Syllabus for
Master of Science (Botany)
Academic Year  (2021)

The core biology subjects like Cytology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Statistics etc. which are offered in first year makes the students appreciate the implications of these subjects in botanical studies. Modules on Taxonomy, Analytical Techniques, Plant Tissue Culture and Phytochemistry would make them acquire skills in doing research in Universities and R & D Centres and also makes them employable in herbal drug industry. All the courses in the programme are carefully designed to equip the students for competitive exams like CSIR NET, SET etc. and also to write research proposals for grants.

Programme Outcome/Programme Learning Goals/Programme Learning Outcome:

PO 2: Appreciate the in-depth knowledge on advanced basic botany courses like Spermatophytes, Cryptogams etc

PO 3: In the relevant industries by the introduction of applied botany modules on Taxonomy, Plant Tissue Culture, Phytochemistry, Plant Pathology etc

PO4: Demonstrate skills in undertaking research in Universities and R&D Centres

The evaluation scheme for each course shall contain two parts; (a) internal evaluation and (b) external evaluation. 50% weightage shall be given to internal evaluation and the remaining 50% to external evaluation and the ratio and weightage between internal and external is 1:1.  (a) Internal evaluation: The internal evaluation shall be based on predetermined transparent system involving periodic written tests, assignments, seminars and attendance in respect of theory courses and based on written tests, lab skill/records/viva and attendance in respect of practical courses.

In this course we survey the biological diversity of modern algae and fungi, with an eye toward understanding why studying plant diversity is important in our  modern society. We consider first the traditional classification of algae and fungi, and how this system has  been revolutionized by phylogenetic analyses of genetic and now genomic data. We then turn to study the evolutionary processes that generate biodiversity and the ecological processes that shape this  diversity.

(a) History of algal classification. Detailed study of the classification by F. E. Fritsch and G. M. Smith. Modern trends and criteria for algal classification.

(b) Centers of algal research in India. Contributions of Indian phycologists – M O P Iyengar, V Krishnamurthy, T V Desikachary.

 (a) Details of habit, habitat and distribution of Algae.

 (b) Algal components: Cell wall, flagella, eye-spot, pigments, pyrenoid, photosynthetic products.

 (c) Range of thallus structure and their evolution.

 (d) Reproduction in algae: Different methods of reproduction, evolution of sex organs.

 (e) Major patterns of life cycle and post fertilization stages in Chlorophyta, Xanthophyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta.

 (f) Fossil algae.

Ecological importance of Algae. Productivity of fresh water and marine environment. Algae in

symbiotic association, Algae in polluted habitat, Algal indicators, Algal blooms.

Economic importance of Algae

 (a) Algae as food, fodder, biofertilizer, medicine, industrial uses, and other useful products. Harmful effects of algae.

 (b) Use of Algae in experimental studies.

 (a) Methods and techniques of collection, preservation and staining of Algae.

 (b) Algal culture: Importance, methods; Algal culture media.

General characters of Fungi and their significance. Principles of classification of fungi, Classifications by G C Ainsworth (1973) and C. J. Alexopoulos.

 Mycelial structure and reproduction of;

 (a) Myxomycota –Acrasiomycetes, Hydromyxomycetes, Myxomycetes, Plasmodiophoromycetes.

 (b) Mastigomycotina - Chytridiomycetes, Hyphochytridiomycetes, Oomycetes.

 (c) Zygomycotina - Zygomycetes, Trichomycetes.

 (d) Ascomycotina - Hemiascomycetes, Pyrenomycetes, Plectomycetes, Discomycetes, Laboulbeniomycetes, Loculoascomycetes.

 (e) Basidiomycotina - Teliomycetes, Hyphomycetes, Gastromycetes.

 (f) Deuteromycotina - Blastomycetes, Hyphomycetes, Coelomycetes.

 (g) Types of fruiting bodies in fungi.

 (a) Symbionts - Lichens, Mycorrhiza, Fungus-insect mutualism.

 (b) Parasites - Common fungal parasites of plants, humans, insects and nematodes.

 (c) Saprophytes - Fungal decomposition of organic matter, coprophilous fungi, cellulolytic fungi, lignolytic fungi.

 (d) Agricultural significance of Fungi - Mycoparasite, mycoherbicide.

i: Introduction to crop pathology: Classification of plant diseases based on; (a) Major causal agents - biotic and abiotic, (b) General symptoms.

ii: Process of infection and pathogenesis:

 (a) Penetration and entry of pathogen into host tissue – mechanical, physiological and enzymatic.

 (b) Host-parasite interaction, enzymes and toxins in pathogenesis.

 iii: Defense mechanism in plants:   Pre-existing structural and biochemical defense mechanisms, lack of essential nutrients. Induced structural and biochemical defense mechanisms, inactivation of pathogen enzymes and toxins, altered biosynthetic pathways.

 iv: Transmission of plant disease: Spread and transmission of plant diseases by wind, water, seeds and vectors.

 v: Plant disease management: Exclusion, eradication and protection. Chemical means of disease control – common fungicides, antibiotics and nematicides. Biological means of disease control. Biotechnological approaches to disease resistance: Fungi in agricultural biotechnology, control of fungal plant pathogens by mycofungicides. Transgenic approaches to disease resistance.

 vi: Major diseases in plants: 

 (a) Cereals: Rice - blast disease, bacterial blight; Wheat - black rust disease.

 (b) Vegetables: Chilly - leaf spot; Ladies finger - vein clearing disease.

 (c) Fruits: Banana - bacterial leaf blight, leaf spot; Mango - Anthracnose; Citrus - bacterial canker; Papaya – mosaic.

 (d) Spices: Ginger - rhizome rot; Pepper - quick wilt; Cardamom - marble mosaic disease.

 (e) Oil seeds: Coconut - grey leaf spot, bud rot disease.

 (f) Rubber yielding: Hevea braziliensis - abnormal leaf fall, powdery mildew.

 (g) Sugar yielding: Sugarcane - red rot; root knot nematode.

 (h) Cash crops: Arecanut - nut fall disease.

 (i) Beverages: Tea - blister blight; Coffee - rust.

1. Chapman V J (1962).  The Algae. Macmillan & Co. Ltd.

2. Gilbert M Smith (1971).  Cryptogamic Botany (Vol. 1): Algae and Fungi. Tata McGraw Hill Edition.

3. C J Alexopoulos, M Blackwell, C W Mims.  Introductory Mycology (IV Edn).

4. Jim Deacon (2006).  Fungal Biology (IV Edn). Blackwell Publishing.

6. Kanika Sharma. Manual of microbiology: Tools and techniques.

7. H C Dube (1983).  An introduction to fungi. Vikas Publ. New Delhi.

In this course we survey the biological diversity of modern algae and fungi and the methodology of their identification, with an eye toward understanding why studying to identify plant diversity is important in our modern society. We consider first the traditional classification of algae and fungi, and how this system has been revolutionized by phylogenetic analyses of genetic and now genomic data. We then turn to study the evolutionary processes that generate biodiversity and the ecological processes that shape this diversity.

1. Critical study of diagnostic features and identification of the following genera based on morphological, anatomical and reproductive parts;

(a) Cyanophyceae - Gleocapsa, Gleotrichia, Spirulina, Microcystis, Oscillatoria, Lyngbya, Anabaena, Nostoc, Rivularia, Scytonema.

(b) Chlorophyceae - Chlamydomonas, Gonium, Eudorina, Pandorina, Volvox, Ecballocystis, Tetraspora, Ulothrix, Microspora, Ulva, Shizomeris, Cladophora, Pithophora. Coleochaete, Chaetophora, Drapernaldia, Drapernaldiopsis, Trentepohlia, Fritschiella, Cephaleuros, Oedogonium, Bulbochaete, Zygnema, Mougeotia, Sirogonium. Desmedium, Bryopsis, Acetabularia, Codium, Caulerpa, Halimeda, Neomeris, Chara, Nitella.

      (c) Xanthophyceae – Vaucheria.

      (d) Bacillariophyceae - Biddulphia, Pinnularia.

(e) Phaeophyceae - Ectocarpus, Colpomenia, Hydroclathrus, Dictyota, Padina, Sargassum, Turbinaria.

(f) Rhodophyceac - Brtrachospermum, Gelidium, Amphiroa, Gracilaria, Polysiphonia.

2. Students are to collect and identify algae from different habitat or visit an Algal research station.

3. Prepare and submit a report of the field work/research station visit.

1. Critical study of the following types by preparing suitable micropreparations; Stemonitis, Physarum, Saprolegnia, Phytophthora, Albugo, Mucor, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Pilobolous, Saccharomyces, Xylaria, Peziza, Phyllochora, Puccinia, Termitomyces, Pleurotus, Auricularia, Polyporus, Lycoperdon, Dictyophora, Geastrum, Cyathus, Fusarium, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Pestalotia, Graphis, Parmelia, Cladonia, Usnea.

2. Isolation of fungi from soil and water by culture plate technique.

3. Estimation of mycorrhizal colonization in root.

4. Collection and identification of common field mushrooms (5 types).

1. Make suitable micropreparations and identify the diseases mentioned with due emphasis on symptoms and causative organisms.

2.      2. Isolation of pathogens from diseased tissues (leaf, stem and fruit) by serial dilution method.

3.      3. Collection and preservation of specimens from infected plants. Submit 5 herbarium sheets/live

4.      specimens along with a report.

5.      4. Tests for seed pathology – seed purity test.

5. Calculation of Spore load on seeds using Haemocytometer.

•      Genetic Problems in Recombination and Linkage

•      Genetic problems in quantitative genetics 

•      Genetic problems in population genetics

•    Genetic problems in pedigree analysis 

• Analysis of genetic problems (Chi-Square test for linkage, the goodness of fit and Independence; quantitative genetics (correlation and Regression, students' t-test; Population genetics) using the software SPSS/Origin/SigmaPlot 

Submission of algal samples with proper labelling - 10 marks

report of the fieldwork/research station visit - 10 marks

Submission of herbaria of plant pathological specimens - 5 marks 

Collection and identification of common field mushrooms (5 types). - 5 marks

Analysis of genetic problems using SPSS software/origin/SigmPlot- 10 marks 

Mid Semester Examination: 40 marks

Record: 10 marks

End Semester Question Pattern: 

CHRIST (DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY) BENGALURU

DEPARTMENT OF LIFE SCIENCES 

PRACTICAL END SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS, 2020

MBOT 152 Phycology, Mycology, Crop Pathology and Research Methodology

Total Marks: 100                                                                                                                                 Time: 6 hours

1. Make suitable micropreparations of A, B, C and D. Draw labelled diagrams and identify giving reasons.

(Preparation – 2, Diagram – 2, Identification with systematic position and reasons – 4; 8 x 4 = 32)

2. Write critical notes on the reproductive parts of E and F.

(Identification– 1, diagram – 2, Critical note – 2; 5 x 2 = 10)

3. Sort out any three algae from the algal mixture G and make separate clear mounts. Identify and draw labelled diagrams.

(Preparation – 2, Identification with reasons = 2, Diagram – 2; 6 x 3 = 18)

4. Spot at sight H, I, J, K and L.

(Identification 1, Part displayed = 1; 5 x 2 = 10)

5. Identify the disease in M, N and O and write the causative organism

(Identification – 1, Causative organism – 1; 3 x 2 = 6)

6 Genetic Problems – (24 marks)

Microbes play a very significant role in the lives of higher organisms. The paper surveys the features of microbes like bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae and protozoa in order to make the students understand their biology so as to manipulate them. This course fulfils the basic knowledge in microbiology for those students who wish to pursue career in allied health fields and other technical programs.

History of Microbiology, Microscopy – Light, Phase contrast, Fluorescence & Electron microscopy – TEM and SEM, Physical and Chemical control of microorganisms, Classification and nomenclature of microorganisms, Bergey’s manual, Staining techniques - Gram’s, acid fast, capsular, flagellar and endospore staining. Microbial Taxonomy: Pure culture techniques (Streaking, spread plate, pour plate, serial dilution), Identification of microorganisms – Morphological, Biochemical, serological and molecular techniques.

Bacterial cell structure, classification based on shape and arrangement of cells, cell wall, flagella, pili and capsule – structure & functions, endospore formation, features of mycoplasma, Rickettsia, Prions and diseases caused. 

Microbial metabolism: Aerobic, anaerobic respiration, fermentation, Catabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. Bacterial photosynthesis, oxidation of inorganic molecules. Growth curve, factors affecting growth, Nutritional classification, Microbial associations (Mutualism, Syntrophism, Proto-cooperation, Commensalism, Ammensalism, Predation, Parasitism, Saprophytism, Satellitism and Endozoic microbes), Stress physiology: effect of oxygen toxicity, pH, osmotic pressure, heat shock on bacteria, HSPs, thermophiles, halophiles, alkaliphiles, acidophiles, psychrophiles and barophiles and their adaptations and significance,  Nitrogen fixation mechanisms and genes involved.

Hepatitis B virus. RNA viruses: HIV, bacteriophages-. Lifecycle of Lambda phage. Evolution and mutation of viruses. Cultivation and assay of viruses: Cultivation of viruses in embryonated eggs, experimental animals and cell cultures

Fungi:- Structural features, Ainsworth’s system of classification, salient features of division, reproduction of fungi, fungi as food, as plant pathogens, control measures of fungi, Mycorrhizae- ecto and endomycorrhizae, significance, Algae:- Salient features, classification (Fritsch’s) and reproduction, measurement of algal growth, strain selection and large scale cultivation, Symbiotic algae, use as biofuel.

Major Bacterial diseases – Typhoid, Tetanus, Tuberculosis, Pneumonia and Cholera, Viral diseases - Dengue, Chikungunya, Rabies. Emerging viruses – H1N1, Ebola, Zika. Major parasitic diseases –Malaria, Amoebiasis, Giardiasis- pathogen, lifecycle and treatment measures. Etiology, symptoms and control measures of some plant diseases - Bacterial blight of rice, Late blight of potato, Coconut Root wilt, Ginger Soft Rot, Downy Mildew of Grapes, Rust of Wheat, Red Rot of Sugarcane.

Concepts of pathogenesis, virulence and epidemiology, Disease classification - Epidemic, endemic and pandemics, CDC and its role, normal human microflora, gut microbiota and its relevance. Diagnosis and control of infections, Antibiotic – types and mechanism of action, biomedical waste management, nosocomial infections, Drug resistance in bacteria – causes and consequences, super bugs.

Microbes in food manufacture (Yeast, Lactobacillus etc), food spoilage (Brucella, Bacillus, Clostridium, Escherichia etc, mycotoxins - aflatoxins, ochratoxins, ergot alkaloids), agriculture (Rhizobium, Trichoderma etc), environmental management, Biodegradation of Xenobiotics - hydrocarbons, pesticides and plastics, Bioleaching of Copper, Iron , Uranium, Gold.

CIA1: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

CIA2: MID SEMESTER EXAMINATION for 50 marks

CIA3: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

Attendance in class: 10 marks

END SEMSTER EXAMINATION: Consist of 2 sections. Section A consist of 10 questions carrying 5 marks each out of which students need to attempt 8 questions (8 X 5marks = 40 marks). Section B consists of 7 questions, carrying 12 marks each, out of which students need to attempt 5 questions (5 X 12 marks = 60 marks).

The paper is intended to develop understanding and provide scientific basis of the inanimate molecules that constitute living organisms. It also gives a thorough knowledge about the structure and function of biological macromolecules (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids), and the metabolic and bioenergetic pathways within the cell. Students learn to interpret and solve clinical problems.

Forces and interactions of biomolecules; chemical bonds – Covalent and Ionic bond (bond energy), Stabilizing interactions (Van der Waals, electrostatic, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interaction.), high energy molecules in living system (ATP, ADP, NAD, NADH, NADPH, FAD, FADH₂), Laws of thermodynamics, Concept of free energy, enthalpy, entropy, Coupled reactions, group transfer, biological energy transducers, redox potential.Buffers and Solutions: Concept of pH, pKa, titration curve, acids, bases and buffers, Henderson-Hasselbalch Equation, biological buffer solutions.Principles of thermodynamics; Kinetics, dissociation and association constants; energy rich bonds and weak interactions; Bioenergetics.

Classification, structure and Properties of mono, oligo and polysaccharides. Chirality and optical activity, stereoisomerism, cyclic structure of monosaccharide, (pyranoses and furanoses), structures of glucose. Absolute and relative configuration (D & L and R & S nomenclature). Disaccharides-structures of Maltose, Lactose, Sucrose, Trehalose, Raffinose. Polysaccharides. Structure and properties of homo and hetero polysaccharides. Storage polysaccharides. (Starch, Glycogen, cellulose, hemicellulose, and chitin) Derived sugars- Sugar acids (Aldonic, Aldaric and Saccharic acids), amino sugars. Derivatives of carbohydrates (Glycosaminoglycans, glycolipids, Proteoglycan and glycoproteins).

Carbohydrate metabolism: Glycogenolysis, Glycogenesis, Glycolysis- Energetics and Regulation, Fermentation reactions (Lactic acid and alcoholic fermentation), Gluconeogenesis, Reciprocal regulation of Glycolysis and Gluconeogenesis, Citric acid cycle- Energetics and regulation, Glyoxylate cycle. Pentose phosphate pathway.

Electron transport chain, Electron transfer reactions in mitochondria, Electron carriers, Ubiquinone, Cytochromes, Iron sulfur centers, Methods to determine sequence of electron carriers, Fractionation of Multi enzyme complexes I, II, III, IV of Mitochondria and their inhibitors, Oxidative phosphorylation, ATP synthesis, Chemiosmotic model, Proton gradient, Structure of ATP synthetase, Mechanism of ATP synthesis, Brown fat, Regulation of Oxidative phosphorylation.

Amino acids: Structure, properties, classification and functions, reactions of amino acids, modifications of amino acids in proteins, non-protein amino acids.

Proteins- peptide bond, psi and phi angle, Ramachandran's plot, Structural organizations of proteins (primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary, Domains, Motifs & Folds), conformational analysis. Structure and functional classification of proteins. Structure- function relationship. Thermodynamics of protein folding, chaperones and chaperonins, Stability of Protein Structures, examples of  specific proteins; Keratin, Silk fibroin, collagen triple helix and hemoglobin; Denaturation and renaturation of proteins; neurotransmitters, Peptide hormones .

Amino acid and Protein metabolism: Transamination, Deamination, Decarboxylation, basic glutamine and glutamic acid pathways, urea cycle and its regulation, formation of uric acid.

Enzyme nomenclature and classification, Isolation of enzymes. Extraction of soluble and membrane bound enzymes: Purification of enzymes-Criteria for purification; Assay of enzymes. Factors affecting enzyme activity, Isozymes, Coenzymes and cofactor, Metalloenzymes, membrane bound enzymes, Multienzyme complexes, Synthetic enzymes, Ribozymes. Mechanism of enzyme action, Active site and Specificity of enzyme. Theories on enzyme substrate complex. Free energy of enzyme reactions. Steady state kinetics. Michaelis-Menton, Lineweaver–Burk, Edde-Hofstee and Hanes-Woolf equations. Pre-steady state kinetics. Fast kinetics to elucidate the intermediates and rate limiting steps.

Enzyme inhibition: types of inhibitors; Mechanism of enzyme inhibition –competitive, non – competitive, uncompetitive, mixed and irreversible inhibition. Allosteric regulation in metabolic pathways. Applications of enzymes, enzyme engineering (Protein engineering). Immobilization of enzymes and their application.

Classification- Structure, properties, reactions and biological functions of lipids. Phospholipids, Sphingo and glyco lipids, Steroids-cholesterol-bile salts, steroid hormones,Cerebrosides, lipoamino acids, lipoproteins, lipopolysaccharides, eicosanoids (Prostaglandins, leucotrienes and thromboxane).Role of lipids in biomembranes.

Metabolism of Lipids: Biosynthesis of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol. Beta oxidation of Fatty acids: activation, transport to mitochondria, metabolic pathway. Oxidation of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Alpha and omega oxidation, metabolic disorders (Triglyceridemia, NaymanSacchs Disease).

Structure and properties- Bases, Nucleosides, Nucleotides, Polynucleotides.

Nucleic acid metabolism: Biosynthesis and regulation of purines and pyrimidines, Denovo and Salvage pathways, biodegradation of purines and pyrimidines.

Vitamins: Classification, Chemistry and Biological Functions, Fat and water soluble vitamins. Role in metabolism, Vitamins as co-enzymes. Metabolic Disorders –A, B, C, D, K.

Hormones:Autocrine, paracrine and endocrine action. Endocrine glands, Classification of hormones, basic mechanism of hormone action, importance of TSH,T3,T4, Estrogen, Testosterone, HCG, FSH, LH, Prolactin, Progesteron, adrenaline, insulin and glucagon. Hormone imbalance and disorders: hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Polycystic Ovarian Disorder PCOD), Insulin Dependent Diabetes.

Plant Growth regulators: Biosynthesis, Physiological role and mechanism of action of plant growth hormones (Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinins, Ethylene, abscisic acid, Brassinosteroids), receptors and signal transduction (salicylic acid and jasmonic acid pathways).

Nelson, D. C. and Cox, M.M., Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, 5th Edition, W. H. Freeman, 2010.

Voet D., Voet J.G, Biochemistry 4th Edition., John Wiley and Sons, 2011.

Elliott, W.H., Elliott, D.C. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 3^rd Indian edition, Pub. Oxford.

Mathews, Van Holde and Ahern, Biochemistry by 3^rd edition, Pub Pearson education

Berg J.M., Tymoczko J.L. and Stryer L., Biochemistry. 7th edition, W.H. Freeman and Co. New York, 2011.

Kuchel, P.W., Ralston Schaums, G.B. Outlines of Biochemistry 2^nd edition Pub: Tata.

Devlin, T.M. (1997). Biochemistry with clinical correlations, Wiley-Liss Inc. NY

Zubey, G.L. Parson, W.W., Vance, D.E. (1994). Principles of Biochemistry WmC Brown publishers. Oxford.

Edwards and Hassall. Biochemistry and Physiology of the cell 2^ndEdn. McGraw Hill Co. UK. Ltd.

CIA1: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

CIA2: MID SEMESTER EXAMINATION for 50 marks

CIA3: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

Attendance in class: 10 marks

END SEMSTER EXAMINATION: Consist of 2 sections. Section A consist of 10 questions carrying 5 marks each out of which students need to attempt 8 questions (8 X 5marks = 40 marks). Section B consists of 7 questions, carrying 12 marks each, out of which students need to attempt 5 questions (5 X 12 marks = 60 marks).

The chapters on genetics make them appreciate the flow of inherited characters from one generation to the other and study about the interaction of different genes in different organisms. The students will also gain knowledge related to quantitative, population and evolutionary genetics, in addition to microbial genetics.

Transmission genetics, Molecular genetics and Population genetics (brief introduction). Mendelism – basic principles (brief study). Extensions of Mendelism, penetrance and expressivity of genes. Nonmendelian inheritance – cytoplasmic inheritance.

Sex Chromosomes and sex determination in animals and plants; Dosage Compensation of X-Linked Genes: Hyperactivation of X-linked genes in maleDrosophila, Inactivation of X-linked genes in female mammals

Linkage and Crossing over - Stern’s hypothesis, Creighton and McClintock’s experiments, single cross over, multiple cross over, two-point cross, three-point cross, map distances, gene order, interference and co-efficient of coincidence. Haploid mapping (Neurospora), Mapping in bacteria and bacteriophages.

Pedigree analysis, determination of human genetic diseases by pedigree analysis, genetic mapping in human pedigrees.

Polygenic inheritance, Statistics of Quantitative Genetics: Frequency distributions, the mean and the modal class, the variance and the standard deviation, Analysis of quantitative traits: -The multiple factor hypothesis, Partitioning the phenotypic variance; QTL, effect of environmental factors and artificial selection on polygenicinheritance.

(a) Gene pool, allele and genotype frequency. Hardy-Weinberg law and its applications, estimation of allele and genotype frequency of dominant genes, codominant genes, sex-linked genes and multiple alleles. Genetic equilibrium, genetic polymorphism.

(b) Factors that alter allelic frequencies; (i) mutation (ii) genetic drift - bottle neck effect and founder effect (iii) migration (iv) selection (v) nonrandom mating, inbreeding coefficient.

Emergence of evolutionary theory; Genetic Variation in Natural Populations: variation in phenotypes, variation in chromosome structure; Molecular Evolution: Molecules As “Documents of EvolutionaryHistory”, Molecular Phylogenies, Rates of Molecular Evolution, the Molecular Clock, Variation in the Evolution of Protein Sequences, Variation in the Evolution of DNA Sequences, The Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution, Mutation And GeneticDrift, Molecular Evolution and Phenotypic Evolution. Species concept; subspecies, sibling species, semi species, demes. Types of speciation - Phyletic speciation and True speciation. Mechanism of speciation - Genetic divergences and isolating mechanisms. Patterns of speciation - allopatric, sympatric, quantum and parapatric speciation, Convergent evolution; sexual selection; co-evolution; Human Evolution: Humans and the Great Apes, Human Evolution in the Fossil Record, DNA Sequence Variation and Human Origins

Fundamentals of Bacterial and Viral Genetics, Bacterial and Bacteriophage Evolution, Genetic Transformation, Conjugation and the Escherichia coli Paradigm, Plasmids and Conjugation Systems Other than F, Plasmid Molecular Biology, Genetics of Temperate Bacteriophages, T4 Bacteriophage as a Model Genetic System, Genetics of Other Intemperate Bacteriophages

1.      Benjamin Lewin (2000). Genes VII. Oxford university press.

2.      Gardner E J, Simmons M J, Snustad D P (1991). Principles of Genetics (III Edn). John Wiley and Sons Inc.

3.      Snustad D P, Simmons M J (2000). Principles of Genetics (III Edn). John Wiley and Sons.

4.      Strickberger (2005). Genetics (III Edn). Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd.

5.      William S Klug, Michael R Cummings (1994). Concepts of Genetics. Prentice Hall.

      1.      Robert J Brooker (2009). Genetics: Analysis and principles (III Edn). McGraw Hill 

2.      Daniel L Hartl, Elizabeth W Jones (2009). Genetics: Analysis of genes and genomes (VII Edn). Jones and Bartlett publishers.

3.      D Peter Snustad, Michael J Simmons (2010). Principles of genetics (V Edn). John Wiley and Sons.

4.      George Ledyard Stebbins (1971). Process of Organic evolution.

5.      Roderic D M Page, Edward C Holmes (1998). Molecular Evolution: A phylogenetic approach.

6.      Blackwell Science Ltd.

7.      MaxtoshiNei, Sudhir Kumar (2000). Molecular Evolution and phylogenetics. Oxford University Press.

8.      Katy Human (2006). Biological evolution: An anthology of current thought. The Rosen publishing group, Inc.

9.      Monroe W Strickberger (1990). Evolution. Jones and Bartlett publishers.

10.  E d w a r d A . B i r g e, Bacterial and Bacteriophage Genetics, 5^th Ed. Springer

CIA1: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

CIA2: MID SEMESTER EXAMINATION for 50 marks

CIA3: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

Attendance in class: 10 marks

END SEMSTER EXAMINATION: Consist of 2 sections. Section A consist of 10 questions carrying 5 marks each out of which students need to attempt 8 questions (8 X 5marks = 40 marks). Section B consists of 7 questions, carrying 12 marks each, out of which students need to attempt 5 questions (5 X 12 marks = 60 marks).

To understand what is meant by concentration, by volume, and by amount, and their interrelationships

Make the students able to convert multiples of one unit to another

To make the students understand that there is a physical limit to the volume of a solution you can pipette, determined by your equipment

Fractions, Decimals and Percentages, Amounts, Volumes and Concentrations, Scientific Notation, Conversion of Units.

Solving Equations and Evaluating Expressions, Logarithms, Straight-Line and Non-Straight-Line Graphs, Rate of Change

Assignment - 10 

Mini project - 20 

exam -          20

1.      To understand the theoretical basis of conducting research

2.      To design a research

3.      Understanding the importance of the research paper

4.      To impart knowledge regarding the ethics in research

Need for research, stages of research; Basic concepts of research -Meaning, Objectives, Motivation and Approaches. Types of Research (Descriptive/Analytical, Applied/ Fundamental, Quantitative/Qualitative, Conceptual/ Empirical);

Research formulation -Observation and Facts, Prediction and explanation, Induction, Deduction; Defining and formulating the research problem, Selecting the problem and necessity of defining the problem

Laboratory record, CAS, Good Documentation Practises, Data Integrity

Workbook maintenance, Various funding agencies (National and International), Project proposal writing, Research report writing (Thesis and dissertations, Research articles, Oral communications); Presentation techniques - Assignment, Seminar, Debate, Workshop, Colloquium, Conference.

Basic concept and parameters of various Indexing agencies: Scopus and SCImago (SNIP, SJR and CiteScore), Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics, Impact Factor) DOAJ, PubMed Central (PMC), ScienceDirect, UGC CARE, other indexing agencies (Index Copernicus, Google Scholar, EMBASE etc)

Concept on Open access, types (Gold & Green)

Types of articles, basic concept on DOI, ISBN, ISSN, ORCID, Crossmark-Crossref, Concept on Volume and Issue

Literature review -Importance of literature reviewing in defining a problem, Critical literature review, Identifying gap areas from literature review

Original research article; technique of writing, different sections, finding journals (Elsevier® JournalFinder andSpringer Journal Suggester)

Basic concepts on Mini review, Short communication, Letter to the Editor. Commentaries, Book Chapter

Concept on publishing houses: International (e.g. Elsevier, Springer-Nature, Taylor-Francis, Willey Online, Sage etc) and National (CSIR, Indian Academy of Science etc)

Concept on Peer review process

Concept on Predatory Journal, Beall’s List

Concept on Citations and References, Different referencing styles: APA, IEEE, MLA, and Chicago

Intellectual Property Rights - Copy right, Designs, Patents, Trademarks

Referencing software (EndNote, Mendeley, Zotero), Processing software (MS Word, MS Excel) Statistical software (Minitab, SPSS- ANOVA, t Test, Regression)

Concept of Plagiarism (UGC guideline)

Safety and precaution - ISO standards for safety, Lab protocols, Lab animal use, care and welfare, animal houses, hazards (symbols and NFPA Hazard Identification System) Extension: Lab to Field, Extension communication, Extension tools; Bioethics: Laws in India, Working with man and animals, Consent, Animal Ethical Committees and Constitution.

      2.      Dawson, C. Practical research methods. UBS Publishers, New Delhi. 2002.

2.      Ruzin, S.E. Plant micro technique and microscopy. Oxford University Press, New York, U.S.A., 1999.

Microbes play a very significant role in the lives of higher organisms. The paper surveys the features of microbes like bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae and protozoa in order to make the students understand their biology so as to manipulate them. This course fulfils the basic knowledge in microbiology for those students who wish to pursue career in allied health fields and other technical programs. 

1.      Safety rules, instrumentation and media preparation-- Nutrient agar, Potato dextrose Agar, differential media etc.

2.      Staining techniques: Simple, Differential: acid-fast, endospore, capsule, cell wall, cytoplasmic inclusion, vital stains: flagella, spore and nuclear staining.

3.      Collection and processing of clinical samples for microbiological examination

4.      Antimicrobial susceptibility tests- a. Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion test and Dilution sensitivity test-MIC and MBC against Yeast and other fungi.

5.      Determination of Growth of bacteria, yeast and algae – Growth curve and generation time.

6.      Isolation and culture of Rhizobium and production of biofertilizer

7.      Biochemical tests Catalase, oxidase, IMViC, motility, gelatine test, urease, coagulase, nitrate reduction, acid and gas from glucose, chitin, starch.

8.      Isolation of fungi from soil: Dilution plate method, Warcup method, stamping method.

9.  Screening for antibiotic producing microbes (antibacterial, antifungal)

10.   Visit to microbiology R & D lab.

1.            Laboratory safety guidelines

2.            Preparation of buffers applying HH equation

3.            Validation of Beer-Lambert’s Law (colorimetery and spectrophotometer)

4.            Qualitative and Quantitative analysis of carbohydrates

5.            Isolation and quantification of protein (Folin Lowry/BCA, Bradford).

6.            Determination of isoelectric pH of proteins / amino acids

7.         Determination of specific activity, Km & Vmax, Optimum pH, Temperature of Amylase/Alkaline phosphatase /protease/cellulase

8.            Isolation, qualitative and quantitative analysis of fatty acids and lipids.

9.            Acid values Iodine number & Saponification values of fats

10.        Estimation of Ascorbic acid in citrus using 2, 6 dichlorophenol Indophenol.

11.        Simple assays for vitamins and hormones

Performance: 40 marks

Mid Semester Examination: 40 marks

Record: 20 marks

End semester Examination pattern

Instructions

1.      Question number 1-3 should be completed fully on first day. *Question number 4-6, writing part should be completed on first day. Question number 7-9 will be on second day.

2.      The principle should be written precisely and to the point. Do not try to write everything written in the record. The procedure can be written in the form of a flow chat.

Students examine the basic properties of cells and cell organelles, in addition to the properties of differentiated cell systems and tissues. The course aims to equip students with a basic knowledge of the structural and functional properties of cells. From this fundamental perspective, students are introduced to important scientific literature on the subject of cell biology, and instructed on how to critically examine data and interpretations presented by researchers.

Major intracellular compartments in eukaryotic cells (brief study only), Detailed structure of mitochondria, chloroplast, peroxisomes and glyoxysomes with reference to their functional interrelationship. Genetic systems in mitochondria and chloroplast, endosymbiont hypothesis on the evolution of mitochondria and chloroplast. Structural organization of cell membranes: Chemical composition; structure and function of membrane carbohydrates, membrane proteins and membrane lipids. Membrane functions.

(a) Cell communication: general principles. Signalling molecules and their receptors external and internal signals that modify metabolism, growth, and development of plants.

(b) Receptors: Cell surface receptors – ion-channel linked receptors, G-protein coupled receptors, and Tyrosine-kinase linked receptors (RTK), Steroid hormone receptors.

(c) Signal transduction pathways, Second messengers, Regulation of signaling pathways. Bacterial and plant two-component signaling systems.

(a) Cell growth and division. Phases of cell cycle, cell cycle control system; extracellular and intracellular signals. Cell cycle checkpoints – DNA damage checkpoint, centrosome duplication checkpoint, spindle assembly checkpoint. Cyclins and Cyclin-dependent kinases.  Regulation of plant cell cycle.

(b) Cell division – mitosis and meiosis (brief study only). Significance of meiosis in generating genetic variation.

(c) Programmed cell death – molecular mechanism and control.

Functions of cytoskeleton; Structure, assembly, disassembly and regulation of filaments involved – actin filaments (microfilaments), microtubules, and intermediate filaments. Molecular motors – kinesins, dyneins, myosins.

(a) Identification of DNA as genetic material: Transformation experiment, Hershey Chase experiment. RNA as the genetic material in some viruses.

(b) Important features of Watson and Crick model of DNA structure, Chargaff’s rules, preferred tautomeric forms of bases.

(c) Alternative conformations of DNA – type(s) of right handed and left handed helices, DNA triplex and quadruplex. circular and linear DNA, single-stranded DNA.

(d) Structure and function of different types of RNA - mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, SnRNA, and Micro RNA. RNA tertiary structures. Ribozymes – Hammerhead ribozyme.

(a) c-value paradox, DNA renaturation kinetics, Tm, Cot curve. Unique and Repetitive DNA –mini- and microsatellites.

(b) Structure of chromatin and chromosomes - histones and nonhistone proteins, nucleosomal organization of chromatin, higher levels of chromatin structure. Heterochromatin and Euchromatin, formation of heterochromatin. Chromosomal packing and structure of metaphase chromosome. Molecular structure of the Centromere and Telomere.

(a) DNA replication: Unit of replication, enzymes and proteins involved in replication (in both procaryotes and eucaryotes). Structure of the replication origin (in both procaryotes and eucaryotes), priming (in both procaryotes and eucaryotes), replication fork, fidelity of replication. Process of replication – initiation, elongation and termination. Replication in the telomere - telomerase.

(b) DNA repair mechanisms: Direct repair, excision repair – base excision repair and nucleotide

excision repair (NER), eucaryotic excision repair – GG-NER, TC-NER. Mismatch repair, Recombination repair – homologous recombination repair, nonhomologous end joining, SOS response – Transletion DNA polymerase.

(c) Recombination: Homologous and nonhomologous recombination, molecular mechanism of homologous recombination. Site-specific recombination, transposition–types of transposons.

(a) Gene: Concept of gene; structural and genetic definitions – complementation test.

(b) Transcription in procaryotes: Initiation – promoter structure, structure of RNA polymerase, structure and role of sigma factors. Elongation – elongation complex, process of RNA synthesis. Termination – rho-dependent and rho-independent termination.

(c) Transcription in eucaryotes: Types, structure and roles of RNA polymerases. Promoters – important features of class I, II, & III promoters. Enhancers and silencers. General transcription factors and formation of pre-initiation complex. Elongation factors, structure and function of transcription factors.

(d) Post-transcriptional events: Split genes, splicing signals, splicing mechanisms of group I, II, III, and tRNA introns. Alternative splicing, exon shuffling, cis and trans splicing, Structure, formation and functions of 5’ cap and 3’ tail of mRNA, RNA editing, mRNA export.

(e) Translation: Important features of mRNA – ORF, RBS (10, 16). Fine structure, composition and assembly of procaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes. tRNA charging, initiator tRNA.

(f) Stages in translation: Initiation – formation of initiation complex in procaryotes and eucaryotes, initiation factors in procaryotes and eucaryotes, Kozak sequence.

Elongation – process of polypeptide synthesis, active centers in ribosome - 3-site model, peptidyl transferase, elongation factors. Termination – process of termination, release factors, ribosome recycling.

(g) Genetic code: Cracking the genetic code – simulation synthetic polynucleotides and mixed copolymers, synthetic triplets. Important features of the genetic code, proof for the triplet code (10, 27), Exceptions to the standard code.

(h) Protein sorting and translocation: Cotranslational and posttranslational – signal sequences, SRP, translocon. Membrane insertion of proteins. Post-translational modification of proteins. Protein folding – self-assembly, role of chaperones in protein assembly.

(a) Viral system: Genetic control of lytic and lysogenic growth in λ phage, lytic cascade 

(b) Procaryotic system: Transcription switches, transcription regulators. Regulation of transcription initiation; Regulatory proteins - activators and repressors. Structure of Lac operator, CAP and repressor control of lac genes. Regulation after transcription initiation – regulation of amino acid biosynthetic operons- attenuation of trp operon, riboswitches.

(c) Eucaryotic system: Changes in chromatin and DNA structure – chromatin compaction, transcriptional activators and repressors involved in chromatin remodellin, gene amplification, gene rearrangement, alternate splicing, gene silencing by heterochromatization, and DNA methylation. Effect of regulatory transcription factors on transcription. Post-transcriptional control – mRNA stability, RNA interference, micro RNA. Role of small RNA in heterochromatization and gene silencing.

2. Geoffrey M Cooper, Robert E Hausman (2009). The Cell: A molecular approach (V Edn). Sinaeur.

3. Gerald Karp (2008). Cell and Molecular biology: Concepts and experiments (V Edn). John Wiley & Sons.

4. Harvey Lodish, Arnold Berk, Lawrence Zipursky, Paul Matsudaira, David Baltimore, James Darnell (2000). Molecular cell biology (IV Edn). W H Freeman & Company.

6. Robert J Brooker (2009). Genetics: analysis and principles (III Edn). McGraw Hill.

7. Jocelyn E Krebs, Elliott S Goldstein, Stephen T Kilpatrick (2011). Lewin’s Genes X. Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

8. Bob B Buchanan, Wilhelm Gruissem, Russel L Jones (2000). Biochemistry and Molecular biology of plants. I K International Pvt. Ltd.

9. Daniel L Hartl, Elizabeth W Jones (2012). Genetics: Analysis of genes and genomes (VII Edn). Jones and Bartlett publishers.

10. James D Watson, Tania A Baker, Stephen P Bell, Alexander Gann, Michael Levine, Richard Losick (2009). Molecular biology of the gene (V Edn). Pearson.

11. William S Klug, Michael R Cummings (2004). Concepts of Genetics (VII Edn). Pearson.

12. Daniel J Fairbanks, W Ralph Anderson (1999). Genetics: The continuity of life. Brooks/Cole publishing company.

13. Robert F Weaver (2002). Molecular biology (II Edn). McGraw Hill.

14. Bruce Alberts, Dennis Bray, Karen Hopkin, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter Walter (2010). Essential Cell Biology. Garland Science.

15. Leland H Hartwell, Leroy Hood, Michael L Goldberg, Ann E Reynolds, Lee M Silver, Ruth C Veres (2004). Genetics from genes to genomes (II Edn). McGraw Hill.

16. Harvey Lodish, Arnold Berk, Chris A. Kaiser, Monty Krieger, Matthew P. Scott, Anthony Bretscher, Hidde Ploegh, Paul Matsudaira (2007). Molecular cell biology (VI Edn). W H Freeman & Company.

17. James D. Watson, Amy A. Caudy, Richard M. Myers, Jan A. Witkowski (2007). Recombinant DNA (III Edn). W H Freeman.

18. William H Elliott, Daphne C Elliott (2001). Biochemistry and molecular biology (II Edn). Oxford.

19. Jeremy M Berg, John L Tymoczko, Lubert Stryer, Gregory J Gatto Jr. (2007). Biochemistry. W H Freeman & company.

20. David P Clark (2010). Molecular biology. Elsevier.

21. David R Hyde (2010). Genetics and molecular biology. Tata McGraw Hill.

22. D Peter Snustad, Michael J Simmons (2010). Principles of genetics (V Edn). John Wiley and Sons.

23. David A Micklos, Greg A Freyer with David A Crotty (2003). DNA Science: A first course (II Edn). L K Inter.

24. Benjamin A Pierce (2008). Genetics: A conceptual approach (IV Edn). W H Freeman and Company.

25. Anthony J F Griffiths, Susan R Wesler, Sean B Carroll, John Doebley (2012). Introduction to genetic analysis. W H Freeman & Company.

26. T A Brown (2002). Genomes (II Edn). Bios.

27. Robert H Tamarin (2002). Principles of genetics. McGraw Hill.

28. David E Sadava (2009). Cell biology: Organelle structure and function. CBS.

29. Bruce Alberts, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter Walter (2010). Essential Cell Biology (III Edn.). Garland Science.

30. Pranav Kumar, Usha Mina (2011). Biotechnology: A problem approach. Pathfinder Academy.

31. Burton E Tropp (2012). Molecular biology: Genes to Proteins (IV Edn). Jones and Bartlett Learning.

32. Lynne Cassimeris, Viswanath R Lingappa, George Plopper (Eds) (2011). Lewin’s Cells (II Edn). Jones and Bartlett Publishers.

The student will be able to appreciate the uniqueness of different groups and the way they are classified. 
To get a comparative knowledge of plants and their life cycle.
To understand the interrelationships between plants.
To enable the student to identify the different plant groups by morphological and anatomical studies.
To get a comparative account of   plants in its life cycle, morphology, anatomy and reproduction with an evolutionary link

Introduction to Bryophytes, their fossil history and evolution. Concept of algal and pteridophytic origin of Bryophytes. General characters of Bryophytes. History of classification of Bryophytes

(a) Bryophyte habitats. Water relations - absorption and conduction, xerophytic adaptations, drought tolerance, desiccation and rehydration, ectohydric, endohydric and myxohydric Bryophytes.

(b) Ecological significance of Bryophytes - role as pollution indicators.

(c) Economic importance of Bryophytes.

Comparative structural organization of gametophytes and sporophytes in an evolutionary perspective. Asexual and sexual reproductive structures, spore dispersal mechanisms and germination of the following groups with reference to the types mentioned in the practical (development of sex organs not necessary).

(a) Hepaticopsida (Sphaerocarpales, Marchantiales, Jungermanniales and Calobryales).

(b) Anthocerotopsida (Anthocerotales).

 (c) Bryopsida (Sphagnales, Polytrichales and Bryales)

Introduction, origin, general characteristics and an outline of the classification of Pteridophytes.

a) Distribution, habitat, range, external and internal morphology of sporophytes, spores, mechanism of spore dispersal, gametophytic generation, sexuality, embryogeny of the following classes of Pteridophytes with reference to the genera mentioned (development of sex organs is not necessary):

(I) Psilopsida (a) Rhyniales; Rhynia

(II) Psilotopsida (a) Psilotales; Psilotum

(III) Lycopsida (a) Protolepidodendrales; Protolepidodendron (b) Lycopodiales; Lycopodium, (c) Isoetales; Isoetes (d) Selaginellales; Selaginella.

(IV) Sphenopsida (a) Hyeniales (b) Sphenophyllales; Sphenophyllum (c) Calamitales; Calamites (d) Equisetales; Equisetum.

(V) Pteropsida (i) Primofilices (a) Cladoxylales; Cladoxylon (b) Coenopteridales.

(ii) Eusporangiatae (a) Marattiales; Angiopteris (b) Ophioglossales; Ophioglossum.

(iii) Osmundales; Osmunda.

(iv) Leptosporangiatae (a) Marsileales; Marsilea (b) Salviniales; Salvinia, Azolla (c) Filicales; Pteris, Lygodium, Acrostichum, Gleichenia, Adiantum.

b) Comparative study of Pteridophytes 

Stelar organization, soral and sporangial characters, gametophytes and sporophytes of Pteridophytes in an evolutionary perspective.

Ecological and economic significance of Pteridophytes.

Origin, general characteristics, distribution and classification of Gymnosperms (K R Sporne and C J Chamberlain). Distribution of living gymnosperms in India.

i) Detailed study of the vegetative morphology, internal structure, reproductive structures, and evolution of the orders and families (with reference to the genera mentioned).

(a) Class Progymnospermopsida: Aneurophyton

(b) Class Cycadopsida: Lyginopteris, Glossopteris, Medullosa, Caytonia. Bennettites, Williamsoniella, Nilsonia, Cycas, Zamia, Pentoxylon.

(c) Class Coniferopsida: General account of families under Coniferales, range of form and structure of stem, leaves; range of form, structure and evolution of female cones in coniferales such as Pinus, Cupressus, Podocarpus, Agathis, Araucaria, Taxus and Ginkgo. 

(d) Class Gnetopsida: Gnetum.

ii) Gametophyte development and economic importance of Gymnosperms: A general account on the male and female gametophyte development in Gymnosperms (Cycas). The economic significance of Gymnosperms.

2.      Pandey B P (1994). Bryophyta. S Chand and Co. Ltd.

3.      Goffinet B, A J Shaw (2009). Bryophytic Biology (II Edn). Cambridge University Press.

4.      Srivastava S N (1992). Bryophyta. Pradeep Publications.

5.      Agashe S N (1995). Palaeobotany. Oxford and IBH Publishing House.

6.      Arnold C R (1977). Introduction to Palaeobotany. McGraw Hill Book Com.

8.      Beddome C R H (1970). Ferns of south India. Today & Tomorrows Publ.

9.      Dyer A F (1979). The experimental biology of ferns. Academic Press.

CIA1: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

CIA2: MID SEMESTER EXAMINATION for 50 marks

CIA3: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

Attendance in class: 10 marks

END SEMESTER EXAMINATION: Consist of 2 sections. Section A consist of 10 questions carrying 5 marks each out of which students need to attempt 8 questions (8 X 5marks = 40 marks). Section B consists of 7 questions, carrying 12 marks each, out of which students need to attempt 5 questions (5 X 12 marks = 60 marks).

Practical course of Cell and molecular biology deals with the isolation of protein from animal and plant source using different methods and also the estimation of DNA, RNA and protein.  The practical of Archegoniate deals with understanding and appreciate the diversity existing among the plant kingdom 

•        DNA and RNA estimation by colorimetry and spectrophotometry

•        Screening of auxotrophic mutants

•        Bacteriophage assay

        •      UV and chemical mutagenesis

•    Study of Plasmolysis- deplasmolysis using micrometry

•      Isolation and enumeration of mitochondria from yeast cells

•      Isolation and enumeration of chloroplast from spinach

•      Estimation of chlorophyll in isolated chloroplasts

•      Comparative study of chloroplast number and chlorophyll content in different plant families

Bryophytes (20 hrs)

1. Detailed study of the structure of gametophytes and sporophytes of the following genera of bryophytes by suitable micropreparation: Riccia, Cyathodium, Marchantia, Lunularia, Reboulia, Pallavicinia, Fossombronia, Porella, Anthoceros, Notothylas, Sphagnum, Pogonatum.

2. Students are expected to submit a report of field trip to bryophyte’s natural habitats to family

Pteridophytes (40 hrs)

1. Study of morphology and anatomy of vegetative and reproductive organs using clear whole mounts/sections of the following genera: Psilotum, Lycopodium, Isoetes, Selaginella, Equisetum, Angiopteris, Ophioglossum, Osmunda, Marsilea, Salvinia, Azolla, Lygodium, Acrostichum, Gleichenia, Pteris, Adiantum, Polypodium and Asplenium.

2. Study of fossil Pteridophytes with the help of specimens and permanent slides.

3. Field trips to familiarize with the diversity of Pteridophytes in natural habitats.

Gymnosperms (20 hrs)

1. Study of the morphology and anatomy of vegetative and reproductive parts of Cycas, Zamia, Pinus, Cupressus, Agathis, Araucaria and Gnetum.

2. Study of fossil gymnosperms through specimens and permanent slides.

3. Conduct field trips to familiarize various gymnosperms in nature and field identification of Indian gymnosperms and submit a report.

        Snustad D P, Simmons M J (2000). Principles of Genetics (III Edn). John Wiley and Sons.

Performance: 40 marks

Mid Semester Examination: 40 marks

Record: 20 marks

The objective of the course is to impart in depth knowledge about the concepts in genetic engineering - enzymes, biology of cloning vehicles, vector and host considerations, gene libraries, analysis and expression of the cloned gene in host cell and understand ethical issues and biosafety regulations. It gives emphasis to practical applications of genetic engineering tools in academic and industrial research. At the end of the course the student will have detailed knowledge of recombinant DNA technology essential for taking up projects in the field of Biotechnology.

Introduction to rDNA technology, DNA modifying enzymes and its functions (DNA Polymerases, Klenow fragment, Ligase, S1 Nuclease, Mung Bean nuclease, Alkaline Phosphatase, Terminal Transferase, Polynucleotide kinases, Polynucleotide phosphorylase, Calf intestinal alkaline Phosphatases, Shrimp Alkaline Phosphatases, RNase A, RNase H, DNase 1, DNase II, Exonuclease III, Reverse Transcriptase) Restriction modification system, Restriction enzymes – function, classification (Based on recognition and restriction sequence:-type I, II and III; based on buffer salt concentration: - low, medium and high; based on pattern of restriction:-sticky (5’ and 3’) and blunt end cutters, Plasmids (Types, copy number, properties, origin of replication and incompatibility group, plasmid amplification), bacteriophages eg. λ (Life cycle, genome organization, feasibility as a cloning vehicle), Types of Cloning Vectors (structure and general features of General Purpose cloning vectors, Expression vectors, Promotor probe Vectors, shuttle vectors), Examples of cloning vectors (pBR322, pUC series of vectors, λ insertional and replacement vectors), derivatives of phages and plasmids (cosmids, phagemids, phasmids) cloning vectors for large DNA fragments and genomic DNA library YACs, PACs and BACs. Host and vector consideration, Host Organisms and its genotypes- JM 109 & DH5α, Selectable and scorable markers, reporter genes, prokaryotic and eukaryotic markers (lacZ, CAT, Gus, GFP,cre-loxP system, sac B system, npt II gene, luciferase gene, dhfr gene, herbicide resistance gene)

General strategies for isolation of genomic and plasmid DNA, RNA, strategies for isolation of gene of interest (restriction digestion, PCR), Creation of r-DNA (Restriction Digestion, modification of vector and insert, linker, adaptors, homopolymer tailing, ligation), PCR Cloning, Construction of genomic and cDNA libraries (Selection of vectors and Complexity of library), Methods of gene transfer- Calcium chloride mediated, Electroporation, Biolistic gun, lipofection and microinjection. In vitro packaging.

Blotting techniques- Southern, Northern and Western, Differential display. Gene sequencing- Chemical, enzymatic, pyrosequencing, next generation sequencing, Immunological screening and colony and plaque hybridization, dot blot hybridization, chromosome walking, FISH, RACE, Chromosome walking.

Protein production by foreign DNA in the host bacteria E. coli, Factors influencing expression, properties of expression vector, examples of expression vectors, tags for purification of expressed proteins, FLAG expression vector system, cloning in pET vectors, eukaryotic vectors- Baculovirus based vectors, mammalian viral vectors., expression Host, Modification and folding of protein in-vitro, genome editing, CRISPR/Cas9 and Targeted Genome Editing, 

RNA interference and gene silencing, Transgenic organisms, Advantages and disadvantages of Genetically Modified Organisms, Transgenic animal- Gene therapy. The Use of Transgenic animals in areas other than recombinant protein production. Transgenic plants- applications, special emphasis to pharmaceutical products. Engineered Nutritional Changes- golden rice, Engineered herbicide resistance, Engineered pesticide resistance. Production of recombinant proteins (Insulin), recombinant vaccines (Hepatitis B), Hormones (Human growth hormone). Genome projects and its Applications. International treaties/agreements in biosafety, public perception on rDNA technology, IPR related to rDNA technology. 

E. L. Winnacker, From Genes to Clones Introduction to Gene Technology,New Delhi, India: Panima Publishing Corporation, 2003.

T. A. Brown, Gene Cloning and DNA Analysis-An Introduction. 5th ed. UK: Wiley Blackwell Publishers. 2006.

B. R. Glick. J. J. Pasternak and C. L. Patten. Molecular Biotechnology: Principles and application of recombinant DNA. 4th ed. Washington D. C: American Society for Microbiology Press, 2010.

 S. B. Primrose, R. M. Twyman and R. W. Old, Principles of Gene Manipulation, 6th ed. USA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2001

K. Wilson and J. Walker, Principles and Techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 7th ed. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010.

 J.  W.  Dale, M. von Schantz and N. Plant, From Genes to Genomes: Concepts and Applications of DNA Technology, USA: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2012.

CIA1: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

CIA2: MID SEMESTER EXAMINATION for 50 marks

CIA3: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

Attendance in class: 10 marks

END SEMSTER EXAMINATION: Consist of 2 sections. Section A consist of 10 questions carrying 5 marks each out of which students need to attempt 8 questions (8 X 5marks = 40 marks). Section B consists of 7 questions, carrying 12 marks each, out of which students need to attempt 5 questions (5 X 12 marks = 60 marks).

Analytical tools are becoming very important tools in different fields of Biology. The paper deals with the principle, instrumentation and uses of such tools.  This course fulfils the basic knowledge in analytical techniques for those students who wish to pursue career in allied health fields and other technical programs.

Concept of pH, Henderson Hesselbach equation. Importance of buffers in living systems – bicarbonate buffer, phosphate buffer. Breaking of cells by chemical and physical methods, ultrasonication, pressure cell disintegrators, detection of cell-free and cell-bound proteins. Extractions: Preparation of extracts for biochemical investigations, methods of extraction of phytochemicals (Maceration, Soxhlet, Microwave assisted, Ultrasonic, Pressurized liquid extraction) type and choice of solvents.

Centrifugation: Principle of centrifugation, the Svedberg equation, types of centrifuges and rotors. Density gradient centrifugation, Cesium chloride and sucrose density gradients; examples of separations, analytical ultracentrifuges. Ultra-filtration -Principle, instrumentation and application. Dialysis-principle and uses. Precipitation- methods and applications. Flow Cytometry; Principle and uses.

Chromatography- principle, types (Column, Ion exchange, Gel permeation, Affinity), Gas chromatography, HPLC, HPTLC

Electrophoresis - buffers, agarose gel electrophoresis, native and SDS -PAGE, Isoelectric focusing, Zymogram, 2 D gel electrophoresis, DGGE, PFGE, Protein staining, trouble shooting, 

Protein purification methods, salt fractionation, salting in and salting out, methods of crystallizing proteins

Spectroscopy: Absorption and emission spectra. Electromagnetic radiation. Fluorescence and phosphorescence, Beer- Lambert’s law, principle, operation and applications of Colorimeter, Spectrophotometer, Concept of Stoke’s shift- hypochromicity, hyperchromicity, fluorimeter, flame photometer, Atomic absorption spectrophotometer. IR, Mass spectroscopy and NMR, ICP-MS, GC-MS, LC-MS, X ray crystallography.

Radioactive isotope, Radioactivity and units of radioactivity (Curie, Rutherford and Becquerel).GM and Scintillation counters. radioactive decay, Radiocarbon dating, autoradiography, use of radioisotope tracer techniques in disease diagnosis, PET scan for tumor detection, Radioimmunoassay, ELISA, Western Blot, Nanoparticles – synthesis and uses, application of nanotechnology in disease diagnosis and treatment, Microarrays.

Introduction and application of bioinformatics. Definition and types, Nucleotide sequence database - brief note on EMBL, NCBI and DDBJ. Protein structure database [PDB]. Sequence alignment: pair wise and multiple alignments [Definition, applications, BLAST and FASTA, Clustal W, PAM and BLOSUM matrices].  ORF. Structure prediction, and molecular visualization – use of Rasmol, PDB, ExPASY and KEGG. Online tools – SDSC Biology workbench.

Genomics: Definition. Types [Structural, functional and comparative genomics].    Pharmacogenomics: Definition and its benefits in the health care sector. Genome projects- Human, Rice, Arabidopsis, Tomato, Hemophilusinfluenzae, Proteomics, Transcriptomics and Metabolomics – current status and potential applications in agriculture and medicine. Systems Biology- concept and applications.

Molecular phylogeny and phylogenetic trees, tools for phylogeny analysis, Computer aided drug design. Docking Studies - Target Selection, Active site analysis, Ligand preparation and conformational analysis, Rigid and flexible docking, Structure based design of lead compounds and Library docking.

T. Attwood and P. Smith. Introduction to Bioinformatics, USA: Pearson Education, 2007.

Brown TA. Genome III. Garland Science Publ.2007

Azuaje F &Dopazo J. Data Analysis and Visualization in Genomics and Proteomics. John Wiley & Sons.2005

K. Wilson and J. Walker,Principles and Techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 7th ed.New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010.

S. B. Primrose and R. Twyman R. Principles of Gene Manipulation and Genomics. USA: John Wiley and Sons, 2013.

Gibson G & Muse SV. 2004. A Primer of Genome Science. Sinauer

Associates.

W. Taylor and D. Higgins. Bioinformatics: Sequence, Structure and Databanks: A    Practical Approach, Oxford, 2000.

Jollès P &Jörnvall H. 2000. Proteomics in Functional Genomics: Protein

Structure Analysis.

Campbell AM &Heyer L. 2004. Discovery Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics. Pearson Education.

CIA1: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

CIA2: MID SEMESTER EXAMINATION for 50 marks

CIA3: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

Attendance in class: 10 marks

END SEMSTER EXAMINATION: Consist of 2 sections. Section A consist of 10 questions carrying 5 marks each out of which students need to attempt 8 questions (8 X 5marks = 40 marks). Section B consists of 7 questions, carrying 12 marks each, out of which students need to attempt 5 questions (5 X 12 marks = 60 marks).

Students will also gain knowledge about the involvement of statistics in research.

The scope of biostatistics; Classification of study design, Observational studies and Experimental studies (uncontrolled studies, trials with external controls, crossover studies, trials with self-controls, trials with independent concurrent controls); Exploration and presentation of data: Scales of measurement, Tables, Graphs, Histograms, Box and Whisker plots, Frequency polygon, Scatter Plots, Principle component analysis.

Definition, mutually exclusive events and addition rule, independent events and multiplication rule. Sampling: Reasons for sampling, methods of sampling, SRS, Systematic, Stratified, Cluster, NPS. Probability distribution: Binomial, Poisson, Gaussian, Standard normal distribution. Drawing inferences from data: Tests of significance: Statistical inference – estimation - testing of hypothesis - t-test, Chi square test (goodness of fit, independence or association, detection of linkages), Z-test, Confidence intervals, Confidence limits, Hypothesis tests, Types of errors, P-values.

Decision about single mean (normal population and non-normal population), decision about single group, decision about paired groups, decision about two independent groups, equality of population variances, computer-aided illustration for comparison of means; Comparing three or more means: ANOVA – one way, two-way, A-priori comparison, Posterior or Post Hoc comparison. Statistical methods for multiple variables: Multiple regression, predicting with more than 1 variable, Statistical test for regression coefficient, Role of R and R2 in multiple regression, Confounding variable (ANACOVA), predicting categorical outcomes – logistic regression, discriminant analysis.

Pearson’s correlation coefficient, Spearman’s rho, Linear regression, Least Square method, predicting with regression equation, comparing two regression lines, dealing with nonlinear observation, Common errors in regression, Comparing correlation and regression.

Evaluation will be done on the basis of CIA1 (10%), CIA2 [Mid Semester Examination] (25%), CIA3 (10%), Attendance (5%) and End Semester Examination (50%).

CIA1: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

CIA2: MID SEMESTER EXAMINATION for 50 marks

CIA3: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

Attendance in class: 10 marks

END SEMSTER EXAMINATION: Consist of 2 sections. Section A consist of 10 questions carrying 5 marks each out of which students need to attempt 8 questions (8 X 5marks = 40 marks). Section B consists of 7 questions, carrying 12 marks each, out of which students need to attempt 5 questions (5 X 12 marks = 60 marks).

The aim of this course is to provide an introduction to recombinant DNA technology. It helps the students to understand how the principles of molecular biology have been used to develop techniques in recombinant DNA technology. The objective of the course is to familiarize the student with the basic concepts in genetic engineering - enzymes, cloning vehicles, gene libraries, analysis and expression of the cloned gene in host cell and understand ethical issues and biosafety regulations. It gives emphasis to practical applications of genetic engineering tools in the field of health care. At the end of the course the student will have enough background of recombinant DNA technology essential for taking up projects in the field of Biotechnology.

1. Isolation of DNA from plants by CTAB method
2. Plasmid DNA isolation by alkaline lysis method
3. Agarose gel electrophoresis
4. Restriction digestion of DNA
5. Ligation of DNA
6. Competent cell preparation
7. Transformation of E. coli 
8. Polymerase Chain reaction
9. Primer design
10. Gel-band purification for DNA
11. Southern Blotting and Hybridization
12. Molecular markers- RAPD and RFLP
13. Restriction Map of DNA

1. Thin Layer and Paper Chromatography of amino acids
2. Estimation of amino acid by Ninhydrin Method
3. Extraction of phytochemicals using Soxhlet apparatus
4. Quantitative sugar estimation by Benedict’s Assay
5. Adsorption Chromatography
6. Purification of phytochemicals and HPLC analysis
7. Affinity chromatography
8. PAGE and Zymography
9. Density Gradient Centrifugation
10. Databases: ENTREZ, NCBI, UniProt, PDB, EXPASY, BLAST
11. Molecular Docking (Rasmol, Avogadro, PatchDock)
12. Construction of Dendrogram

Performance: 40 marks

Mid Semester Examination: 40 marks

Record: 20 marks

End Semester Examination

MAXIMUM MARKS: 100                                                               DURATION: 6 HOURS 

• To understand the anatomical features of plant parts and to identify the anomalous growth
• To correlate the anatomical features to taxonomy
• To acquire knowledge on plant reproduction and development
• To familiarize the techniques for the preservation and processing of tissues
• To get practical experience in microtechnique and histochemistry

Principles and techniques of killing and fixing; properties of reagents, fixation images; properties and composition of important fixatives - Carnoy’s Fluid, FAA, FPA, Chrome acetic acid fluids, ZirkleErliki fluid.

(a) Dehydration: Principles of dehydration, properties and uses of important dehydrating and clearing agents - alcohols, acetone, xylol, glycerol, chloroform, dioxan. Dehydration Methods: (i) Tertiary-butyl alcohol method (ii) Alcohol-xylol method. (b) Embedding: Paraffin embedding. (c) Sectioning: Free hand sections – Prospects and problems; Sectioning in rotary microtome - sledge microtome and cryotome. Types of Microtomy- Rotary, sledge, Freezing, Cryostat and Ultratomes

(a) Principles of staining; classification of stains, protocol for preparation of; (i) Natural stains - Haematoxylin and Carmine (ii) Coal tar dyes – Fast green, Orange G, Safranine, Crystal violet, Cotton Blue and Oil Red O. (b) Techniques of staining: (i) Single staining; Staining with Safranine or crystal violet (ii) Double staining; Safranine-Fast green method, Safranine-Crystal violet method (iii) Triple staining; SafranineCrystal violet-Orange G method. (c) Histochemical localization of starch, protein, lipid and lignin.

Material collection, fixing, dehydration, embedding, sectioning (glass knife preparation, grid preparation, ultra microtome) and staining.

(a) Principles and techniques of whole mounting, TBA/Hygrobutol method, Glycerine-xylol method. Staining of whole mount materials (haematoxylin, fast green or Safranine-fast green combination). Significance of whole mounts. (b) Techniques of smear, squash and maceration. (c) Mounting: Techniques, common mounting media used - DPX, Canada balsam, Glycerine jelly and Lactophenol. Cleaning, labeling and storage of slides.

Scope and significance of plant anatomy, interdisciplinary relations.

(a) Apical organization: Stages of development of primary meristem and theories of apical organization, origin of branches and lateral roots. Primary thickening meristem (PTM) in monocots. Reproductive apex in angiosperms. (b) Secretory tissues in plants: Structure and distribution of secretory trichomes (Drocera, Nepenthes), salt glands, colleters, nectaries, resin ducts and laticifers. Structure of bark and distribution pattern of laticifers in Hevea brasiliensis.

Vascular cambium and cork cambium: Structure and function, factors affecting cambial activity. (b) Secondary xylem and phloem: Ontogeny, structure and function. Lignification patterns of xylem. (c) Reaction wood: Compression wood and tension wood. Factors affecting reaction wood formation. (d) Anomalous secondary growth in dicots and monocots. (e) Wood: Physical, chemical and mechanical properties. (f) Plant fibers: Distribution, structure and commercial importance of coir, jute, and cotton.

(a) Leaf: Initiation, plastochronic changes, ontogeny and structure of leaf. Structure, development and classification of stomata and trichomes. Krantz anatomy, anatomical peculiarities in CAM plants. Leaf abscission. (b) Nodal anatomy: Unilacunar, trilacunar and multilacunar nodes, nodal evolution. (c) Root-stem transition in angiosperms.

(a) Floral Anatomy: Anatomy of floral parts - sepal, petal, stamen and carpel; Floral vasculature (Aquilegia and Pyrola). Vascular anatomy. Development of epigynous ovary - appendicular and receptacular theory. (b) Fruit and seed anatomy: Anatomy of fleshy and dry fruits - follicle, legume, berry. Dehiscence of fruits. Structure of seeds. Anatomical factors responsible for seed dormancy and drought resistance.

Morphological and structural adaptations in different ecological groups - hydrophytes, xerophytes, epiphytes and halophytes.

Applications of anatomy in systematics (histotaxonomy) and Pharmacognosy. Research prospects in anatomy.

2. Prasad M. K. & Prasad M. K. 2000. Emkay Publications

3. Kierman, J.A.1999. Histological and Histochemical Methods. Butterworth Publ. London.

4. Ruzin, Z. E. 1999. Plant Microtechnique and Microscopy. Oxford Press, New York.

5. Harris, J. R. 1991. Electron Microscopy in Biology. Oxford University Press, New York.

6. Gahan, P.B. 1984. Plant Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. Academic Press, London.

7. Johanson, W. A.1984. Plant Microtechnique. McGraw Hill, New York.

8. Johanson, W. A. 1982. Botanical Histochemistry-Principles and Practice. Freeman Co.

9. John E. Sass. 1964. Botanical Microtechnique. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Calcutta.

10. Gary, P. 1964. Hand book of Basic Microtechnique. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

11. Atwell, B.J., Kriedermann, P.E. and Jurnbull, C.G.N. (eds) 1999. Plants in Action: Adaptation in Nature, Performance in Cultivation. MacMillan Education, Sydney, Australia.

12. Burgess, J. 1985. An Introduction to Plant Cell Development. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

13. Fahn, A. 1982. Plant Anatomy. (3rd edition). Pergamon Press, Oxford.

14. Fosket, D.E. 1994. Plant Growth and Development. A Molecular Approach. Academic Press, San Diego.

15. Cutler D.F., Ted Botha T. and Stevenson D.W. 2016. Plant Anatomy: An Applied Approach. John Wiley & Sons. 2. Clive K. 2016.

2. Ramawat K.G. Mérillon J.M. and Shivanna K. R. 2014. Reproductive Biology of Plants. CRC Press.

3. Johri B. M. 2011. Embryology of Angiosperms. Springer.

4. Plant Anatomy, Morphology and Physiology. Syrawood Publishing House.

5. Esau, K. 2006. The Anatomy of Seed Plants. 2nd Edition. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 

CIA1: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

CIA2: MID SEMESTER EXAMINATION for 50 marks

CIA3: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

Attendance in class: 10 marks

END SEMSTER EXAMINATION: Consist of 2 sections. Section A consist of 10 questions carrying 5 marks each out of which students need to attempt 8 questions (8 X 5marks = 40 marks). Section B consists of 7 questions, carrying 12 marks each, out of which students need to attempt 5 questions (5 X 12 marks = 60 marks).

• To acquaint with the aims, objectives and significance of taxonomy.
• To identify the common species of plants growing in India and their systematic position.
• To develop inductive and deductive reasoning ability.
• To acquaint with the basic technique in the preparation of herbarium
• To learn the new techniques in systematics 

Important phylogenetic terms and concepts: Plesiomorphic and Apomorphic characters; Homology and Analogy; Parallelism and Convergence; Monophyly, Paraphyly and Polyphyly. Phylogenetic tree - Cladogram and Phenogram.

Phenetic - Numerical Taxonomy - principles and methods; Cladistic - Principles and methods. Chemotaxonomy, basic concepts of genome analysis – bar coding.

History of ICBN, aims and principles, rules and recommendations: rule of priority, typification, author citation, retention, rejection and changing of names, effective and valid publication.

Habitat and habit; Morphology of root, stem, leaf, bract and bracteoles, inflorescence, flowers, fruits and seeds.

Major systems of angiosperm classification with special emphasis on the conceptual basis of the classifications of; (i) Linnaeus (ii) Bentham & Hooker (iii) Engler & Prantl (iv) Bessey (v) Takhtajan (vi) APG.

Functions of field study, herbarium, botanical gardens, BSI, Floras/Taxonomic literature and GIS (Geographic Information System). Construction of taxonomic keys – indented and bracketed – their utilization.

Study of the following families (Bentham & Hooker) in detail with special reference to their salient features, interrelationships, evolutionary trends and economic significance.

1. Ranunculaceae 2. Magnoliaceae 3. Annonaceae 4. Cruciferae (Brassicaceae) 5. Polygalaceae 6. Caryophyllaceae 7. Guttiferae (Clusiaceae) 8. Malvaceae 9. Tiliaceae 10. Geraniaceae 11. Rutaceae 12. Meliaceae 13. Vitaceae 14. Sapindaceae 15. Fabaceae 16. Caesalpiniaceae 17. Mimosaceae 18. Rosaceae 19. Combretaceae 20. Lythraceae 21. Melastomaceae 22. Myrtaceae 23. Cucurbitaceae 24. Apiaceae 25. Rubiaceae 26. Compositae (Asteraceae) 27. Plumbaginaceae 28. Sapotaceae 29. Oleaceae 30. Apocynaceae 31. Asclepiadaceae 32. Boraginaceae 33. Convolvulaceae 34. Solanaceae 35. Scrophulariaceae 36. Bignoniaceae 37. Acanthaceae 38. Verbenaceae 39. Lamiaceae 40. Nyctaginaceae 41. Polygonaceae 42. Aristolochiaceae 43. Loranthaceae 44. Euphorbiaceae 45. Orchidaceae 46. Zingiberaceae 47. Commelinaceae 48. Araceae 49. Cyperaceae 50. Poaceae.

CIA1: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

CIA2: MID SEMESTER EXAMINATION for 50 marks

CIA3: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

Attendance in class: 10 marks

END SEMSTER EXAMINATION: Consist of 2 sections. Section A consist of 10 questions carrying 5 marks each out of which students need to attempt 8 questions (8 X 5marks = 40 marks). Section B consists of 7 questions, carrying 12 marks each, out of which students need to attempt 5 questions (5 X 12 marks = 60 marks).

• To understand the methods of crop improvement
• To understand the cytological aspects of growth and development.
• To learn the developmental stages in the plant life 

i.Introduction: History of Plant Breeding, the disciplines to be known by a breeder – Botany of the crop, cytogenetics – agronomy – physiology – pathology – entomology – biochemistry – bacteriology – statistics – plant biotechnology. 

ii.Objectives of plant breeding: High yield, improved quality, disease and pest resistance, early maturity, photosensitivity, varieties for new seasons, resistant varieties

iii.Activities in plant breeding: Creation of new varieties, selection, evaluation, multiplication and distribution. 

iv. Centres of origin: Different centres and their significance. Germplasm conservation- in situ seed banks, plant banks, shoot tip banks, cell and organ banks, DNA banks, germplasm evaluation- cataloguing- multiplication and distribution 

i) Plant introduction: History of plant introduction- primary and secondary, plant introduction agencies. Procedure of plant introduction –quarantine- cataloguing- evaluation – multiplication distribution – acclimatization, purpose of plant introduction, achievements, merits and demerits 

ii) Mode of reproduction: Vegetative reproduction – different methods- grafting, layering, apomixis- classification with examples  

iii) Incompatibility : different types – self incompatibility homomorphic and heteromorphic incompatibility – gametophytic and sporophytic incompatibility, mechanism of self incompatibility, pollen- stigma interaction, pollen tube -style interaction, pollen tube -ovary interaction –significance of self incompatibility, methods to overcome self incompatibility- bud pollination, surgical methods and off season pollination, high temperature, irradiation.

iv) Sterility: male sterility – genetic male sterility - cytoplasmic male sterility – cytoplasmic genetic male sterility, application in crop improvement 

i.Selection: History of selection, pure-line selection, mass selection, pedigree selection, bulk method of selection, merits and demerits, achievements of each type. 

ii. Backcross method of selection: Introduction, requirements, applications of back cross methods, genetic consequences of repeated backcrossing, the procedure of back cross method - transfer of a dominant gene, transfer of a recessive gene, number of plants necessary in backcross generation, selection of the characters being transferred, transfer of quantitative characters, modification of the back cross method, production of F2 and F3, use of different recurrent parents, application of the back cross method in cross-pollinated crops, merits and demerits, achievements

iii) Hybridization: History, techniques and consequences, objectives, types of hybridization - interspecific, intergeneric, distant hybridization, the procedure of hybridization, choice of parents, evaluation of parents, emasculation - different methods, bagging, tagging, pollination, harvesting and storing of the F1 seeds and selfing, consequences of hybridization

Structure of anthers; microsporogenesis, role of tapetum; pollen development and gene expression; male sterility; sperm dimorphism and hybrid seed production; pollen germination, pollen tube growth and guidance; pollen storage; pollen allergy; pollen embryos.

Ovule development; megasporogenesis; organization of the embryo sac, structure of the embryo sac cells.

Floral characteristics, pollination mechanisms and vectors; breeding systems; commercial considerations; structure of the pistil; pollen-stigma interactions, sporophytic and gametophytic self-incompatibility (cytological, biochemical and molecular aspects); double fertilization; in vitro fertilization.

Endosperm development during early, maturation and desiccation stages; embryogenesis, ultrastructure and nuclear cytology; cell lineages during late embryo development; storage proteins of endosperm and embryo; polyembryony; apomixis; embryo culture; dynamics of fruit growth; biochemistry and molecular biology of fruit maturation.

Importance and types of dormancy; seed dormancy; overcoming seed dormancy; bud dormancy.

Basic concepts, types of cell death, PCD in the life cycle of plants, metabolic changes associated with senescence and its regulation; the influence of hormones and environmental factors on senescence.

Bhojwani, S.S. and Bhatnagar, S.P. 2000. The Embryology of Angiosperms (4h revised and enlarged edition). Vikas Publishing House, New Delhi.

Burgess, J. 1985. An Introduction to Plant Cell Development. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Fageri, K. and Van der Pijl, L. 1979. The Principles of Pollination Ecology. Pergamon Press, Oxford.

Fahn, A. 1982. Plant Anatomy. (3rd edition). Pergamon Press, Oxford.

Fosket, D.E. 1994. Plant Growth and Development. A Molecular Approach. Academic Press, San Diego

Leins, P., Tucker, S.C. and Endress, P.K. 1988. Aspects of Floral Development. J. Cramer, Germany.

Lyndon, R.F. 1990. Plant Development. The Cellular Basis. Unnin Hyman, London.

Murphy, T.M. and Thompson, W.F. 1988. Molecular Plant Development. Prentice Hall, New Jersey.

Proctor, M. and Yeo, P. 1973. The Pollination of Flowers. William Collins Sons, London.

Raghavan, V. 1997. Molecular Embryology of Flowering Plants. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

CIA1: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

CIA2: MID SEMESTER EXAMINATION for 50 marks

CIA3: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

Attendance in class: 10 marks

END SEMSTER EXAMINATION: Consist of 2 sections. Section A consist of 10 questions carrying 5 marks each out of which students need to attempt 8 questions (8 X 5marks = 40 marks). Section B consists of 7 questions, carrying 12 marks each, out of which students need to attempt 5 questions (5 X 12 marks = 60 marks).

This course focuses on the development cycle for medicinal plants, from identifying the plants in the field to isolating the bioactive components in the lab and developing herbal medicines. Use of plants for medicinal and other purposes; poisonous plants, cross-cultural aspects, chemistry and biological significance of natural products, and natural products from higher plants in modern medicine are discussed.

On completion of this course, the students will be able to:

1. Recognize the basic medicinal plants
2. Apply techniques of conservation and propagation of medicinal plants.
3. The setup process of harvesting, drying and storage of medicinal herbs
4. Propose new strategies to enhance growth of medicinal herbs considering the practical issues pertinent to India

History, Scope and Importance of Medicinal Plants; Traditional systems of medicine; Definition and Scope-Ayurveda: History, origin, panchamahabhutas, saptadhatu and tridosha concepts, Rasayana, plants used in ayurvedic treatments, Siddha: Origin of Siddha medicinal systems, Basis of Siddha system, plants used in Siddha medicine. Unani: History, concept: Umoor-e- tabiya, tumors treatments/ therapy, polyherbal formulations.

Conservation of Endemic and endangered medicinal plants, Red list criteria; In situ conservation: Biosphere reserves, sacred groves, National Parks; Ex situ conservation: Botanic Gardens, Ethnomedicinal plant Gardens. Propagation of Medicinal Plants: Objectives of the nursery, its classification, important components of a nursery, sowing, pricking, use of green house for nursery production, propagation through cuttings, layering, grafting and budding.

Ethnobotany and Folk medicines. Definition; Ethnobotany in India: Methods to study ethnobotany; Applications of Ethnobotany: National interacts, Palaeo-ethnobotany. Folk medicines of ethnobotany, ethnomedicine, ethnoecology, ethnic communities of India.

Brief description of selected plants and derived drugs, namely Guggul (Commiphora ) for hypercholesterolemia, Boswellia for inflammatory disorders, Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) for cardioprotection, turmeric (Curcuma longa) for wound healing, antioxidant and anticancer properties, Kutaki (Picrorhiza kurroa) for hepatoprotection, Opium Poppy for analgesic and antitussive, Salix for analgesic, Cinchona and Artemisia for Malaria, Rauwolfia as tranquilizer, Belladona as anticholinergic, Digitalis as cardiotonic, Podophyllum as antitumor.

2. AYUSH (www.indianmedicine.nic.in). About the systems—An overview of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy. New Delhi: Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), Ministry and Family Welfare, Government of India.

3. CSIR- Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow (2016). Aush Gyanya: Handbook of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Cultivation.

4. Dev, S. (1997). Ethnotherapeutics and modern drug development: The potential of Ayurveda. Current Science 73:909–928.

5. Evans, W.C. (2009). Trease and Evans Pharmacognosy, 16th edn. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders Ltd.

6. Jain, S.K. and Jain, Vartika. (eds.) (2017). Methods and Approaches in Ethnobotany: Concepts, Practices and Prospects. Deep Publications, Delhi

8. Saroya, A.S. (2017). Ethnobotany. ICAR publication.

9. Sharma, R. (2003). Medicinal Plants of India-An Encyclopaedia. Delhi: Daya Publishing House.

10. Sharma, R. (2013) Agro Techniques of Medicinal Plants. Daya Publishing House, Delhi.

11. Thakur, R. S., H. S. Puri, and Husain, A. (1989). Major medicinal plants of India. Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, India.

Internal Exams (three, 20% each) 60% 

Research reports (one, 40% each) 40% 

i) There will be three exams that will cover the materials presented in the lectures, and from any supplemental readings and handouts.

ii) Research reports. Reports are 10 to 15 typed pages, including illustrations and references. Each report is based on a topic related to medicinal plants from their botany, horticulture, biology, or relationship to human health and disease state. Each paper must include an in-depth scientific literature review of the topic, and support/argue popular articles on herbs and plant-derived medicines; critical analysis of literature and provide a conclusion that relates directly to your stated objectives for the paper. Research papers will be graded on completeness and overall depth and quality of the paper. Students are expected to work independently to complete the report. Alternatively, for those seeking additional experience, in place of one research paper, some hands-on learning experience that includes a report may be provided. 

To understand the anatomical features of plant parts and to identify the anomalous growth

To correlate the anatomical features to taxonomy

To acquire knowledge on plant reproduction and development

To familiarize the techniques for the preservation and processing of tissues

1. Preparation of double-stained freehand sections and identification of the tissues with reasons (Normal or Anomalous secondary thickening).

2. Preparation of serial sections from the given block and identification of the tissues with histological reasoning.

3. Free hand sections showing localization of soluble components –Proteins, Sugars and Lipids.

4. Preparation of squashes and smears; Maceration of tissues for separating cell types

5. Measurement of microscopic objects (algal filaments, spore, pollen etc.)

6. Students are expected to get a thorough understanding of reagents and buffers for tissue processing.

7. Students should submit permanent slides (for serial, hand sections, and squash, smear, whole-mount, sledge and histochemical localization)

1. Study the anomalous primary and secondary features in, Amaranthus, Boerhaavia, Mirabilis, Nyctanthes, Piper and Strychnos

2. Leaf anatomy: epidermal peels, stomatal study, T.S.of lamina.

3. Nodal anatomy and root-stem transition.

4. Maceration of herbaceous and woody stems- separation of different cell types

5. Study the anatomical peculiarities of C4 and CAM plants (Leaf/Stem).

6. Prepare a histotaxonomic key.

7. Study the pericarp anatomy of a legume, follicle and berry.

8. Identification of wood - softwood and hardwood.

1. Introduction to Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory & Nutritional components of Tissue Culture Media
2. Introduction to aseptic techniques & Introduction to different types of explant surface sterilization techniques & Callus initiation and Maintenance
3. Initiation of cell suspension cultures and Growth kinetic studies using PCV/fresh and Dry weight basis
4. Induction of multiple shoots by using different explants
5. Culturing of anthers for the induction of haploids
6. Isolation and Culturing of protoplast
7. Induction of hairy roots with Agrobacterium rhizogenes infection using different explants and confirmation of transgene using PCR
8. Production of Artificial seeds using sodium alginate
9. Induction of Somatic Embryogenesis

2. Prasad M. K. & Prasad M. K. 2000. Emkay Publications

3. Kierman, J.A.1999. Histological and Histochemical Methods. Butterworth Publ. London.

4. Ruzin, Z. E. 1999. Plant Microtechnique and Microscopy. Oxford Press, New York.

5. Harris, J. R. 1991. Electron Microscopy in Biology. Oxford University Press, New York.

6. Gahan, P.B. 1984. Plant Histochemistry and Cytochemistry. Academic Press, London.

7. Johanson, W. A.1984. Plant Microtechnique. McGraw Hill, New York.

8. Johanson, W. A. 1982. Botanical Histochemistry-Principles and Practice. Freeman Co.

9. John E. Sass. 1964. Botanical Microtechnique. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Calcutta.

10. Gary, P. 1964. Hand book of Basic Microtechnique. John Wiley & Sons, New York.

12. Burgess, J. 1985. An Introduction to Plant Cell Development. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

13. Fahn, A. 1982. Plant Anatomy. (3rd edition). Pergamon Press, Oxford.

14. Fosket, D.E. 1994. Plant Growth and Development. A Molecular Approach. Academic Press, San Diego.

15. Cutler D.F., Ted Botha T. and Stevenson D.W. 2016. Plant Anatomy: An Applied Approach. John Wiley & Sons. 2. Clive K. 2016.

Submission of permanent slides (10 slides) - 10 marks

Submission of tissue cultured plants (2 plants) - 10 marks

Performance in the practical labs - 20 marks

Mid-semester evaluation - 40 marks

Records - 20 marks

Pattern of End Semester Examination: 

End Semester Practical Examination: 2020

MBOT351- PRACTICAL IN PRINCIPLES OF PLANT MICROTECHNIQUES, PLANT ANATOMY, PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

Total marks: 100;                                                                                                                                                                     Total Hours: 6

 PRINCIPLES OF PLANT MICROTECHNIQUES, PLANT ANATOMY

1. Make suitable micro preparation of specimen A. Draw diagrams, identify giving reasons.

(Total Marks 10 = Preparation – 3, Identification with reasons – 4, Diagram – 3)

2. Describe and compare the stomatal types and pattern in the materials B and C.

(Total Marks 5 = Identification of stomatal types – 1 + 1, Comparison with diagrams – 3)

3. Describe the nodal feature of the Material D.

(Total marks 4 = Identification of nodal type – 1, Description and diagram– 3)

4. Prepare a double stained micro preparation of material E and mount it as a permanent slide. Identify the specimen.

(Total marks 10 = Sectioning and staining – 6, Mounting – 2, identification with reasons- 2)

5. Prepare serial sections of F and mount on a glass slide

(Total marks 4 = Microtome sectioning – 2, Mounting – 2)

6. Macerate G and identify two xylem elements

(Total marks 5: Prep:-1 mark, procedure-1mark, diag-1+1, identification -1)

7. Comment on H, J, and I (3x 4= 12)

PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS (50 Marks)

8. Inoculate the given explant K and comment. (12 marks)

(Principle – 2; Procedure -2; Results -2; Performance -6)

9. Prepare synthetic seeds/ isolate the protoplasts from the given plant material L. (8 marks)

(Principle -2; Procedure -2; Performance - 4).

10.  Identify the given spotter M, N, O and P. (2.5 × 4 = 10 marks)

11. Logical reasoning Q1 and Q2. (2 × 2.5 = 5 marks)

12. Problems R. (5 marks)

13. Viva (10 marks)

To understand the principles of Taxonomy 

To identify the plants upto species 

To undertand the diversity existing among the angiosperms 

1. Work out a minimum of two members from each family mentioned in the syllabus with suitable sketches and description in technical terms.

2. Study of local flora, construction of keys and use of floras in the identification up to species.

3. Preparation of dichotomous keys based on 4 sample plant materials from the same family.

4. Workout nomenclatural problems regarding priority and author citations.

5. Students should familiarize with all the economically/ethnobotanically important plants of the families mentioned in the syllabus.

Field study: A field study for not less than 5 days under the guidance and supervision of teachers and preparation of a minimum of 25 herbarium specimens of different categories with supporting field book.

1)         Study of microsporogenesis and gametogenesis in sections of anthers.

2)       a)   Examination of modes of anther dehiscence and collection of pollen grains for microscopic examination (maize, grasses, Crotolaria, Tradescantia, Brassica, Petunia, Solanum melongena, etc.).

            b) Study of pollen types using acetolysed and non-acetolysed pollens

3)         Tests for pollen viability using stains and in vitro germination. Pollen germination using hanging drop and sitting drop cultures, suspension culture and surface culture.

4)         Estimating percentage and average pollen tube length in vitro.

5)         Role of transcription and translation inhibitors on pollen germination and pollen tube growth.

6)         Pollen storage, pollen-pistil interaction, self-incompatibility, in vitro pollination.

7)         Study of ovules in cleared preparations; study of monosporic, bisporic and tetrasporic types of embryo sac development thorough examination of permanent, stained serial sections.

8)         Field study of several types of flower with different pollination mechanisms (wind pollination, thrips pollination, bee/butterfly pollination, bird pollination).

9)         Emasculation, Bagging and Hand Pollination to study pollen germination, seed set and fruit development using self compatible and obligate outcrossing systems.

10)      Study of nuclear and cellular endosperm through dissections and staining

11)      Isolation of zygotic globular, heart-shaped, torpedo stage and mature embryo from suitable seeds and polyembryony in citrus, Jamun ( Syzygium cumini) etc. by dissections

12)      Study of seed dormancy and methods of break dormancy

13)     plant propagation methods: grafting, budding and layering 

Gamble J S. Flora of the Presidency of Madras. (Vol. I – III).

CIA 1 - Observation and reporting of pollination mechanism in flowering plants in nature (submission of video and field reports) - 10 Marks

           Preparation of dichotomous key - 10 marks

           Field notebook (50 plants)  - 10 marks

           Herbarium specimens - 10 marks 

CIA II - 2 Lab tests - 40 Marks

CIA III - Record - 20 Marks 

End semester examination - 100 marks

Submission of the certified record book, Field notebook and 25 herbarium sheets are mandatory for appearing the end semester practical examination

End Semester Practical Examination-  2020

MBOT352- Practical in Principles of Angiosperm Systematics and Taxonomy,  Developmental Biology and Plant Breeding

Total marks: 100;                                                                           Total Hours: 6

1. Identify the families of the given specimens A and B.

(Total marks 16 = Identification up to series with reasons – 2, Identification up to cohort with reasons – 2, Identification of the family with reasons – 4; 2 x 8 = 16)

2. Identify the given material C up to genus.

(Total marks 12 = Identification up to family with reasons – 8, Identification of genus with author citation – 2, Genus key – 2)

3. Identify the given material D up to species.

(Total marks 16 = Identification up to family – 8, Identification of genus with author citation – 2, Genus key – 2, Identification of species with author citation – 2, Species key – 2)

4. Write the Economic/ethnobotanical importance of the materials E and F.

(Total marks = 4; 2 x 2 = 4)

5. Identification of herbarium specimens G & H

(Total marks 4 = genus and species 1, Family - 1; 2 x 2 = 4)

6. Explain the given nomenclatural problem I.

(Total marks = 4)

7. Identify the morphological type and write critical notes on material J.

(Total marks 3 = Identification – 1, Critical note – 2)

8. Describe the given material K in technical terms. Draw L. S of the flower, floral diagram and write the floral formula.

(Total marks 10 = Vegetative characters – 1, Floral characters – 3, LS – 3, Floral diagram – 2, Floral formula – 1)

9. Using vegetative and floral characters, prepare a dichotomous key for L1. L2, L3, L4 and L5. (Total marks 7 = Analysis of characters – 3 marks, Preparation of key-4 marks)

10. Write binomial, family and morphology of the useful parts of M & N.

(Total marks 4 = Binomial-1mark, family-½ mark, useful part-½ mark)

11. Dissect embryo/endosperm from the given seeds O.

(Total marks = 4)

12. Write critical notes on P.

(Total marks = 4)

13. Estimate average pollen tube length in the given sample Q.

(Total Marks = 4; procedure 1, work -2, calculation - 1)

14. Demonstrate any one propagation method (R) - Budding or Grafting or layering.

(Total marks 4 = Methodology- 2 marks. Preparation- 2 marks)

15. Emasculate the flower in the inflorescence given S.

                                   OR

Estimate the percentage of pollen fertility in the given plant by suitable staining.

(Total marks 4 = Methodology-2 marks. Preparation- 2 marks) 

The broad objective of the present core paper is to define the purview of plant biotechnology with respect to crop improvement and metabolic engineering along with knowing the regulatory issues. In this respect, students will be acquainted with application of principles and techniques of plant tissue culture, transgenic technology and metabolic engineering. While in tissue culture, the focus shall be on media composition and preparation, methods of in vitro regeneration, applications and limitations, with respect to genetic transformation, aspects of cloning, DNA delivery, detection, characterization and expression of transformants and gene silencing etc would be covered. Global status of GMOs, various case studies illustrating the application of biotechnology in developing crop varieties that are resistant to various biotic and abiotic stresses, enhancing nutritional quality, improved post-harvest qualities, and in the metabolic engineering of plants, aspects related to engineering of secondary metabolites, male sterility, environmental remediation, and biofarming will be discussed. Finally, in the regulatory issues aspect, Introduction to legal system, principles of regulation and regulatory systems in India and also IPR.

Plant Cell: Totipotency, scope, historical review, differentiation, de-differentiation and re-differentiation, culture of plant cells, tissue and organs, Plant growth regulators (auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscicic acid and ethylene). Aseptic techniques, culture media: composition and preparation. Methods of sterilization; inoculation, incubation and hardening. Methods to overcome phenolic oxidation. 

Cell and Organ differentiation: Callus and cell suspension culture, Micropropagation – direct and indirect organogenesis, somatic embryogenesis, synthetic seeds and its application, meristem culture, in vitro mutagenesis and selection technique, somaclonal variations, overcoming crossing barriers (Pre fertilization and post fertilization barriers including in vitro pollination/fertilization and embryo rescue), embryo culture, endosperm culture , haploid plant production and its application (androgenesis, gynogenesis and microspore culture). Cryopreservation and DNA banking for germplasm conservation. Transfer and establishment of plantlets in soil and green house 

Protoplast Isolation and Somatic hybridization: Protoplast isolation, purification, viability testing, plating techniques, protoplast culture and regeneration of plants. Protoplast fusion – spontaneous and induced fusion; mechanism of fusion; identification and selection of hybrid cells; chromosome status of somatic hybrids; cybridization; applications of somatic hybrids and cybrids. Genetic modification of protoplasts.

Gene transfer methods in plants: direct and indirect DNA transfer, Biology of Ti and Ri plasmids and its use as vectors, Co-integrate vectors, intermediate and helper plasmids, binary vectors, viral vectors, 35S and other promoters, use of reporter genes and marker genes, Chloroplast and mitochondrial transformation and its advantages.
GM Technology: Crop improvement, productivity, performance and fortification of agricultural products – Insect resistance: Bt genes, non-Bt genes like protease inhibitors, α-amylase inhibitors (Bt cotton and Bt Brinjal). Herbicide resistance:  Phosphoinothricin, glyphosate, sulfonyl urea and atrazine. Virus resistance: coat protein mediated and nucleocapsid gene. Bacterial and Fungal resistance: chitinase, 1,3-β-glucanase, RIP, antifungal proteins, thionins, PR proteins. Nematode resistance. Abiotic stress: drought, cold and saline. Strategies for engineering stress tolerance. Current status of transgenic plants in India and other countries. Importance of integrated pest management and terminator gene technology. Environmental impact of herbicide resistance crops and super weeds.

Biofertilizers: types, production, VAM, Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Mycorhiza, Actinorhiza, vermicomposting technology and Biopesticides.

RNAi and antisense RNA technology for extending shelf life of fruits and flowers (ACC synthase, ACC oxidase and polygalacturonidase,), delay of softening and ripening of fleshy fruits (tomato, banana, watermelon). Carbohydrate composition and storage, ADP glucose pyrophosphatase.  Post-harvest protection of cereals, millets and pulses.

Non-PCR and PCR based molecular markers (RFLP, RAPD, SSR, AFLP, SCAR). Molecular markers in breeding programme, molecular breeding for resistance.

Plant Secondary metabolites and Bioreactors: Plant cell culture for the production of useful chemicals and secondary metabolites (Hairy root cultures, Biotransformation, Elicitation). Bioreactor scale production of phytopharmaceuticals (Different types of bioreactors). Engineering plants for male sterility: Molecular basis of cytoplasmic male sterility in nature, mechanism of restoration of fertility, genetic engineering strategies, production of male sterility, pollination controlling system. Metabolic engineering of plants: Principle and Practice, metabolic engineering of lipids, carotenoid biosynthesis for antioxidant (colouring agent). Plant Molecular Farming: Food vaccines (edible vaccines), plant derived antibodies, pharmaceutical proteins, industrial enzymes, biofarming of carbohydrates, genetic approach of molecular farming, choice of plant production system, benefits and drawbacks of molecular farming, product authenticity.

Brief Introduction to terms: Statutes, Rules, Regulations, Judicial System, Judicial Review, Administrative set up. International Law, Sources, Treaties
Regulatory Systems: Time line of development of regulatory systems, The U.S. and E.U. approaches on Biotechnology research, Intentional introduction into environment, INDIA: Environment Protection Act, 1986, Rules for the manufacture, use, import, export and storage of hazardous micro-organisms, genetically engineered organisms or cells. Institutional Structure, Powers and Functions, Relevant Guidelines and Protocols. Other relevant laws, Plant Quarantine order, Biological Diversity Act, Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmer’s Rights Act, Drugs and Cosmetics Act, Policy and the rules, Seed Policy, DGFT Notification, Recent Initiatives, Draft National Biotechnology Regulatory Bill 2008, Ethical issues associated with GMOs, labelling of GM plants and products.
IPRs: Introduction, A Brief history of IP protection, Rationale for IPR, Types of IPRs, Patents, Copyright, Trademarks, Trade Secrets, Plant Variety protection, Geographical Indications, Farmer’s Rights, Traditional Knowledge, Patents and Agricultural Biotechnology, Patentability criteria, Relevant Case law, Indian Patent Act, 1970, TRIPS, Amendments to Indian Patents Act (2005), IP applications and Procedures, Patent drafting, Patent and prior art searches etc. Management of IPR Assets, Licensing and contracts, Negotiations, Valuation of patents, IPR Enforcement

CIA1: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

CIA2: MID SEMESTER EXAMINATION for 50 marks

CIA3: Assignment/test/poster preparation/review writing etc. for 20 marks

Attendance in class: 10 marks

END SEMSTER EXAMINATION: Consist of 2 sections. Section A consist of 10 questions carrying 5 marks each out of which students need to attempt 8 questions (8 X 5marks = 40 marks). Section B consists of 7 questions, carrying 12 marks each, out of which students need to attempt 5 questions (5 X 12 marks = 60 marks).

To make students read and understand about the various techniques which the life science researchers world over practice presently especially pertaining to the areas of their research topic. This can help them to make use of those techniques in their research and will also keep them abreast of the latest technologies in their learning domains.

Not Applicable

To understand plant responses and adaptations to the environment and the ecological relevance of these responses.

To Understand the role, structure and importance of the bio molecules associated with plant life.

To Familiarize with the recent trends in the field of plant physiology.

Soil characters influencing nutrient availability – size and charge of soil particles, soil pH. Entry of minerals into roots; bulk flow, diffusion. Role of Mycorrhizae in nutrient uptake