Comprehensive Course Listing
The following table outlines the entire curriculum for the Biotechnology program across all eight semesters:
| Semester | Course Code | Course Title | Credits (L-T-P-C) | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIO101 | Introduction to Biology | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 1 | CHE101 | Chemistry for Biotechnology | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 1 | MAT101 | Mathematics I | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 1 | PHY101 | Physics for Biotechnology | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 1 | COM101 | Communication Skills | 2-0-0-2 | - |
| 1 | BIO102 | Biology Laboratory | 0-0-3-1 | BIO101 |
| 1 | CHE102 | Chemistry Laboratory | 0-0-3-1 | CHE101 |
| 2 | BIO201 | Molecular Biology | 3-1-0-4 | BIO101 |
| 2 | CHE201 | Organic Chemistry | 3-1-0-4 | CHE101 |
| 2 | MAT201 | Mathematics II | 3-1-0-4 | MAT101 |
| 2 | PHY201 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 3-1-0-4 | PHY101 |
| 2 | BIO202 | Molecular Biology Laboratory | 0-0-3-1 | BIO201 |
| 3 | BIO301 | Genetics and Genomics | 3-1-0-4 | BIO201 |
| 3 | CHE301 | Physical Chemistry | 3-1-0-4 | CHE201 |
| 3 | BIO302 | Genetics and Genomics Laboratory | 0-0-3-1 | BIO301 |
| 3 | MAT301 | Probability and Statistics | 3-1-0-4 | MAT201 |
| 3 | ENG301 | Engineering Principles | 3-1-0-4 | - |
| 4 | BIO401 | Cell Biology | 3-1-0-4 | BIO201 |
| 4 | BIO402 | Cell Biology Laboratory | 0-0-3-1 | BIO401 |
| 4 | BIO403 | Immunology | 3-1-0-4 | BIO201 |
| 4 | BIO404 | Immunology Laboratory | 0-0-3-1 | BIO403 |
| 5 | BIO501 | Bioprocess Engineering | 3-1-0-4 | BIO401 |
| 5 | BIO502 | Bioprocess Engineering Laboratory | 0-0-3-1 | BIO501 |
| 5 | BIO503 | Genetic Engineering | 3-1-0-4 | BIO301 |
| 5 | BIO504 | Genetic Engineering Laboratory | 0-0-3-1 | BIO503 |
| 6 | BIO601 | Bioinformatics | 3-1-0-4 | MAT301 |
| 6 | BIO602 | Bioinformatics Laboratory | 0-0-3-1 | BIO601 |
| 6 | BIO603 | Environmental Biotechnology | 3-1-0-4 | BIO401 |
| 6 | BIO604 | Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory | 0-0-3-1 | BIO603 |
| 7 | BIO701 | Biomedical Engineering | 3-1-0-4 | BIO401 |
| 7 | BIO702 | Biomedical Engineering Laboratory | 0-0-3-1 | BIO701 |
| 7 | BIO703 | Nanobiotechnology | 3-1-0-4 | BIO501 |
| 7 | BIO704 | Nanobiotechnology Laboratory | 0-0-3-1 | BIO703 |
| 8 | BIO801 | Capstone Project | 0-0-6-6 | BIO501 |
The department emphasizes project-based learning, which is integrated throughout the curriculum. Students begin working on mini-projects in their third year and progress to a comprehensive capstone project in their final year. The structure of these projects includes:
- Initial problem identification and literature review
- Experimental design and methodology development
- Data collection and analysis
- Report writing and presentation preparation
- Presentation to faculty and industry mentors
Evaluation criteria include originality of approach, scientific rigor, technical competency, and communication skills. Students are paired with faculty mentors based on their interests and the availability of ongoing research projects.
Detailed Course Descriptions for Advanced Departmental Electives
Several advanced departmental elective courses are offered to provide students with deeper insights into specialized areas within biotechnology:
Bioinformatics
This course introduces students to the computational tools and techniques used in analyzing biological data. Topics include sequence alignment, genome assembly, protein structure prediction, and database management. Students gain hands-on experience using software packages like BLAST, ClustalW, and R for data analysis.
Environmental Biotechnology
This elective explores how biological systems can be harnessed to solve environmental problems. It covers topics such as bioremediation, waste management, biofuel production, and sustainable agriculture. Students engage in laboratory experiments involving microbial degradation of pollutants and optimization of bioprocesses.
Biomedical Engineering
This course bridges biology and engineering principles to develop medical devices and therapies. Students learn about biomaterials, tissue engineering, medical imaging, and bioinstrumentation. Practical sessions involve designing and testing prototypes for various biomedical applications.
Nanobiotechnology
Focusing on the intersection of nanotechnology and biology, this course examines how nanoscale materials can be used in diagnostics, drug delivery, and biosensors. Students explore the synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles and their applications in biological systems.
Computational Biology
This advanced elective combines principles from computer science and biology to analyze complex biological data. Students learn algorithms for gene prediction, phylogenetic analysis, and functional genomics. The course includes programming assignments using Python and R to process large datasets.
Marine Biotechnology
This course focuses on the application of marine organisms in biotechnology. Topics include marine biodiversity, bioactive compounds, aquaculture technologies, and sustainable resource utilization. Students participate in fieldwork and laboratory experiments related to marine ecosystems.
Genetic Engineering
This course delves into modern techniques for manipulating genetic material. It covers gene cloning, PCR, CRISPR/Cas9 systems, and transgenic organism development. Practical sessions involve molecular cloning and transformation procedures in bacterial and plant systems.
Cell Biology
Students study the structure and function of cells at various levels, from organelles to cellular processes. The course covers cell signaling, membrane transport, cytoskeleton dynamics, and cell cycle regulation. Laboratory sessions include microscopy techniques and cell culture methods.
Immunology
This elective explores the immune system's mechanisms and its role in health and disease. Topics include antigen recognition, antibody production, immune response pathways, and immunotherapy development. Students engage in experiments related to immune cell isolation and functional assays.
Bioprocess Engineering
This course focuses on the design and operation of biotechnological processes. It covers fermentation principles, bioreactor design, downstream processing, and scale-up strategies. Students learn to optimize production conditions for various biological products.