Study Material

English / Honours

Unit 1: Patterns of Behaviour 

►Stereotyped Behaviours (Orientation, Reflex); Individual Behavioural patterns; Instinct vs. Learned Behaviour; FAP, Associative learning, classical and operant conditioning, Habituation, Imprinting.

Unit 2: Social and Sexual Behaviour

►Social organisation in termites; Communication (dance & pheromones in Bees) Social behaviour: Altruism (Hamilton’s rule and concept of haplodiploidy), Cooperation and Selfishness Sexual Behaviour: Sexual dimorphism, Mate choice in peacock, Intra-sexual selection (male rivalry in red deer) Kinship theory: Relatedness & inclusive fitness; parental care in fishes (Nest Building & cost benefit), conflict within families: parent offspring conflict and sibling rivalry

Unit 3: Chronobiology & Biological Rhythm

►Types and characteristics of biological rhythms: Short- and Long- term rhythms; Circadian rhythms; Tidal rhythms and Lunar rhythms, Circannual rhythms; Photic and non-photic zeitgebers; Role of melatonin. Biological clock and its adaptive significance. Circannual rhythm in bird migration.

Unit 1: Introduction

►Organization of E.coli and Drosophila genome.

Unit 2: Molecular Techniques in Gene manipulation 

►Recombinant DNA technology, Restriction endonucleases. Cloning Vectors & their features:  plasmids, Phage vectors, Cosmids, Phagemids, BAC, YAC, and HAC. Shuttle and Expression Vectors. Construction of Genomic libraries and cDNA libraries Transformation techniques: Cloning in bacteria and detection technique of clone Agarose and Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis, Southern, Northern and Western blotting, Polymerase chain reaction: Allele specific, RAPD & RT PCR, DNA Fingerprinting.

Unit 3: Genetically Modified Organisms 

►Production of cloned and transgenic animals: Nuclear Transplantation, Retroviral Method, DNA microinjection. Applications of transgenic animals: Production of pharmaceuticals, production of donor organs, knock-out mice.

Unit 4: Culture Techniques and Applications 

►Animal cell culture, Expressing cloned genes in mammalian cells, Molecular diagnosis of genetic diseases (Cystic fibrosis, Sickle cell anaemia, Thalassemia). Dolly &Polly cloning Genetically modified economically important animal Gene Therapy.

Unit 1: Introduction 

►Concept and Scope of Biotechnology

Unit 2: Techniques in Gene manipulation 

►Recombinant DNA technology, Restriction endonucleases. Cloning Vectors & their features: Plasmids, Phage vectors, Cosmids, Phagemids, BAC, YAC, and HAC. Shuttle and Expression Vectors. Construction of Genomic libraries and cDNA libraries Transformation techniques: Cloning in bacteria and detection technique of clone

Unit 3: Animal cell Culture 

►Basic techniques in animal cell culture and organ culture, Primary Culture and Cell lines, Culture media – Natural and Synthetic, Stem cells, Cryopreservation of cultures. Agarose and Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis, Southern, Northern and Western blotting, Polymerase chain reaction: Allele specific, RAPD & RT PCR.

Unit 4: Fermentation 

►Different types of Fermentation: Submerged & Solid state; batch, Fed batch & Continuous; Stirred tank, Air Lift, Fixed Bed and Fluidized. Downstream Processing: Filtration, centrifugation, extraction, chromatography, spray drying and lyophilization.

Unit 5: Application in Health 

►Hybridoma technology, Production of recombinant Proteins: Insulin and growth hormones.

Unit 1: Introduction and Classification 

►Feeding habit, habitat and manner of reproduction. Classification of fish (upto Subclasses) (Romar, 1959)

Unit 2: Morphology and Physiology 

►Types of fins and their modifications; Locomotion in fish; Hydrodynamics; Types of Scales, Use of scales in Classification and determination of age of fish; Gills and gas exchange; Swim Bladder: Types and role in Respiration, buoyancy; Electric organ, Bioluminescence

Unit 3: Fisheries 

►Inland Fisheries; Marine Fisheries; Fishing crafts and Gears; Depletion of fisheries resources; Application of remote sensing and GIS in fisheries; Fisheries law and regulations

Unit 4: Aquaculture 

►Extensive, semi-intensive and intensive culture of fish; Pen and cage culture; Polyculture; Composite fish culture; Brood stock management; Induced breeding of fish; Management of finfish hatcheries; Preparation and maintenance of fish aquarium; Preparation of compound diets for fish; Role of water quality in aquaculture; Fish diseases: Bacterial, viral and parasitic; Preservation and processing of harvested fish, Fishery by-products 

Unit 5: Fish in research 

►Transgenic fish, Zebra fish as a model organism in research

Unit 1: Insect Taxonomy 

►Basis of insect classification; Classification of insects up to orders (Ruppert and Barnes, 1994)

Unit 2: General Morphology of Insects 

►External Features; Head – Eyes, Types of antennae, Mouth parts with respect to feeding habits Thorax: Wings and wing articulation, Types of Legs adapted to diverse habitat Abdominal appendages and genitalia

 Unit 3: Physiology of Insects 

►Structure and physiology of Insect body systems - Digestive, respiratory, endocrine and nervous system Photoreceptors: Types, Structure and Function Metamorphosis: Types and Neuroendocrine control of  metamorphosis

Unit 4: Insect Society

►Social insects with special reference to termites Trophallaxis in social insects such as ants, termites and bees

Unit 5: Insect Plant Interaction

►Theory of co-evolution, role of allelochemicals in host plant mediation Host-plant selection by phytophagous insects, Major insect pests in paddy

Unit 6: Insects as Vectors

►Insects as mechanical and biological vectors, Brief discussion on houseflies and mosquitoes as important vectors

Unit 1: Reproductive Endocrinology 

►Mechanism of action of steroid and glycoprotein hormones. Hypothalamo – Hypophyseal –gonadal axis, regulation of gonadotrophin secretion in human (male and female); Reproductive system: Development and differentiation of gonads, genital ducts and external genitalia

Unit 2: Functional anatomy of male reproduction 

►Histoarchitechture of testis in human; Spermatogenesis and its hormonal regulation; Androgen synthesis and metabolism; Accessory glands functions

Unit 3: Functional anatomy of female reproduction 

►Histoarchitechture of ovary in human; Oogenesis and its hormonal regulation; Steroidogenesis and secretion of ovarian hormones; Reproductive cycles (human) and their regulation, Fertilization; Hormonal control of implantation; Hormonal regulation of gestation, pregnancy diagnosis, fetomaternal relationship; Mechanism of parturition and its hormonal regulation; Lactation and its regulation

Unit 4: Reproductive Health 

►Infertility in male and female: causes, diagnosis and management, Assisted Reproductive Technology: Sex selection, sperm banks, frozen embryos, in vitro fertilization IVF & IUI Modern contraceptive technologies

Unit 1: Introduction to Endocrinology 

►General idea of Endocrine systems, Classification, Characteristic and Transport of Hormones, Neuro-secretions and Neuro-hormones: Examples and Functions 

Unit 2: Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal Axis

►Structure and functions of hypothalamus and Hypothalamic nuclei, Regulation of neuroendocrine glands, Feedback mechanisms, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal-Gonadal Axis. Structure of pituitary gland, Hormones and their functions, Hypothalamo-hypophyseal portal system

Unit 3: Peripheral Endocrine Glands 

►Structure, Hormones and Functions of Thyroid gland, Parathyroid, Adrenal, Pancreas, Ovary and Testis. Disorders of endocrine glands (Diabetes mellitus type I & Type II; Graves’ Disease).

Unit 4: Regulation of Hormone Action 

►Mechanism of action of steroidal, non-steroidal hormones with receptors (cAMP, IP3-DAG), Calcium and Glucose homeostasis in mammals. Bioassays of hormones using RIA & ELISA, Estrous cycle in rat and menstrual cycle in human 

Unit 5. Non Mammalian Vertebrate Hormone 

►Functions of Prolactin in Fishes, Amphibia & Birds; Function of Melanotropin in Teleost fishes, Amphibians and Reptiles.

Unit 1: Introduction to Parasitology 

►Brief introduction of Parasitism, Parasite, Parasitoid and Vectors (mechanical and biological vector); Host parasite relationship

Unit 2: Parasitic Protists 

►Study of Morphology, Life Cycle, Prevalence, Epidemiology, Pathogenicity, Diagnosis, Prophylaxis and Treatment of Giardia intestinalis, Trypanosoma gambiense, Leishmania-donovani

Unit 3: Parasitic Platyhelminthes 

►Study of Morphology, Life Cycle, Prevalence, Epidemiology, Pathogenicity, Diagnosis, Prophylaxis and Treatment of Schistosoma haematobium, Taenia-solium

Unit 4: Parasitic Nematodes 

►Study of Morphology, Life Cycle, Prevalence, Epidemiology, Pathogenicity, Diagnosis, Prophylaxis and Treatment of Ascaris-lumbricoides, Ancylostoma-duodenale, Wuchereriabancrofti, Nematode plant interaction.

Unit 5: Parasitic Arthropods 

►Biology, importance and control of ticks: Soft tick (Ornithodoros), Hard tick (Ixodes), mites (Sarcoptes), Lice (Pediculus), Flea (Xenopsylla) and Bug (Cimex). Parasitoid.

Unit 6: Parasite Vertebrates 

►Cookicutter Shark, Hood Mockingbird, Vampire bats their parasitic behaviour and effect on host.