INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY:
Macromolecules; Carbon chemistry; Proteins: Structure, folding, catalysis; Nucleic acids: DNA & RNA; storage and transfer of genetic information; Lipids: membranes, structure & function; Carbohydrate chemistry, energy storage, building blocks.
CELL STRUCTURES AND ITS FUNCTIONS:
Eukaryotic and Prokaryotic cells, plant and animal cells, structure of nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, Golgi bodies, lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplast, vacuoles; Cell cycle and cell division: Different phases of cell cycle, cell division: Mitosis and meiosis. Mendelian law of inheritance: Monohybrid and dihybrid inheritance, law of segregation and independent assortment; Gene Interaction; Multiple alleles, supplementary and complementary genes, epistasis. Identification of genetic material: classical experiments; chromosome structure and organization, chemical composition of chromatin, structural organization of nucleosomes, heterochromatin, polytene and lamp-brush chromosomes, human chromosomes, chromosomal disorders.
SCOPE OF MICROBIOLOGYAND IMMUNOLOGY:
Introduction to the structure and functions of microorganism: Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi and Protozoan’s. Microscopy and microbial techniques: Study of microscopes; sterilization techniques: Heat, steam, Radiation, Filtration and chemical methods; Pure culture techniques: Serial Dilution, Streak, Spread, Pour Plate. Immune System, Innate and adaptive immunity, antigens and antibodies; types of immune response, hypersensitivity. Humoral immunity: B-lymphocytes, Immunoglobulin classes, Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC). Cell mediated immunity. Thymus derived lymphocytes (T-cells), Antigen presenting cells (APC); Immunity to infection, Cytokines.
SCOPE OF AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY:
Role of Microbes in agriculture, Biopesticides, Bio fertilizers (Nitrogen fixing microbes), GM crops. Plant metabolic engineering and industrial products: Molecular farming for the production of industrial enzymes, biodegradable plastics, antibodies, edible vaccines. Metabolic engineering of plants for the production of fatty acids, industrial oils, flavonoids etc. Basic aspects of Food & Nutrition. Discussion of case studies for addressing health and malnutrition, via agri BT.
INDUSTRIALLY IMPORTANT MICROORGANISMS AND PRESERVATION TECHNIQUES:
Different media for fermentation, basic structure of fermenter and different types. Types of fermentation processes (surface, submerged, and solid state) and their products (ethanol, citric acid, lactic acid, enzymes, antibiotics) Biological treatment of waste water, primary, secondary and tertiary treatments. Bio indicators, bioremediation of xenobiotic compounds, Bioleaching of minerals from ores, Biosorption of toxic metals. Solid waste management. Biofuel production from agricultural wastes. Case studies and solutions for current issues of waste management.