Curriculum
The curriculum for the Bachelor of Biotechnology program at Patel College of Science and Technology is meticulously designed to provide students with a solid foundation in both theoretical and applied aspects of biotechnology. The program spans eight semesters, ensuring a progressive and comprehensive learning experience.
Each semester combines core science subjects, departmental electives, laboratory sessions, and capstone projects to ensure holistic development. Below is a detailed breakdown of all courses offered across the duration of the program:
| Semester | Course Code | Course Title | Credit Structure (L-T-P-C) | Pre-requisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIO101 | Basic Biology | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | CHE101 | Chemistry I | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | MAT101 | Mathematics I | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | PHY101 | Physics I | 3-0-0-3 | - |
| 1 | BIO102 | Basic Biology Lab | 0-0-3-1.5 | - |
| 1 | CHE102 | Chemistry Lab I | 0-0-3-1.5 | - |
| 2 | BIO201 | Molecular Biology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO101, CHE101 |
| 2 | CHE201 | Organic Chemistry | 3-0-0-3 | CHE101 |
| 2 | MAT201 | Mathematics II | 3-0-0-3 | MAT101 |
| 2 | PHY201 | Physics II | 3-0-0-3 | PHY101 |
| 2 | BIO202 | Molecular Biology Lab | 0-0-3-1.5 | BIO101, CHE101 |
| 3 | BIO301 | Genetics | 3-0-0-3 | BIO201, MAT201 |
| 3 | CHE301 | Physical Chemistry | 3-0-0-3 | CHE201, MAT201 |
| 3 | BIO302 | Genetics Lab | 0-0-3-1.5 | BIO301 |
| 3 | BIO303 | Biotechnology Fundamentals | 3-0-0-3 | BIO201, CHE201 |
| 4 | BIO401 | Recombinant DNA Technology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO301, BIO303 |
| 4 | CHE401 | Biochemistry | 3-0-0-3 | CHE201 |
| 4 | BIO402 | Recombinant DNA Lab | 0-0-3-1.5 | BIO401 |
| 4 | BIO403 | Bioprocessing Principles | 3-0-0-3 | BIO303, CHE401 |
| 5 | BIO501 | Microbiology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO201, CHE201 |
| 5 | BIO502 | Biotechnology Applications | 3-0-0-3 | BIO401 |
| 5 | BIO503 | Industrial Biotechnology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO403 |
| 5 | BIO504 | Microbiology Lab | 0-0-3-1.5 | BIO501 |
| 6 | BIO601 | Pharmaceutical Biotechnology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO502, BIO503 |
| 6 | BIO602 | Environmental Biotechnology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO503 |
| 6 | BIO603 | Synthetic Biology | 3-0-0-3 | BIO501, BIO502 |
| 7 | BIO701 | Advanced Bioinformatics | 3-0-0-3 | BIO502, MAT201 |
| 7 | BIO702 | Protein Engineering | 3-0-0-3 | BIO401 |
| 7 | BIO703 | Capstone Project I | 0-0-6-3 | BIO502, BIO503 |
| 8 | BIO801 | Advanced Biotechnology Topics | 3-0-0-3 | BIO701, BIO702 |
| 8 | BIO802 | Capstone Project II | 0-0-6-3 | BIO703 |
| 8 | BIO803 | Internship | 0-0-0-12 | All previous courses |
Each course in the curriculum has specific learning objectives and relevance to real-world applications. Here are detailed descriptions of several advanced departmental electives:
- Pharmacogenomics: This course explores how genetic variations affect drug response, focusing on personalized medicine approaches. Students learn about genotyping techniques, pharmacokinetics, and ethical implications of genetic testing in therapeutics.
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology: Students gain proficiency in using computational tools for analyzing biological data sets, including sequence alignment, structural modeling, and database management systems relevant to biotechnology.
- Synthetic Biology: This course introduces students to designing and constructing biological systems from scratch. Topics include genetic circuits, biomolecular engineering, and synthetic pathways for drug synthesis.
- Bioreactor Design and Optimization: Students study the principles of designing and optimizing bioreactors used in industrial biotechnology applications such as fermentation, enzyme production, and biofuel generation.
- Regulatory Affairs in Biotechnology: This course covers regulatory frameworks governing biotechnology products, including approval processes, documentation requirements, and compliance strategies for global markets.
- Bioprocessing and Downstream Purification: Focuses on techniques for extracting, purifying, and characterizing biomolecules from biological systems. Includes chromatography, filtration, and mass spectrometry applications.
- Environmental Microbiology: Students explore microbial communities in environmental contexts, including bioremediation, biofuel production, and ecological impacts of microorganisms on ecosystems.
- Protein Structure and Function: Examines the relationship between protein structure and function, with emphasis on computational modeling and experimental techniques used in drug discovery.
- Stem Cell Biology: Covers current developments in stem cell research, including therapeutic applications, ethical considerations, and regenerative medicine technologies.
- Drug Delivery Systems: Students investigate various methods of delivering drugs to target tissues, focusing on nanotechnology-based delivery mechanisms and their clinical applications.
The department emphasizes project-based learning as a cornerstone of the academic experience. Mini-projects are undertaken during semesters 4 through 7, allowing students to apply theoretical concepts in real-world scenarios. These projects are typically conducted in small teams under faculty mentorship, encouraging collaborative problem-solving and innovation.
The final-year thesis/capstone project is a significant component of the program. Students select a topic aligned with their interests and career goals, working closely with a faculty advisor to conduct original research or develop an innovative biotechnology solution. Projects are evaluated based on research methodology, presentation quality, impact assessment, and peer review outcomes.