged from -5 to 13.9%, whereas that of better parent heterosis ranged from -5 to 105%. Indicating that the hybrids tend to be earlier in maturity than the parents. The observed highest heterosis for grain yield and related traits indicated the possibility of increasing yield by exploiting heterotic potential of maize genotypes. The information generated by this study could be useful for researchers who need to develop high yielding maize hybrids.

ABSTRACT
Abstract: Genetic variability is an important feature for plant breeding and crop improvement. The amount of variability that exists in the germplasm collections of any crop is the most important towards breeding for better varieties, particularly genetic variability for a given trait is a basic prerequisite for its improvement by systematic breeding. The success of any crop improvement program is not only depend on the amount of genetic variability present in the population but also on the extent to which it is heritable, which sets the limit of progress that can be achieved through selection. Heritability alone provides no indication of the amount of genetic improvement that would result from selection of individual genotypes. Hence knowledge about genetic advance coupled with heritability is most useful. Heritability and genetic advance should be considered simultaneously because it is not always true that high heritability will always be associated with high genetic advances. Further, efficiency of selection in any breeding program mainly depends upon the knowledge of association of traits. For effective selection, information on nature and magnitude of variation in population, association of character with yield and among themselves and the extent of environmental influence on the expression of these characters are necessary. Correlation coefficient and Path coefficient analysis are the most important tools to describe association of traits in maize breeding program.

ABSTRACT
Abstract: Eight inbred lines collected from Ambo Agriculural Research Center Highland maize sub-program and were evaluated under optimum and Low Nitrogen condition at Ambo and Haramaya University in 2018. Breeding programs have created inbred lines of maize introduced from CIMMYT; they were tested locally for their heterosis. The objective of this study was to generate information regarding the combining ability effect of selected highland adapted maize inbred lines and their crosses for further breeding and cultivar development in view of this limitation. P6 was the lines that exhibited positive and hence good combiner for gain yield in all locations and environmental condition and crosses found to be good yield potential in this study were (P1xP2), (P2xP7) and (P4xP6).

ABSTRACT
Abstract: African nightshades (Solanum scabrum) are one of indigenous vegetables widely consumed in Kenya. Yield losses due to aphids are estimated to about 84-96% in Kenya. Aphids have developed resistance to synthetic pesticides. There is need to identify ecofriendly alternatives such as the use of botanicals like pyrethrum which are cheaper and safe to protect this potential vegetable specifically against insect pests which includes aphids, black-ants and white flies that severely reduce the yields. Plants secondary metabolites constitute a major source of bioactive substances. Pyrethrum extracts contain active ingredients which block the voltage gated sodium channels in nerve axon insects, resulting in a knockdown effect, hyperactivity, and convulsions hence death of insect pests. Little has been documented on the anti-aphid effect of pyrethrum leaf, flower and root extracts on aphids. Information on secondary metabolites in pyrethrum flower, root and leaf extracts is lacking. The objectives of this study were to determine the phytochemical constituents in pyrethrum flower, leaf and root parts and to determine the effect of different concentration levels of pyrethrum extracts on aphids affecting S. scabrum. The study was conducted at Maseno University farm. A field experiment was laid in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Five treatments consisting of 0%, 33%, 67% and 100% pyrethrum flower, root and leaf extracts and duduthrin were applied. Phytochemical screening of extracts was carried out. Solanum scabrum seeds were locally sourced from the Botanic Garden, Maseno University, germinated and raised in 3m by 1m plots caged with mosquito net. After four weeks the seedlings were thinned to 9 seedlings per plot. Aphids (Aphis fabae) were obtained from International Center of Insect Physiology and Ecology- Nairobi were reared then introduced to every seedling (10 aphids) in all plots. Aphid population was determined weekly on leaves and by use