Course Contents

Theory: • Plant and animal viruses (DNA and RNA) • Transposition: transposable elements, detection of transposition in bacteria, types of bacterial transposons, modes of transposition in bacteria. Genetic phenomena mediated by transposons, transposable elements in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. • Gene expression in pro- and eukaryotes. • Genetic transformation (all kinds). Regulation of simple and complex transcription unit. • Current developments in molecular genetics: molecular techniques viz. Southern, Northern and Western blotting, PCR, RFLP, AFLP’s, RAPDs, Micro-sattelites, SNPs. Practicals: • Isolation of nucleic acids • Qualitative and quantitative measurement of concentration, digestion with specific restriction enzymes and gel electrophoresis. • Plasmid isolation and characterization. • Denaturation and renaturation of DNA. • Orientation with different molecular techniques including PCR, RFLP, AFLPs, RAPDs, etc.