Introduction to Antigens: Somatic, Secreted and Surface antigens. Source, Nature and Solubility of Antigens. Extraction, Characterization, Purification and Quantification Procedures. Principles of Immunization. Polyclonal and Monoclonal Antibodies. Production of Polyclonal Antisera. Characterization and Isotyping of Immunoglobulins. Monoclonal Antibodies. Hybridoma Generation. Cloning Selection and Production of Monoclonal Antibodies. Purification, Characterization, Sensitivity and Specificity of Monoclonal Antibodies. Immunoassays. Agglutination. Precipitation. Immunoelectrophoresis. Radioimmunoassay, Immunofluorescene, Immunoblotting. ELISA. Applications of Cellular Immunology. Immunocompetent Cells and their Markers Separation and Purification of Immunocompetent Cells. Immunohistrochemistry and Immunohistopathology. Applications of Immunodiagnostic Techniques in Infectious Diseases. Viral, Bacterial, Protozoa, Helminthes and Fungal Infection. Vaccine. Principles and Strategies of Vaccine Development. Immunity Against Parasites and pathogens. Haemocytes and Immune Proteins. Development, Characterization and Applications of Immune Proteins.

Essential Basics: Computers and the Internet, HTML, CGI & Web Services, Operating Systems and UNIX,. Relational Databases, Perl and Other Programming Languages. Introduction to Bioinformatics: NCBI Entrez, The BLAST Algorithm, Using BLAST Online, ORF Finder, GENSCAN, Principles and use of PSI-BLAST, Multiple Sequence Alignments with ClustalW, Protein analysis (Prosite, Pfam, PRINTS, Blocks). Introduction to Structural bioinformatics: The Protein Data Bank. Visualization w/Rasmol and Chime, Secondary Structure Calculation (Kabsch/Sander), Structure Classification (SCOP and CATH), Structure Determination, Basic Geometry, Structure/Function Assignment, Structure Alignment, Structure Prediction, Protein Folding, Protein/Ligand Docking, Molecular Dynamics.

Recommended reading material

• Misener S., Krawetz A. S., 1999. Bioinformatics: Methods and Protocols, Humana Press, New Jersey.
• Durbin R., Eddy R. S., Krogh A., Mitchison G., 1998. Biological Sequence analysis: Probabilistic Models of Proteins and Nucleic acids, Cambridge Univ. Press, UK
• Baxevanis A.D., Francis B. F. O., 2004. Bioinformatics: A Practical Guide to the Analysis of Genes and Proteins, Sec. Ed., Wiley and Sons, NY.
• Lesk, A.M. 2002. Introduction to Bioinformatics, Oxford University Press.
• Mount W. D., 2004. Bioinformatics: Sequence and Genome Analysis, CSHL Press, NY
• Setubal. C., Meidanis. J., 1997. Introduction to Computational Molecular Biology, PWS Publishing, Boston

Introduction to Advanced Molecular Biology, Enzymes used in rDNA Technology, Isolation of DNA, General Purpose Cloning Vectors, Gene Cloning and Selection of Recombinant Clones, Gene Libraries, Gene Expression Systems, Understanding Gene Function Through Gene Inactivation, Rational for Genetic Engineering, Genomics and Proteomics. Molecular Breeding. Mapping. Gene Function. Methods of Genetic Transformation. Vectors. Gene Integration, Review of Currently Available GM Crops. Gene Sequencing. Transgenic Plants and Animals. Gene Therapy, Cancer Gene Therapy. DNA Finger Printing or DNA Profiling: Methods and Applications of DNA Profiling. Genomic Libraries. Solutions of Disputes: Parentage, Identity of Criminals, etc. DNA Sequencing. REFLP as a Diagnostic Tool.

Practicals

• Heat Stock Transformation of E. coli with Plasmid
• Amplification of Plasmid DNA
• Extraction by Mini prep
• Agro-mediated Transformations
• Biolistics Transformations
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Electrophoresis of Restriction Fragments.

Recommended reading material

• Harding, S. 2007. Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering Reviews: V. 24, Nottingham University Press
• James D. T. 2006. Genetic Engineering, Greenhaven Press.
• Nicholl, D. 2002. An Introduction to Genetic Engineering, 2nd Ed., Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
• Old, R. W. and S.B. Primrose. 2007. Principles of Gene Manipulation: An Introduction to Genetic Engineering. 7th Edition. Blackwell Science.
• Setlow, J. K. 2003. Genetic Engineering: Principles and Methods, Springer, New York.
• Swisher, C. and C. Wekesser. 1996. Genetic Engineering, Lucent Books.
• Vine H. L. 1999. Genetic Engineering: A Reference Handbook, ABC-CLIO.

Ethics and Bioethics, Ethical and Legal Issues Surrounding GM Foods. Regulatory Issues. Human Dignity and Human Rights. Autonomy and Individual’s Responsibility. Principles of Consent in Different Interventions, Research and Teaching. Privacy and Confidentiality. Sharing of Benefits. Protecting Future Generations. Protection of the Environment, the Biosphere and Biodiversity. Bioethics of Environmental Issues. Enthropocentric, Biocentric and Ecocentric Ethical Perspectives. Need for Biosafety Guidelines/Regulations. Guidelines for Laboratory Work. Guidelines for Field Work. Genetically Modified Microorganisms, Plants and Animals. Regulation and Containment During Field Tests. Compositions and Functions of Various Biosafety Committees. Movement of Regulated Material. Format of Project Proposals to Undertake Field Trails. Proposals for the Release of Microorganisms. Plants, with Microorganisms Living in or on Animals. Microorganism as Live Vaccines.

Recommended reading material

• World Health Organization, 2004. Laboratory Biosafety Manual, World Health Organization.
• John H. Richardson, J.H. and W.E. Barkley, 1993. Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, DIANE Publishing Company.
• National Bioethics Advisory Commission, National Bioethics Advisory, 2004. Ethical Issues in Human Stem Cell Research, University Press of the Pacific.
• Beauchamp, T.L. and J.F. Childress, 1994. Principles of Biomedical Ethics, Oxford University Press.
• Warren Thomas Reich, 1995. Encyclopedia of Bioethics, Medical ethics/Encyclopedias.
• Andre, J. 2004. Bioethics as Practice, UNC Press.
• May, T. 2002. Bioethics in a liberal society, JHU Press.
• National Biosafety Guidelines Biosafety rules 2005.

.

Historical Background. Plant Life and Local Flora. Special Problems in Plant Biology. Economic Importance: Plants and civilization. Requirements for in-virto Cultures. Tissue Culture Laboratory: Nutrients, Media Composition and Preparation. Maintenance of Aseptic Environment. Types of Cultures: Tissue Culture, Protoplast Culture. Application of Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Cultures. Somaclonal Variation as A Breeding Tool. Commercial Applications. Plant Conservation Studies. Culture Banks, Cryopreservation. Ecology Laboratory. Plant Structure and Diversity. Cell Suspension and Secondary Metabolites. Molecular Basis of Plant growth and Metabolism.

Practicals

• Media formulation and preparation
• Sterilization techniques
• Tissue culture aiming for micro-propagation
• Somatic embryogenesis from different explants
• Cell suspension culture
• Effect of different growth regulators on plant growth

Recommended reading material

• Chawla H. S. 2003. Plant Biotechnology: A Practical Approach. Science Publishers, USA.
• Chawla, H.S. 2002. Introduction to Plant Biotechnology. 2nd Ed., Science Publishers, USA.
• Gresshoff P. M. 1992. Plant Biotechnology and Development. CRC Press.
• Lebowitz, R. J. 1995. Plant Biotechnology: A Laboratory Manual, Wm. C. Brown.
• Prakash, J. and R. L. M. Pierik, 1993. Plant Biotechnology: Commercial Prospects and Problems, Intercept.
• Slater, A., Scott, N. W. and M.R. Flower, 2008. Plant Biotechnology: The Genetic Manipulation of Plants, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Srivastava, S., Narula, A. and S. S. Bhojwani. 2004. Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Markers. Inc NetLibrary, Springer link Publishers.

.

Human Genome Structure and Function. Chromosomes. Chromatin Structure. Genome Organization. Genetic and Physical Mapping. The Human Genome Project. Gene Regulation. Gene and mRNA Splicing. Control of Gene Expression. Molecular Diagnosis of Human Diseases, Diseased Gene Cloning, and the Genetics of Host Resistance. Pathogens, Genetic Diagnostics and Gene Therapy. Introduction to Developmental Genetics. Cancer Genetics. Immunogenetics. Neurogenetics. Population Genetics.

• Blood DNA extraction
• Linkage analysis
• Cytogenetics
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Sequencing
• Real time PCR
• Gel Electrophoresis

• Epstein, R. J. 2002. Human Molecular Biology: An Introduction to the Molecular Basis, Cambridge University Press.
• Mathew, C. G. 1991. Protocols in Human Molecular Genetics, Human Press.
• Passarge, E. and J. Wirth. 2001. Color Atlas of Genetics, Thieme.
• Strachan, T. And A. P. Read. 2003. Human Molecular Genetics, Garland Science.
• Surzycki, S. 2003. Human Molecular Biology Laboratory Manual, Blackwell Publishing.

Introduction to Bioremediation, Production of Fine Chemicals and Vaccines. Fermentation Technology, Downstream Processing in Biotechnology Industry. Genetic Manipulation. Bioprocesses and Enzyme Technology. Cell Culture Technology. Microbial Technology. Nutrition Technology and Business and Management of Biotechnology, Biological Waste Water Treatment, Microbial Bioprospecting and Population. Analysis. Detection and Genotyping of Microorganisms, Producers of Particular Metabolites and Assessment of Biodiversity. Extremophilic Organisms. Strategies for Life and Metabolic Adaptations of Cells to Extreme Conditions. Screening for Enzymes and Other Biologically Active Molecules. Application of Extremophilic Organisms. Microbial Interactions in Agriculture. Trophic Interactions, Plant- Microbe Interactions, Microbiological Control of Fungal Plant Pathogens and Important of Microorganisms for Soil Fertility. Plant-growth Promoting Rhizobacteria, Secondary Metabolites with Antifungal Activities, Biosurfactans. Microbial Ecotoxicology and Environmental Quality. Bioavailability and Toxicity of Pollutants. Development of Co-resistance to Antibiotics in Polluted Environments. Bottlenecks for Biodegradation of Organic Pollutants. Aquaculture microbiology: Identification and biology of taste-and-odor producing bacteria in fish ponds and their impact on fish quality.

• Stabilization of enzymes by chemical modifications.
• Advanced technologies for producing bioethanol.
• Vaccine production.
• Enzymes, therapeutic proteins and microbial metabolites.
• Isolation, characterization and purification of enzyme.
• Biotransformation.
• Remediation.
• Degradation of Cyclic compounds.

• Alberghina, L. 2000. Protein Engineering in Industrial biotechnology, CRC Press.
• Blazej, A. and V. Privarova, 1991. Environmental Biotechnology, Elesevier. Desai, M. A. 2000. Downstream Processing of Proteins: Methods and Protocols, Human Press.
• Gebelein C. G., and C. E. Carraher. 1995. Industrial Biotechnological Polymers, CRC Press.
• Moo-Young, M. 1985. Comprehensive Biotechnology: The Principles, Applications, and Regulations, Pergamon Press.
• Moo-Young, M., Anderson, W. A. and A. M. Chakrabarty. 1996. Environmental Biotechnology: Principles and Applications, Springer.