Specific objectives of course: To understand:
1. Structure and function of cell.
2. Nature of genetic material and hereditary process
3. Familiarization with evolutionary processes.
Course outline:
a) Cell Biology
1. Structure and Function of Bio-molecules
i. Carbohydrates
ii. Lipids
iii. Proteins
iv. Nucleic Acids
2. Cell: Cell theory, cell types (prokaryotes, eukaryotes), basic properties of cell.
3. Brief description of following cell organelles
i Cell wall
ii Cell membrane
iii Nucleus
iv Endoplasmic reticulum
v Plastids
vi Mitochondria
viiRibosomes
viii Dictyosomes
ix Vacuoles
4. Reproduction in somatic and embryogenic cell, mitosis, meiosis and cell cycle
b) Genetics
1. Introduction, scope and brief history of genetics. Mendelian inheritance; Laws
of segregation and independent assortment, back cross, test cross,
dominance and incomplete dominance.
2. Molecular genetics; DNA replication. Nature of gene, genetic code,
transcription, translation, protein synthesis, regulation of gene
expression (e.g. lac operon).
3. Chromosomal aberrations; Changes in the number of chromosomes.
Aneuploidy and Euploidy. Changes in the structure of chromosomes,
deficiency, duplication, inversion and translocation.
c) Evolution: Introduction and theories.
Lab Outline:
Cell Biology
1. Study of cell structure using compound microscope and elucidation of
ultrastructure from electron microphotographs
2. Measurement of cell size.
3. Study of mitosis and meiosis by smear/squash method and from prepared
slides.
4. Study of chromosome morphology and variation in chromosome number.
5. Extraction and estimation of carbohydrate, protein, RNA and DNA from plant
sources.
Genetics
1. Genetical problems related to transmission and distribution of genetic material.
2. Identification of chromosomes in plant material. Carmine/orcein staining.
3. Determination of blood groups
Recommended Books:
1. Hoelzel, A. R. 2001. Conservation Genetics. Kluwer Academic Publishers.
2. Dyonsager, V. R. (1986). Cytology and Genetics. Tata and McGraw-Hill
Publication Co. Ltd,, New Delhi.
3. Lodish. H. 2001. Molecular Cell Biology. W. H. Freeman and Co.
4. Sinha, U. and Sinha, S. (1988). Cytogenesis Plant Breeding and Evolution, Vini
Educational Books, New Delhi.
5. Strickberger, M. V. (1988), Genetics, MacMillan Press Ltd., London.
6. Carroll, S. B., Grenier, J. K. and Welnerbee, S. D. 2001. From DNA to Diversity -
Molecular Genetics and the Evolution of Animal Design. Blackwell Science.
7. Lewin, R, 1997. Principles of Human Evolution. Blackwell Science.
8. Strickberger, M. W. 2000 Evolution. Jones & Bartlet Publishers Canada
9. Ingrouille M. J. & B. Eddie. 2006. Plant Diversity and Evolution. Cambridge
University Press.
10.Bruce Albert et al. 2009. Essential cell biology. Garland Sciences Publishers.
Journals/Periodicals:
Theoretical & Applied Genetics, the Cell, Heredity.