GUJARAT UNIVERSITY

Syllabus for First Year B.Sc. BIOTECHNOLOGY

SEMESTER I & II
EFFECTIVE FROM JUNE 2023

❖ First year of B. Sc. Biotechnology programme offers two theory papers of core
course BT-101 and BT-103; each paper of 100 marks and practical papers BT-102
and BT-104 of 100 marks each as prescribed here under.

❖ Each theory paper at the external examination shall be of 3 hours duration and
carry 70 marks. Each practical examination shall be of four hours duration. Total
marks for practical shall be 70 each.

❖ Internal assessment will be of 30 marks for each theory paper and 15 marks for
practical papers.

❖ For each theory papers there will be four lectures of 55 minutes per week. For
practical there will be four lectures (two hours per practical) per week.

❖ Each theory paper is divided into 2 sections. Section I carrying questions from all
four units giving equal weightage to each unit, while setting question paper.
Question or its sub question including the options will be set from the same unit.
Section II will be of short question type covering contents of all four units.

❖ Practical batch for external exam shall consist of 25 to maximum 30 students.

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PROGRAMME OUTCOMES (POs)

• PO1 Understand the concepts of Biotechnology and demonstrate interdisciplinary

skills acquired.

• PO2 Demonstrate the laboratory skills in Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology,

and Environmental Biotechnology with an emphasis on technological aspects.

• PO3 Acquire knowledge and apply good laboratory and good manufacturing
practices in Biotech industries.

• PO4 Demonstrate communication skills, scientific writing, and data collection and
interpretation abilities through Biotechnology experiments in laboratory.

• PO5 Instilling knowledge and awareness on professional ethics, bioethical and

health issues, intellectual property rights and life-long learning through career-
oriented courses such as IPR, biosafety and bioethics.

PROGRAMME SPECIFIC OUTCOME (PSOs)

At the end of the B.Sc. program in Biotechnology, the students will be able to:

• PSO1 Show academic competence by understanding the basic concepts of major

areas of Biotechnology and diverse phenomena observed in nature and in daily life.

• PSO2 Gain thorough knowledge and develop interdisciplinary skills by detailed

study on applications of Biotechnology in various fields for the benefit of society.

• PSO3 Exhibit Personal and professional competence by applying appropriate tools

and techniques in biotechnology, to design and perform experiments proficiently by
end of the programme and become competent to pursue higher studies or join the
industry sector after completion of B.Sc.

• PSO4 Develop Research competence by acquiring ability to identify, formulate,

analyze and solve scientific problems during practical sessions and learn to carry
out experiments in areas of biotechnology such as Plant tissue culture
biotechnology, Animal biotechnology, Enzyme Technology and Bioinformatics.

• PSO5 Develop Entrepreneurial attitude by viewing biotechnology as a tool to

develop mind and critical attitude and logical reasoning that is prepared to serve in
diverse fields.

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 SEMESTER I
BT 101: Introduction to Biotechnology and Molecules of Life

COURSE CODE: BT 101

NO. OF CREDITS: 04
LEARNING HOURS: 04 PER WEEK

COURSE OUTCOMES (COS)

By the end of the course student should be able to:

• CO1 Understand the potential for vertical career growth in biotech-oriented

industries, service sectors and related avenues and study of basis of life

• CO2 Be cognizant about structure, functions, and significance of amino acids and
proteins

• CO3 Interpret the diversified structure and functions of Carbohydrates

• CO4 Differentiate the different classes and forms of lipids

Unit 1: Introduction to Biotechnology and Basis of Life Teaching Hours: 10

➢ Historical development, major areas/divisions of biotechnology, application and

scope of Biotechnology
➢ Nucleic Acids: Nucleoside and Nucleotides, Nitrogen bases (purines and
pyrimidines),
➢ Structure and Function of Nucleic Acid
➢ Types of Nucleic Acid (A-DNA, B-DNA, Z- DNA)
➢ Structure and Function of RNA (mRNA, rRNA, tRNA)

Unit 2: Amino Acids and Proteins Teaching Hours: 10

➢ Properties of amino acids (Stereoisomerism, zwitterion)

➢ Biological importance of amino acids
➢ Classification of amino acids based on "R" group
➢ Structure and organization of Proteins- Primary, Secondary (alpha helix-egg
albumin, beta sheet-keratin, triple helix-collagen, Tertiary (myoglobin) and
Quaternary (haemoglobin)
➢ Biological functions of proteins
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Unit 3: Carbohydrates Teaching Hours: 10

➢ Physical properties of Carbohydrates (Optical rotation),

➢ Chemical Properties of Carbohydrates (reducing and nonreducing, aldose and
ketose)
➢ Classification, Structures and Functions of Monosaccharides (glucose, fructose,
galactose, ribose, deoxy ribose)
➢ Classification, Structures and Functions of Disaccharides (lactose, sucrose, maltose)
➢ Classification, Structures and Functions of Polysaccharides (starch, glycogen,
cellulose)

Unit 4: Lipids Teaching Hours: 10

➢ Properties of lipids and biological function of Lipids

➢ Classification of lipids (Simple, derived and complex)
➢ Saturated and Unsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA, PUFA)
➢ Structures and Functions of - Triacylglycerols, Phospholipids, Glycolipids,
Lipoproteins, Steroids (Cholesterol)

REFERENCE
No. Name Author
1. Biochemistry Berg JM, and Tymoczko TJ Stryer L
2. A textbook of Biochemistry Rama Rao AV
3. Biochemistry Donald Voet and Voet J
4. Lehninger’s Principles of Biochemistry Nelson DL and Cox MM
5. Fundamentals of Biochemistry Deb AC
6. “Biochemistry”, Fifth edition, W.H. Freeman Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymozko and
and Company, New York, 2002 LubertStryer
7. “Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry”. Robert K. Murray, Daryl K. Granner
McGraw Hill Education (Asia), 2006 and Victor W. Rodwell

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 BT-102: PRACTICALS
COURSE CODE: BT 102
NO. OF CREDITS: 04

1. Introduction to Biotechnology Lab and basic equipments used in it.

2. General practice and maintenance of a Biotechnology laboratory.
3. Basic calculations- Normality, Molarity, Molality percent solutions (v/v, w/v).
4. Calibration of pH meter.
5. Preparation of standard solutions: Normal, Molar and Percent (w/v and v/v)
solutions.
6. Introduction to Qualitative analysis of Carbohydrates.
7. Qualitative test of Monosaccharide –Glucose.
8. Qualitative test of Monosaccharide –Fructose.
9. Qualitative test of Disaccharide –Maltose.
10. Qualitative test of Disaccharide –Lactose.
11. Qualitative test of Disaccharide –Sucrose.
12. Precipitation and denaturation test of Proteins.

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 SEMESTER II
BT 103: Cell Biology

COURSE CODE: BT 103

NO. OF CREDITS: 04
LEARNING HOURS: 04 PER WEEK

COURSE OUTCOMES (COs)

The students should be able to know:

• CO1 Cell as a structural and functional unit of life, cellular composition, and
different life forms viz. prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and archaea.

• CO2 Comparing the cellular morphologies and, structure and functions of cell wall
and cell membrane.

• CO3 The structure and chemistry of cell and its sub-cellular components.

• CO4 Cellular processes linked to its growth, division, metabolism, and expression of
traits.

Unit 1: Introduction to Cell biology Teaching Hours: 10

➢ Overview on Origin of life and Last Universal ancestor

➢ History of Cell biology, Cell as basic unit of life, Cell theory, Protoplasm theory
➢ Evolution of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cell (Endosymbiont theory)
➢ Broad classification of cell types: Bacteria, Archaea (prokaryotic) and eukaryotic
cells and their similarities and differences.

Unit 2: Cell wall and Cell membrane Teaching Hours: 10

➢ Structure and functions of cell wall: Bacterial cell wall, Plant cell wall and Fungal cell
wall.
➢ Structure and functions of plasma membrane: Fluid mosaic model, exocytosis,
endocytosis, phagocytosis – vesicles and their importance in transport.
➢ Cytoskeleton structure and function – microtubules, microfilaments and intermediate
filament.

Unit 3: Structure, composition, and functions of cell organelles Teaching Hours: 10

➢ Structure and function of Nucleus and nuclear transport by NPC

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 ➢ Mitochondria as powerhouse of cell,
➢ Structure and function of Chloroplast,
➢ Types, structure and functions of Endoplasmic reticulum,
➢ Golgi apparatus and vesicular transport,
➢ Function and types of Ribosomes as exceptional organelle
➢ Lysosomes and Peroxisomes

Unit 4: Cell division Teaching Hours: 10

➢ Phases of Mitosis and Meiosis & its Significance

➢ Cell cycle phases, checkpoints and regulation
➢ Tumor: types, molecular basis, and developmental stages
➢ Types of Cell death: Apoptosis and Necrosis
➢ Cell senescence: Theories and significance

REFERENCE
No. Name Author
Becker’s World of the Cell.9th Edn (Global
1. Hardin J. and Bertoni G. (2017)
Edition). Pearson Education Ltd.
Karp's Cell and Molecular Biology –
2. Concepts and Experiments. 8th Edn. John Karp G., Iwasa J. and Masall W. (2015)
Wiley and Sons
The Cell – A Molecular Approach, 8th Edn.,
3. Sinauer Associates Inc., Oxford University Cooper G.M. (2019)
Press
Urry L.A. Cain M.L., Wasserman S.A.,
Campbell Biology in Focus. Pearson
4. Minorsky P.V., Jackson R.B. and Reece
Education
J.B. (2014)
Albert B., Hopkin K., Johnson A.D.,
Essential Cell Biology. W.W. Norton &
5. Morgan D., Raff M., Roberts K. and
Company
Walter P. (2018)
Raven and Johnson’s Biology. 9th Edn. Mc Mason K.A., Losos J.B. and Singer S.R.
6.
Graw Hill publications (2011)
Alberts B., Johnson B., Lewis J.,
Molecular biology of cell, 6th edn., Garland
7. Morgan D., Raff M., Roberts K. and
Science, Taylor and Francis
Walter P. (2015)

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 The Cell: A visual tour of the building block
8. of life, The University of Chicago Press and Challoner J. (2015)
Ivy Press Ltd.
Cell and Molecular Biology, 4th edition,
9. Gupta, P. K. (2015)
Rastogi Publications
Cell and Molecular Biology. John Wiley and
10. Sheeler P., Bianchi D.E.
Sons
11. Cell and Molecular Biology De Roberties

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 BT 104: PRACTICALS
COURSE CODE: BT 104
NO. OF CREDITS: 04

1) Demonstration of advance laboratory instruments (UV-Vis Spectrophotometer,

Centrifuge, Electrophoretic apparatus, and PCR).
2) Sterilization techniques and aseptic handling of microbial cultures.
3) Monochrome staining of yeast.
4) Study of bacteria using differential staining method (Gram staining).
5) Differential staining of Nucleus from human WBCs.
6) Study of different phases of Mitosis using Onion root tip.
7) Observation of cell motility using hanging drop method.
8) Microscopic observation of wet mount preparation from Fungi.
9) Estimation of total sugar using Cole's method.
10) Estimation of protein using Biuret method.