THEORY SYLLABUS

II SEMESTER

PAPER-HCT-201: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 52Hrs

UNIT I 13Hrs
Structure and Properties of DNA, RNA and Replication:
Information flow in biological systems: Central dogma. Biochemical evidences for DNA as
genetic material. Watson and Crick model of DNA, different forms of DNA (A, B, Z). Structure
and functions of different types of RNA.
Characteristics and functions of bacterial DNA polymerases, Mechanism of prokaryotic DNA
replication, models of replications in prokaryotes. Fidelity of replication, Nearest neighbor
frequency analysis. Eukaryotic DNA polymerases and mechanism of replication. Telomere
synthesis-telomerases. Replication of viral DNA, rolling circle model. Inhibitors of replication

UNIT II 13Hrs
Transcription:
Characteristics and function of bacterial RNA polymerases, mechanism of transcription and
regulation. Eukaryotic RNA polymerases- transcription factors, mechanism of transcription and
regulation. Stringent response. Post transcriptional modifications of mRNA (5’CAP formation,
poly adenylation, spliciosome assembly, splicing editing), stablility. Processing of tRNA and
rRNA. Inhibitors of transcription. Ribozyme technology: mechanism of action and applications.

UNIT III 13Hrs

Translation and protein targeting:
Genetic code, Wobble hypothesis. Ribosome assembly, mechanism of activation of amino acids.
Mechanism of translation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Differences between prokaryotic and
eukaryotic protein synthesis, codon usage, Inhibitors of protein synthesis. Co and
posttranslational modifications of proteins. Control of translation in eukaryotes.
Signal hypothesis, Export of secretory proteins- transport and localization of proteins to
mitochondria, chloroplast, peroxysomes and membrane.

UNIT IV 13 Hrs
Regulation of Gene expression:
Gene regulation, Operon model-Inducible and repressible systems, lac, gal, trp, his and arabinose
operon; Attenuation, positive and negative regulation, role of cAMP and CRP in the expression
of lac genes, catabolite repression, regulation of eukaryotic gene expression, transcriptional
control, cis control elements, promoters, enhancers, transacting factors, homeobox in the control
of developments in insects and vertebrates. DNA binding motifs of transcription factors,
posttranscriptional control.
Gene Silencing: transcriptional and post transcriptional gene silencing, RNAi pathway (si RNA
and mi RNA).
REFERENCES:

1. Principles of gene manipulation - An introduction to genetic engineering, Old R.W.,

Primrose S.B., Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1993.
2. Nelson, D.L., Cox, M.M. Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry (2005). 4th edition Pub
WH Freeman Co.
3. Elliott, W.H., Elliott, D.C. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 3rd Indian edition, Pub.
Oxford.
4. Mathews, Van Holde, Ahern, Biochemistry by 3rd edition, Pub Pearson education.
5. Alberts, B., Bray, D., Lewis, J., Raf, M., Roberts, K. and Watson, J.D. (1994). Molecular
Biology of the Cell.
6. Cooper, G.M. (1997).The Cell: A molecular approach, ASM Press, USA.
7. Garrett, R.H. and Gresham, C.M. (1995). Molecular aspects of Cell Biology,
International edition, Saunders College Pub.
8. Karp, G. (1996). Cell and Molecular Biology concepts and experiments, John Wiley and
Sons Inc. NY.
9. Lodish, H., Baltimore, D., Berk, A., Zipursky, B.L., Mastsydaira, P., Darnell, J. (2004).
Molecular Cell Biology, Scientific American Books Inc. NY.

II SEMESTER – PRACTICAL SYLLABUS

HCP-201 MOLECULAR BIOLOGY Total : 60 hrs

1. Isolation of cellular DNA by rapid method.

2. Estimation of cellular DNA by standard method (Burtons).
3. Estimation of concentration of DNA by agarose gel electrophoresis.
4. Analysis of genomic DNA by agarose gel electrophoresis.
5. Study of isozymes by (PAGE) electrophoresis.
6. NCBI
7. BLAST AND FASTA
8. PAIRWISE AND MSA
9. RASMOL
 PAPER – HCT-202: GENETICS OF DEVELOPMENT 52hrs

UNIT I 13hrs
Gametogenesis and differentiation: Oogenesis and spermatogenesis, Hormonal regulations.
Fertilization and development: Molecular events of fertilization, activation of sperm
motility, gamete fusion, Role of calcium during egg activation, Genetics of multicellularity
cleavage, Molecular events.

UNIT II 13 hrs
Early vertebrate development: An introduction to early developmental process-
Development of epidermis and neural tissue, formation of embryonic mesoderm and
endoderm.
Morphogenetic and cell movement: Gastrulation in vertebrates, regulation of tissue
separation in the amphibian embryo, role of basement membrane in cell migration, epithelial
morphogenesis, branching morphogenesis of mammalian epithelia.
13hrs
UNIT III
Pattern formation: Cell fate and pattern formation, mutational and molecular analysis of
basic body plan, Communication between and among cells, Genetics of axis specification in
Drosophila, C. elegans, Amphibians and mammals.
Metamorphosis: Molecular mechanisms of: Ecdysone action, Signalling during larval organ
differentiation, Hormone response during metamorphosis , Genetics of eversion and
differentiation of imaginal disc cells; Regeneration: Cellular processes, Formation of
blastomeres, Neuronal innervation, Transdifferentiation.
13hrs
UNIT IV
Stem cells: Embryonic stem cells – therapeutic cloning, Multipotent adult stem cells,
transgenic stem cells. Regeneration Therapy
Cellular aging and death: Concepts of aging, Cellular change during aging, theories,
Caspases, Cellular death receptors, Signaling cell survival, Apoptosis and mechanism of
Apoptotis.

REFERENCES
1 Balinsky. 1975. Text Book of Embryology, Holt Saunders Company Ltd.
2 Berryl & Karp. 1980. Text Book of Developmental Biology, Tata Mac Graw Hill.
3 Browder, Erison, Jeffery, 1991. Developmental Biology, 3rd Edition, Saunders College
Publishing Co., Inc. USA.
4 De Robertis, E.D.P., 1986. Essentials of Cell and Molecular Biology, Academic Press.
5 Gerald Karp, 1996. Cell and Molecular Biology, John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Canada.
6 Gilbert, S.F., 2000. Developmental Biology-VI Ed, Sinauer Associates Inc. Publishers,
Massachusetts.
7 Knobil, E. & Neil, J.D. (Eds.), 1994. The Physiology of Reproduction-II ED, Vol-I&II, Raven
Press Ltd.
8 Meyerowitz, E., 1998. Principles of Development, Oxford University Press.
9 Wolpert, Et al., 2002. Principles of Development, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press.
10 Davis. J.M., 2002. Basic Cell Culture, 2nd edition.

II SEMESTER – PRACTICAL SYLLABUS

HCP-202 GENETICS OF DEVELOPMENT Total : 60 hrs

1. Study of the early development of frog/chick.

2. Mounting of chick embryos during development.
3. Morphogenetic movements in chick in vivo experiment.
4. Study of imaginal discs in Drosophila.
5. Studies of absorption spectra of nucleic acids and proteins.
6. Frog: induction, spawning and early embryogenesis.
 PAPER – HCT-203: MUTATION AND CANCER BIOLOGY 52Hrs

UNIT I 13 Hrs
Basic concepts of mutation and mutagenesis : Introduction, historical perspective, definition.
Types of mutations, microlesions - substitution, frameshift, insertion, deletion. Macrolesions –
spontaneous and induced mutations.

Mutagenic agents and their effects: Ionizing and non ionising radiations – alpha, beta, gamma
and X radiations. Ultraviolet and eletromagnetic radiations, radiation dosimetry.
Mutagenic and clastogenic effects of radiations - Radiation effects on DNA ; single strand
breaks (ssb) double strand breaks (dsb), base damages, cross links, dimerisation. Chromosome
and chromatid aberrations, breaks, exchanges, dicentrics, translocations, achromatic lesions,
aneuploidy.

Chemical mutagens and their mechanisms – Agents which induce alkylation, deamination , base
substitution, intercalation. Clastogenic effects of chemicals.

UNIT II 13 Hrs
DNA damage and repair mechanisms : Introduction, DNA damage, types of DNA repair and
their mechanisms – Direct repair, Base excision repair, Nucleotide excision repair, mismatch
repair, recombinational repair, Photoreactivation, SOS repair; DNA repair genes, role of P53
gene in DNA repair and apoptosis. Brief mention of DNA repair defects in Human diseases –
ataxia tealengiectasia, xeroderma pigmentosum, Bloom’s syndrome, Fanconi anemia, Cockayne
syndrome, hereditary breast cancer and others.

Cancer biology and carcinogenic agents: Introduction, neoplasia, anaplasia, metaplasia and
hyperplasia, types of cancer- benign, malignant, metastatic cancers. Carcinomas, sarcomas,
adenomas, haemopoetic cancers. Characteristics of cancer cells - changes in cell membrane
structure and functions, tumor angiogenesis.

Carcinogenic agents – Physical, chemical and biological agents in carcinogenesis. Historical

highlights, types of chemical carcinogens; direct acting, pro-carcinogens, co-carcinogens,
mechanism of their action. Viral carcinogenesis – Role of viruses in causation of human cancer;
Tobacco and diet related cancers

UNIT III 13 Hrs

Cancer cytogenetics and cancer genes: Somatic mutation theory of cancer, Cytogenetic and
karyotype nomenclature, Various types of chromosomal aberrations in cancers, Philadelphia
chromosome, Role of mismatch repair in cancer.
Oncogenes : Historical aspects, provirus, protovirus and oncogene hypothesis. Functional class
of oncogenes (proto-oncogenes) Mechanism of carcinogenic transformation by oncogenes, viral
oncogenes. Tumor suppressor genes- properties, mechanism of tumor suppressor genes in
cancer induction with special reference to P53 gene. Inherited cancers
UNIT IV 13 Hrs
Tumor immunology and cancer diagnostics & therapy: Tumor immunology –Introduction,
Mechanism of immune response to cancer, natural killer cells and cell mediated cytotoxicity.
Biochemical, histological and radiological methods for cancer diagnosis
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy strategies for cancer treatment. Cancer chemotherapeutic drugs.
Types of radiation therapy.
Immunotherapy of cancer – Rationale of immunotherapy, Tumor necrosis factor, interleukins,
cytokines, interferons, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies.

References:

1. Heim S, Mitelman F (1987) Cancer Cytogenetics, Alan R. Liss, Inc., New York.
2. Raymond W. R (2007) Cancer Biology, Oxford University Press, New York.
3. Becker F. F (Ed) (1975) Cancer, Vol.1-3, Plenum Press, New York.
4. Souhani R (1986) Cancer and its management, Blackwell Publishers,Oxford.
5. Alberts B, Bray D, Lewis J, Raff M, Roberts K. and Watson J.D. (1995) Molecular
Biology of the Cell, II edition, Garland Publishing Company Ltd. New York and London
6. Kleinsmith L. J. and Valeri M. K. (1995) Principles of Cell and Molecular
biology,IIedition, Harper Collins College publishers
7. Darnell J. H, Lodish and D. Baltimore (1995) Molecular Cell Biology, Scientific
American Books, New York.
8. Lewin B. (Ed)( 1996) Genes, VII edition, John Wiley and Sons, New York.
9. Umadevi P, Nagaratnam A and Satish Rao B.S (2000) Introduction to Radiation Biology,
B.I. Churchill Livinstone Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi

II SEMESTER – PRACTICAL SYLLABUS

HCP-203: MUTATION AND CANCER BIOLOGY Total: 60 hrs

1. Differential gene expression: demonstration of ecdysone/heat-induced gene

expression in polytene chromosome of Drosophila
2. Induction of chromosomal abnormalities by treating with cyclophosphamide –
mitotic and meiotic chromosomes of Rat.
3. Genetic basis of insecticide resistance
4. Susceptibility studies by using different insecticides in Culicine mosquitoes.
5. (b) Genetic basis of insecticide resistance by using adulticide.
6. MTT assay
7. Trypan blue dye exclusion test
 PAPER -HCT- 204: EVOLUTIONARYGENETICS 52hrs

UNIT I 13hrs
Evolutionary theories: Overview of history and evolutionary thought, Lamarckism
and its limitations, Darwinism and its limitations, Mendelian and Biometrician
controversy, Neo-Darwinism: Mendelian population, Gene pool, Allele frequencies
and genotype frequencies, Hardy-Weinberg genetic equilibrium and its applications.
Evolutionary forces that affect the allelic frequencies, (i)Mutation (ii) Migration (iii)
Selection- Stabilizing selection, Directional selection, Disruptive selection, Balancing
selection, Frequency dependant selection, Density dependant selection, Group and kin
selection, selection coefficient, selective value, Selection in natural populations,
Genetic drift, Nonrandom mating.
13hrs
UNIT II
Driving forces of Evolutionary: Fitness, Selection, Migration, random drift in small
population, Non-darwinism, molecular polymorphism, nucleic acids and proteins,
molecular clock, neutral theory of evolution, evolution random walk.

UNIT III 13hrs

Isolating mechanisms: Classifications, Geographic isolation, Reproductive isolation,
Premating isolation: Climatic, Seasonal, Habitat, Ethological, Post mating isolation:
Gametic mortality, Hybrid inviability, Hybrid sterility, Hybrid breakdown, Origin of
reproduction isolation, Muller's view. Dobzhansky view.
Speciation: Species types and Species categories, Concepts of species, Models of
speciation: Based on distribution-sympatric, allopatric, stasipatric, Based on genetic
drift: Genetic revolution, Genetic transilience, Founder flush theory, Hybridization
and speciation, Phyletic gradualism and puncuated equilibrium, Molecular aspect of
speciation, speciation genes.

UNIT IV 13hrs
Molecular phylogenetics: Construction of phylogenetic tree, Phylogenetic inferences:
Distance method, Parsimony, maximum - likelihood method, Molecular phylogenetics
of Homo sapiens and related issues, Hominid evolution.
Human population genetics and evolution: Basic attributes and polymorphic
structures in human protein coding genes. Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism. Y-
chromosome polymorphism and Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), Human
society.
REFERENCES
T. A. Brown, 1999. Genomes, John Wiley & Sons (Asia) PTE Ltd.
Scott Freeman & Jon C. Herron, 2001. Evolutionary Analysis (2nd Edition), Prentice Hall.
Falconer & Mackay, 1996. Introduction to Quantitative Genetics (IV Edition), Longman.
David P. Mindell, 1997. Avian Molecular Evolution & Systematics, Academic Press.
Derek A. Roff, 1997. Evolutionary Quantitative Genetics, Chapman & Hall.
R.S.Singh & C. Krimbas, 2000. Evolutionary Genetics- From Molecules to Morphology,
Cambridge University Press.
Peter Donnelly & Simon Tavare, 1997. Progress in Population Genetics & Human
Evolution (Vol. 87), Springer.
William S. Klug & Michael R. Cummings, 2000. Concepts of Genetics (Sixth Edition),
Prentice Hall.
Monre W. Strickberger, 1985. Genetics (Third Edition), Prentice Hall of India.

II SEMESTER – PRACTICAL SYLLABUS

HCP-204: EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS Total : 60 hrs

1. Quantitative characters in Drosophila: Sternoplurals and Acrostichals,

Mean and standard error.
2. Calculation of change in gene frequencies.
3. Applications of Hardy-Weinberg principles and genetic problems.
4. Experiments on Genetic Drift: a) Population size b) Sampling Error
5. Studies on Homology Analogy
 SCT-205: BIOINFORMATICS AND BIOSTATISTICS 40Hrs
Part A: Bioinformatics
UNIT I
Introduction to bioinformatics: Gene, Genome and Genomics, Proteomics and 13hrs
applications.
Sequence Analysis: Nucleotide and proteomic sequence analysis, Homology
sequence analysis – BLAST, FASTA, Pairwise sequence analysis, Multiple
sequences- CLUSTALW, Phylogenetic analysis.

UNIT II
Biological Databases: Significance, Primary and Secondary databases, Nucleotide 13hrs
and proteome databases, Database querying software’s.
Computer applications: Computer organization. Computer hardwares and
computer software. Operating system: Basics of Windows, Unix and Linux .Spread
sheet and its applications. Databases, Computer networks: Internet, world wide
web and applications. Information technology, Multimedia. Computer applications
in genomics.

Part B: Biostatistics

UNIT III
Introduction: Data collection, sampling (random and non random). Frequency 14hrs
distribution, histogram and frequency curve. Stem and leaf and box plot
techniques. Time series graph. Measures of central tendency and dispersion.
Skewness and kurtosis.
Probability: Conditional probability. Addition and multiplication rules of
probability. Probability distributions. Binomial, Poisson and Normal distributions.
Applications in genetics: simple, linear regression and correlation.
Tests of significance: Chi-square test, T-test, Z- test and F- test. Analysis of
variance (one-way and two-way classified data).

REFERENCES
1 Attwood, T.K. & D.J.Parry-Smith (1999): Introduction to bioinformatics, Pearson Eduction
Asia, New Delhi
2 Bergeron(2005): Bioinformatics computing. Pearson Education.
3 Campbel (2004): Discovering Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Pearson
Education.
4 Higgins, D and W. Taylor (2000): Bioinformatics Sequence, Structure and databanks,
Oxford University Press.
5 Krane (2005): Fundamental concepts of Bioinformatics. Pearson Eduction.
6 Leon and Leon (1999): Information Technology, Leon and Leon publications, Chennai.
7 Pagano, P and G. Kimberlee (2004): Principles of biostatistics. Thomson Publications.
8 Nabendu Pal and Sahadeb Sarkar (2006): Statistics- Concepts and applications. PHI.
9 Glover and Mitchel: Introductory Biostatistics: McGrawhill.
10 Zar(2005): Biostatistcal Analysis 4/e Pearson Education.
11 Daniel: (2002): Biostatistics. John Wiley, ISE
12 J.Medthi. J. (1992) Basic Statistcs, New Age Publicaitons.