Semester-III (Major)

Title of the Course : Cell Biology 

Nature of course : Core/Major-III 

Course code : BOT-C-03 

Total Credits 04 Marks : 100 [End: 60 (Theory: 45, Pract: 15), In: 40]

Unit 1: (6 lectures) 

The cell: Cell as a unit of structure and function; cell theory, Characteristics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; Origin of eukaryotic cell (Endosymbiotic theory). 

Unit 2: (6 lectures)

Cell wall and plasma membrane  Chemistry, structure and function of Plant cell wall; Overview of fluid mosaic model; Chemical composition of membranes; membrane function. 

Unit 3: (12 lectures) 

Cell organelles  Nucleus; Structure-nuclear envelope, nuclear pore complex, nuclear lamina, organization of chromatin; nucleolus. Microtubules, microfilaments and intermediary filament. Chloroplast, mitochondria and peroxisomes: Structural organization; Function; Semiautonomous nature of mitochondria and chloroplast; Ribosomes- types, components and function; Lysosomes. Endoplasmic Reticulum – Structure, targeting and insertion of proteins in the ER, Golgi Apparatus. 

Unit 4: (12 lectures)

Membrane transport and Protein sorting & targeting  Membrane transport – Passive, active and facilitated transport, membrane channels, gates and pores; endocytosis and exocytosis; protein glycosylation, protein sorting and export from Golgi apparatus; protein folding & processing; Smooth endoplasmic reticulum and lipid synthesis, export of proteins and lipids.

Unit 5: (9 lectures)

Cell division  Types of cell division, stages of mitosis and meiosis; Phases of eukaryotic cell cycle, Regulation of cell cycle-checkpoints, role of protein kinases, significance.

Lab. activities 

1. Study of plant cell structure with the help of epidermal peel mount of Onion/Crinum/Rheo. 

2. Demonstration of the phenomenon of protoplasmic streaming in Hydrilla leaf, Vallisnaria

3. Measurement of cell size by of micrometric method. 

4. Cell counting using haemocytometer. (Yeast/pollen grains). 

5. Study of cell and its organelles with the help of electron micrographs (Demonstration). 

6. Cytochemical staining of: DNA- Feulgen and cell wall in the epidermal peel of onion using Periodic Schiff’s (PAS) staining technique. 

7. Study the phenomenon of plasmolysis and deplasmolysis. 

8. Study different stages of mitosis and meiosis.

SUGGESTED READINGS: 

1. Karp, G. (2010). Cell Biology, John Wiley & Sons, U.S.A. 6th edition. 

2. Hardin, J., Becker, G., Skliensmith, L.J. (2012). Becker’s World of the Cell, Pearson EducationInc. U.S.A. 8th edition. 

3. Cooper, G.M. and Hausman, R.E. (2009) The Cell: A Molecular Approach. 5th edition. ASM Press & Sunderland, Washington, D.C.; Sinauer Associates, MA.

Title of the Course : Plant Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 

Nature of course : Core/Major-IV 

Course code :BOT-C-04 

Total Credits 04 Marks : 100 [End: 60 (Theory: 45, Pract: 15), In: 40]

Unit 1: (10 lectures)

Biomolecules:  Types and significance of chemical bonds; Structure and properties of water; pH and buffers. Carbohydrates: Nomenclature and classification; Monosaccharides; Disaccharides; Oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. Lipids: Definition and major classes of storage and structural lipids; Fatty acids structure and functions; Essential fatty acids; Triacyl glycerols structure, functions and properties; Phosphoglycerides. Proteins: Structure of amino acids; Levels of protein structure-primary, secondary, tertiary and quarternary; Protein denaturation and biological roles of proteins. Nucleic acids: Structure of nitrogenous bases; Structure and function of nucleotides; Types of nucleic acids; Structure of A, B, Z types of DNA; Types of RNA; Structure of tRNA. 

Unit 2: (5 lectures)

Bioenergetics  Laws of thermodynamics, concept of free energy, endergonic and exergonic reactions, coupled reactions, redox reactions. ATP: structure, its role as a energy currency molecule.

Unit 3: (5 lectures) 

Enzymes Structure of enzyme: holoenzyme, apoenzyme, cofactors, coenzymes and prosthetic group; Classification of enzymes; Features of active site, substrate specificity, mechanism of action (activation energy, lock and key hypothesis, induced - fit theroy), Michaelis – Menten equation, enzyme inhibition and factors affecting enzyme activity. 

Unit 4: ( 07 lectures) 

Genetic material and its organization DNA as the carrier of genetic information (Griffith’s, Hershey & Chase, Avery, McLeod & Mc Carty experiment); denaturation and renaturation of DNA,; Organization of DNA- Prokaryotes, Viruses, Eukaryotes. RNA Structure; Organelle DNA-mitochondria and chloroplast DNA. 

Unit 5: (10 lectures) 

Replication and Transcription of DNA General principles – bidirectional, semi-conservative and semi discontinuous replication, RNA priming; Various models of DNA replication, replication of linear ds-DNA. Transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes; PostTransscriptional modification of RNA Operon concept: Lac operon and its regulation. 

Unit 6: (08 lectures)

Genetic codes & Translation  Genetic codes: salient features; Ribosome structure and assembly, mRNA; Charging of tRNA, aminoacyl tRNA synthetases; Various steps in protein synthesis, factors involve in initiation, elongation and termination of polypeptides; Post-translational modifications of proteins.

Lab. activities 

1. Qualitative tests for carbohydrates, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars, lipids and proteins. 

2. Cytochemical staining of : DNA- Feulgen and cell wall in the epidermal peel of onion using Periodic Schiff’s (PAS) staining technique. 

3. Estimation of plant proteins by Biuret/Lowry method. 

4. Estimation of reducing and non-reducing sugars in plant samples. 

5. Isolation of genomic DNA 

6. DNA estimation by diphenylamine reagent/UV Spectrophotometry. 

7. Study of DNA replication mechanisms through photographs (Rolling circle, Theta replication and semi-discontinuous replication). 

8. Study of structures of prokaryotic RNA polymerase and eukaryotic RNA polymerase II through photographs. 

9. Photographs establishing nucleic acid as genetic material (Messelson and Stahl’s, Avery et al, Griffith’s, Hershey & Chase’s and Fraenkel & Conrat’s experiments) 

SUGGESTED READINGS: 

1. Taiz, L., Zeiger, E., (2010). Plant Physiology. Sinauer Associates Inc., U.S.A. 5th Edition. 

2. Hopkins, W.G., Huner, N.P., (2009). Introduction to Plant Physiology. John Wiley & Sons, U.S.A. 4th Edition. 

3. Bajracharya, D., (1999). Experiments in Plant Physiology- A Laboratory Manual. Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi