Department of Biotechnology

Department of Biotechnology

General Profile of the Botany

Bihar National College, a constituent unit of Patna University, was established in the year 1889. It is one of the biggest and oldest multi-faculty colleges of the state imparting degree level teaching in almost all the subjects of Art and Science and upto post graduate level in some selected subjects. The College is most centrally located in patna occupying an area of approximately 2.5acres of land containing separate blocks for different science department viz, Physics, Chemistry, Zoology, Botany, Geology, Statistics, Central Library, Administrative blocks besides a large seminar hall and other facilities. Financially the college is covered under Patna University budget. Every year approximately 3500 students are admitted to various courses offered by the institution. There are about 50 well experienced teachers involved in academic activities.

About the course

The Course was opened on the basis of notification no. PU. 23 / 94-82 Gs(I) / OSD related to ordinance for admission of students to B. A / B. Sc. (Vocational) Honours course at Patna University and proposed amendment in B. A. / B. Sc. (Vocational) Three-Years Hons. Course ordinance & regulation vide letter no- PU 11 / 2003-477 / Chancellor’s secretariat (I), dated 9.04.2003. Certificate of Accreditation dated May 03, 2004 by National Assessment and Accreditation Council: (An autonomous institution of the University Grants Commission) Declaring B. N. College as Accredited at the B++ level. (For More details contact the department) Biotechnology is the most exciting and modern branch of Science that has emerged with limitless possibilities for research and development. This technology is applied to livings (both plants & animals) in order to manipulate / engineer them in such a manner so as to provide immense benefit to mankind. Through an integrated application of knowledge and techniques of biochemistry microbiology, genetics and chemical engineering, this technology is being harnessed to challenge the natural phenomena in the fields of (a) Health and Medicine, (b) Agriculture and Animal Husbandry and (c) Environment and Industry. In accordance with the Govt. of Inida’s emphasis on vocationalization of higher education, this multidisciplinary – Vocational Course in Biotechnology has been designed to prepare University / College students better equipped for self – Employment as well as to have and edge over the traditional graduates in the job - marked.

JOB-Potential of the Course

Self-employment–

 Successful student can establish their own facility for tissue culture, clinical pathology, genetic counselling, human karyotyping, etc. Scope- In Agriculture, animal husbandry, health & pharmaceuticals, chemicals, pollution control, medical & scientific research establishment, etc. Ample opportunities are also available for higher studies both within the country and abroad. Duration of the Course– The duration of the course shall be of three academic years. On successful completion and passing out the requisite examination, the incumbent will be awarded B. Sc. (Vocational) Hons. degree in Biotechnology of Patna University. The Examinations will be conducted by the University for each year at the end of each academic session to be known as B. Sc. (Vocational) Hons. Part-I, Part-II & Part-III Examination.

Course Format:
Beside the main vocational subject Biotechnology (22 Hons. papers), the Students will be required to study two Botany / Zoology and Chemistry (Compulsory)

Eligibility for Admission:
To be eligible for admission to this Co-educational vocational course, the candidate must have: Passed the intermediate Exam of Board or University established or incorporated by law / 12years course of the Central or State Board, 10+2 System or equivalent thereof with Physics , Chemistry and Biology securing alteast 55% in aggregate for general applicants and 45% marks in case of candidates belonging to SC, ST & BC (Annexure-1) only. Must have qualified at the written aptitude test followed by a viva-voce test to be conducted by the college Department. Note- Any candidate (applicant) who fails to get atleast 8 (Eight) marks out of 25 (Twenty Five ) in viva – voce, will be disqualified for admission . Whatever, his marks may be in the written aptitude test examination for admission.

Aptitude Test and Vica Voce:
Admission to B. Sc. (Vocational) Hons . In Biotechnology course shall be made strictly on merit based on the marks obtained at the aptitude test and viva - voce conducted by the college. Reservation in admission shall be provided as per rules of PU for successful candidates belonging to reserved categories. Other Provision not covered under present regulation will be governed by the regulations for B. A. / B. Sc. Hons. (Three years Degree Course) of Patna University, Patna. 

Fee:

A Course fee of Rs.22,000 /- (Rupees twenty two thousand) only per year shall have to be paid by every student. In addition, Rs.1000 /- (Rupees One Thousand Only) in 3rd year as project supervision fee will be payable. Tuition fee will be collected from the students in only one stroke. Board Features (in summarised form) of the topics to be covered during the Aptitude Test (knowledge of I. Sc. / 10+2 level is desirable). 

Biology:
Biomembrane, structural organization of the cell. Cell organelles, their structures and functions. Cell reproduction: process of mitosis and meiosis. 

Plants: 
Mineral nutrition, photosynthesis, transpiration, growth and movement in plants. 

Animals: 
Tissue System, Digestive System, Respiratory System, Circulatory System, Nervous System, Endocrine System, Reproductive System, Excretory System in mammals. General Organization and mode of reproduction in Bacteria, viruses, Algae and Fungi. Heredity and Variation: Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance, Structure of Pro-and eukaryotic chromosomes. DNA replication, transcription and translation. Genetic code; regulation of gene action; gametogenesis & fertilization. 

Applications:
Fertilizers, Pesticides, Vaccines, fermentation, tissue culture, immune response, toxicology.Physics;

Measurement: 
Units for measurement and system of units, fundamental and derived units. Motion: motion in straight line; speed and velocity, relative velocity. Laws of motion, Simple Harmonic Motion, Momentum, friction, Kinetic and potential energy, gravitational potential energy, conservation of energy, specific heat, Laws of thermodynamics; conduction, convection and radiation; thermal conductivity. Electrostatics: frictional electricity, charges and their conservation, conductors and insulators. Current Electricity: flow of current sources of emf: electric current: resistance; measurements of village and current; heating effect of current, chemical effect and laws of electrolysis, concept of thermoelectricity; thermocouple. Ray optics and optical instruments reflection, refraction, total internal reflection, diffraction, mirrors, lenses and prisms: spectrometer and spectra Microscope. Magnification power resolving power. Atoms; atomic masses, isotopes; radioactivity, nuclear fission and fusion. 

Elementary idea of Conductors: 
Insulators and semiconductor, Nature, Sources and properties of X-ray. α, β and gamma rays. 

Chemistry:
law of chemical combination, Dalton’s Atomic theory, atomic mass: mole concept, determination of chemical formula, Chemical Equation: Balancing of Chemical equation. Properties of liquid, vapour pressure, surface tension, viscosity. 

Atomatic Structure: 
Inorganic and organic compounds of Carbon: Oxides, Halides, carbides, alkanes, alkenes and alkynes, alcohols, aldehydes and ketones, halides, acids and esters, nitrocompounds and amines. Ionization of electrolytes, acid-base equilibrium, ionization of water, pH value, solubility product. 

Molecules of life:
Carbohydrates - mono, di and polysaccharides; proteins - amino acids, peptide bonds, structure of proteins, tertiary structure of proteins and denaturation, enzymes. Nucleic Acids-nucleotides, DNA and RNA 

Fats and Lipids: 
Structure. 

Vitamins: 
water and fat soluble, their main functions. 

Mathematics: 
Simple ideas of differentiation and integration trigonometric functions and ratios; Area of triangle, quadrilateral, circle; volume of cylinder, cone, tetrahedron, Elementary Algebra and Arithmetic.