Programme BS Biochemistry Course Code BT.
101 Credit Hours 3-0
Course Title Elements of Biotechnology
Course Introduction
This course offers a detailed exploration of biotechnology, tracing its definition and historical foundations,
and highlighting its interdisciplinary nature and wide-ranging applications in fields such as medicine,
agriculture, food production, and environmental management.
Learning Outcomes
On the completion of the course, the students will:
To understand concepts in the field of Biotechnology.
Able to effectively interact and work with other interdisciplinary professionals.
Have an awareness of the global significance and application of biotechnology in
different industries.
Course Contents
Introduction to Biotechnology
History
Foundation of Biotechnology and Inter-disciplinary purist
Application of Biotechnology in medicine
Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture
Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture
Plant growth promoting bacteria
Nitrogen Fixation
Growth promotion by free living bacteria
Phosphate solubilizing bacteria and Siderophores
Biocontrol of pathogens
Biocontrol agents vs pesticides
Microbial insecticides: Insecticidal toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis
Microbial Insecticides and Insecticidal toxins (BT)
Biocontrol of Pathogens
Baculovirus as biocontrol agents
Protein toxin, diuretic hormone and juvenile hormone esterase genes
Large scale production of proteins from recombinant microorganisms
Microbial therapeutics agents and pharmaceutical Enzymes
Microbial therapeutics agents
Antibodies and Vaccines
Synthesis of commercial products (antibiotics and biopolymers)
Bioremediation and biomass utilization: microbial degradation of xenobiotics
Biosensors
Production of biofuels by using different biotechnological strategies
Transgenic organisms: GMOs
Applications of GMOs
Human gene therapy
Introduction and classification of Stem cells
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Textbooks and Reading Material
Textbooks.
Kumar, N. (Ed.). (2022). Biotechnology and crop improvement: tissue culture and transgenic
approaches. 1st Edition. CRC Press.
Sibi, G. (2022). Environmental Biotechnology: Fundamentals to Modern Techniques. 1st Edition. CRC
Press.
Acquaah, G. (2020). Principles of Plant Genetics and Breeding. 3rd Edition. Wiley.
Baltz, R. H., Demain, A. L. and Davies, J. E. (2010). Manual of Industrial Microbiology and
Biotechnology. 3rd Edition. American Society for Microbiology (ASM)Press, Washington, DC, USA.
Hou C.
T. and Shaw, J-F. (2008). Biocatalysis and Bioenergy. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New
Jersey, USA. Smith J. E., Biotechnology, 3rd Edition, Cambridge University Press (2006)
Dominic, W.S.W. (2018). The ABCs of Gene Cloning. 3rd Edition. Springer International Publishing.
Teaching Learning Strategies
Class lecture
Class Discussions
Class Tutorials
Assignments: Types and Number with Calendar
1 Quiz in 4th Week of 5 marks
st
2nd Quiz in 10th Week of 5 marks
3rd Quiz in 14th Week of 5 marks
1st Assignment in 8th Week of 10 marks
Assessment
Sr. No. Elements Weightage Details
1 Midterm 35% Written Assessment at the mid-point of the semester.
Assessment
2 Formative 25% Continuous assessment includes: Classroom
Assessment participation, assignments, presentations, viva voce,
attitude and behavior, hands-on-activities, short tests,
projects, practical, reflections, readings, quizzes etc.
3 Final 40% Written Examination at the end of the semester. It is
Assessment mostly in the form of a test, but owing to the nature of the
course the teacher may assess their students based on term
paper, research proposal development, field work and
report writing etc.
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