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Karnataka Examinations Authority, Bengaluru - 560012
PGCET: 2024 – 25
Number of MCQ questions for PGCET is 100. Each question carry one mark.
Syllabus for PGCET in Biotechnology
(1)Engineering mathematics
(i)Linear Algebra: Matrices and determinants, Systems of linear equations, Eigen values and
Eigen vectors.
(ii)Calculus: Limit, continuity and differentiability, Partial derivatives, Maxima and minima,
Sequences and series, Test for convergence, Fourier Series.
(iii)Differential Equations: Linear and nonlinear first order ODEs, higher order ODEs with
constant coefficients, Cauchy's and Euler's equations, Laplace transforms, PDE- Laplace,
heat and wave equations.
(iv)Probability and Statistics: Mean, median, mode and standard deviation, Random variables,
Poisson, normal and binomial distributions, Correlation and regression analysis.
(v)Numerical Methods: Solution of linear and nonlinear algebraic equations, Integration of
trapezoidal and Simpson's rule, Single and multistep methods for differential equations.
(2) C Programming for problem solving
(i)Overview of C: Basic structure of C program, executing a C program, variable and data
types, operators and expressions. Managing input and output operations, conditional
branching and loops. Example programs. Finding rots of quadratic equation, computation of
binomial coefficients, plotting of Pascal’s triangle.
(ii)Arrays: Arrays (1D, 2D), character arrays and strings, basic algorithms, searching and
sorting algorithms (linear search, bubble sort and selection sort).
(3) Technical English
(i) Introduction Listening Skills and Phonetics: Introduction to phonetics, sounds
mispronounced, silent and non-silent letters, Homophones and homonyms, aspiration,
pronunciation of “The” words ending with age. Use of articles – indefinite and definite
articles.
(ii) Identifying Common Errors in writing and speaking English: Subject verb agreement
(concord rules with exercises), common errors in subject verb agreement, noun-pronoun
agreement. Adjective, adverb, verb, sequence of tenses, misplaced modifiers, Articles and
prepositions, common errors in conjunctions. Gender, singular and plural.
(4)Microbiology
Fundamentals of Microbiology; Classification of microorganisms; diversity of
Microorganisms; Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure; Microbial nutrition, growth and
control; Microbial metabolism (aerobic and anaerobic respiration, photosynthesis); Nitrogen
fixation; Chemical basis of mutations and mutagens; Microbial genetics (plasmids,
transformation, transduction, conjugation); Microbial diversity and characteristic features;
Viruses; Microbial Mechanisms of Pathogenicity; Antimicrobial Drugs ; Microbes and
human Welfare.
(5)Biochemistry
Amino Acids, Peptides, Carbohydrates, Lipids: Structure, Function, Methods of
Characterization, Separation Techniques, classification, Clinical Significance.: Nucleic Acids
and Polynucleotides, Biomolecules and their conformation; Weak inter-molecular
interactions in biomacromolecules; Chemical and functional nature of enzymes; Kinetics of
single substrate and bisubstrate enzyme catalyzed reactions; Bioenergetics; Metabolism
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(Glycolysis, TCA and Oxidative phosphorylation); Membrane transport and pumps; Cell
cycle and cell growth control; Cell signalling and signal transduction.
(6) Molecular Biology and Genetics
Basics of Genomics and Proteomics; Molecular structure of genes and chromosomes; DNA
replication and control; Transcription and its control; Translational processes; Regulatory
controls in prokaryotes and eukaryotes; Mendelian inheritance; Gene interaction;
Complementation; Linkage, recombination and chromosome mapping; Extra chromosomal
inheritance; Chromosomal variation; Population genetics; Transposable elements; Molecular
basis of genetic diseases and applications.
(7)Process Biotechnology
Bioprocess technology for the production of cell biomass and primary/secondary metabolites,
such as baker's yeast, ethanol, citric acid, amino acids and antibiotics etc.; Microbial
production, purification and bioprocess application(s) of industrial enzymes; Production and
purification of recombinant proteins on a large scale; Chromatographic and membrane based
bioseparation methods; Immobilization of enzymes and cells and their application for
bioconversion processes; Aerobic and anaerobic biological processes for stabilization of solid
/ liquid wastes; Bioremediation.
(8)Chemical/Bioprocess Engineering
Stoichiometry and chemical equations. Units, dimensions and conversions; Phase rule; gas-
liquid and vapour-liquid systems; Material and energy balance for non-reacting and reacting
systems; First and Second laws of thermodynamics; Laminar and turbulent flows in fluids;
Velocity and pressure drop in pipes; Stoke's law and its applications; Fundamentals of Heat
Transfer; Mass transfer coefficient ; Theories of mass transfer.
Kinetics of microbial growth, substrate utilization and product formation; Simple structured
models; Sterilization of air and media; Batch, fed-batch and continuous processes; Aeration
and agitation. Mass transfer in bioreactors; Rheology of fermentation fluids; Scale-up
concepts; Design of fermentation media; various types of microbial and enzyme reactors;
Instrumentation in bioreactors.
(9)Immunology
The origin of immunology; Inherent immunity; Humoral and cell mediated immunity;
Primary and secondary lymphoid organ; Antigen; B and T cells and Macrophages; Major
histocompatibility complex (MHC); Antigen processing and presentation; Synthesis of
antibody and secretion; Molecular basis of antibody diversity; Polyclonal and monoclonal
antibody; Complement; Antigen-antibody reaction; Regulation of immune response; Immune
tolerance; Hyper sensitivity; Autoimmunity; Graft versus host reaction.
(10)Recombinant DNA Technology
Restriction and modification enzymes; Vectors: plasmid, bacteriophage and other viral
vectors, cosmids, Ti plasmid, yeast artificial chromosome; cDNA and genomic DNA library;
Gene isolation; Gene cloning; Expression of cloned gene; Transposons and gene targeting;
DNA labeling; DNA sequencing; Polymerase chain reactions; DNA fingerprinting; Southern
and northern blotting; In-situ hybridization; RAPD; RFLP; Site-directed mutagenesis; Gene
transfer technologies; Gene therapy; biosafety measures and regulations.
(11)Bioinformatics:
Major Bioinformatics resources (NCBI, EBI, ExPASy); Sequence and structure databases;
Sequence analysis (biomolecular sequence file formats, scoring matrices, sequence alignment,
phylogeny); Genomics and Proteomics (Large scale genome sequencing strategies;
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Comparative genomics; Understanding DNA microarrays and protein arrays); Molecular
modelling and simulations (basic concepts including concept of force fields).
(12)Agricultural Biotechnology:
Micropropagation; Genetic engineering for qualitative and quantitative improvement of plant
productivities; Protection of traditional knowledge, biodiversity and plant breeders' rights;
Germ plasm conservation.
(13)Food Biotechnology
Determining Microorganisms and their Products in Foods; Food Spoilage : Spoilage of Fruits
and Vegetables, Microbial Spoilage of Vegetables, Spoilage of Fruits, Spoilage of Fresh and
Processed Meats, Poultry, and Seafood, Spoilage of Miscellaneous Foods; Food Preservation,
Food Irradiation; Food Preservation; food and beverage fermentation, enzymes and food
processing, sweeteners, food waste; Microbial food products, Unconventional food products,
GMOs and GM Foods, rapid diagnostics, bioprocess technology for food applications , public
acceptance and safety of new biotechnology foods.
(14)Environmental Biotechnology
Introduction to ecology and ecosystem; Environmental pollution (water, soil and air), Waste
water (sewage and industrial effluents) treatments; Solid waste management: landfills,
composting, recycling; and processing of organic residues; biodegradation of xenobiotic
compounds.
