Course Contents

a) Cell Biology 1. Structures and Functions of Bio-molecules i. Carbohydrates ii. Lipids iii. Proteins iv. Nucleic Acids 2. Cell: Physio-chemical nature of plasma membrane and cytoplasm. 3. Ultra-structure of plant cell with a brief description and functions of the following organelles 1) Endoplasmic reticulum 2) Plastids 3) Mitochondria 4) Ribosomes 5) Dictyosomes 6) Vacuole 7) Microbodies (Glyoxysomes and Peroxisomes) 4. Nucleus: Nuclear membrane, nucleolus, ultrastructure and morphology of chromosomes, Chromosomal aberrations, Changes in number of chromosomes, Aneuploidy & Euploidy, Changes in the structure of chromosomes, Deficiency Duplication, Inversion & Translucation 5. Reproduction in somatic and embryogenic cell, mitosis and meiosis, 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. Sex linked inheritance, sex linkage in Drosophila and man (colour blindness), XO, XY, WZ mechanisms, sex limited and sex linked characters, sex determination. 3. Linkage and crossing over: definition, linkage groups. 4. Molecular genetics; The Structure of DNA: DNA: The genetic material, DNA replication in eukaryotes, DNA and the gene. 5. The Nature of the Gene: How genes work, gene- protein relationships, Nature of gene, genetic code, transcription, translation, protein synthesis. 6. Transmission of genetic material in Bacteria: Conjugation and gene recombination in E.coli, transduction and transformation. 7. Evolution: The nature of evolutionary forces, adaptive radiations, differential reproductive potentials, first plant cell, origin of organized structure, early-aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem, First vascular plant. Practicals Cell Biology 1. Study of cell structure using compound microscope and elucidation of ultra structure 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 DNA in plant material. Carmine/orcein staining. 3. Study of salivary gland chromosomes of Drosophila.