course module of agricultural biotechnology

1. PUNJAB COLLEGE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION
COURSE MODULE
Class : B.Sc. (Biotechnology) Name of Teacher : Ajinder Ahluwalia
Subject Code: BSBT 307 (4+0) Semester: V (2010-11)
Subject Name: Agricultural Biotechnology Assignments : Two
Class Tests : Two
Total Lectures : 49
Objectives: Agricultural biotechnology deals with utility of biotechnology in various processes of agriculture. It takes
plant biotechnology, transgenic, environmental genetics, microbial inoculants and biosensors for improvement over
traditional agricultural practices to enhance productivity both qualitatively and quantitatively. The students will be given
insight in to these aspects to enhance their theoretical as well as practical capabilities.
.Sr. TOPICS TO BE COVERED No. of ASSIGN. CLASS
NO. lectures TEST
1. Introduction : Plant biotechnology 2
2. Biological control 1
3. Diagnostics in agriculture 2
4. bioremediation 1
5. Transformation techniques: Physical methods 4
6. Agrobacterium mediated transformation 2
7. Transgenics: Basic concepts 2
8. Use of suitable promoters and reporters 2
9. Gene silencing 4
10. Transgenic plants: a)fungal and bacterial resistance 1
11. b) viral resistance 1
12. c) herbicide resistance 1
13. d) draught and abiotic stress resistance 1
14. Class test 1
15. Assignment 1
16. Environmental genetics : Degradative plasmids 2
17. Release of GEM in environment 1
18. Microbial inoculants: Biofertilizers 2
19. Biopesticides 1
20. Bioinsecticide 1
21. Bioherbicides 1
22. Nitrogen fixation: Basic concepts, nif genes and regulation 4
23. Scope in crop improvement 2
24. Modification of nitrogen fixing capabilites 1
Class test 1
25. Assignment 1
26. Introduction to Biosensors: Basic concept and application 2
27. Application to environmental samples 1
28. Introduction to biochips and application 2
Total hours 45 2 2
I st hourly, 2nd hourly and mid- semester examination will be held as per schedule (To be fixed).
Assignments will be submitted on the fixed date and time, otherwise the internal assessment will be affected.
Performance in the class will be added to your overall score.

2. Criteria for Internal Assessment Marks
Presentation 5
Assignments 5
Ist hr Test 5
2nd hr Test 5
Mid-semester test (MST) 20
Total Internal Assessment 40
Books Recommended:
1. Agricultural biotechnology by Arie Altman, Marcel dekker,inc. (2001).
2. Biochemistry and molecular biology of plants: edited by Buchanan b.b., gruissem W and Jones RL(2000).
3. Comprehensive biotechnology vol.1-4:M.Y.Young, pergamon press
4. Microbial biotechnology: Channarayaapa, university press, Hyderabad, 2003.
5. Commercial biosensor: Grahm ramsay, john wiley & sons.
6. Various research and reviews journals like nature tec.
Presentation topics
1. Gene silencing and antisense technology in agriculture.
2. Transformation methods (both direct and indirect).
3. Application of Agrobacterium in plant biotechnology.
4. Bioremediation
5. Biofertilizers and discuss its advantages and drawbacks.
6. Biopesticides and bioinsecticides explain its importance and drawbacks.
7. Herbicide resistance in plants.
8. Various vectors for production of transgenic plants.
9. Various promoter/ reporter systems with general gene construct.
10. Abiotic stress resistance in plants.
11. Fungal, bacterial and viral resistance in plants. Explain adverse effects.
12. Bioherbicides.
13. Nitrogen fixation
14. Role of GEM and its adverse effects.
15. List and explain various degradative plasmids.
16. Ribozymes in plant biotechnology.
17. Molecular pharming in plants.
18. Biodegradable plastics.
19. Biosensors

3. 20. Role of biosensors in agriculture and environment.
List of assignment topics
1. Transformation. Its various types in brief.
2. Explain physical transformation techniques in detail.
3. Explain brief of agrobacterium tumifaciens and its importance.
4. Explain agrobacterium mediated transformation.
5. Bioremediation and its various types.
6. Explain transgenic with suitable examples in agriculture.
7. Gene constructs.
8. Various promoters and reporters.
9. T- herbicide resistance in plants.
10. Gene silencing with suitable examples.
11. T- fungal, bacterial, viral resistant plants.
12. Explain biofertilizers and bioherbicides.
13. Explain the importance of GEM.
14. Degradative plasmids and its importance.
15. Biopesticides and bioinsecticides.
16. Brief mechanism of nitrogen fixation.
17. Modification of nitrogen fixing capabilities.
18. Biosensors and importance in agriculture.
19. Biochips
20. Drought and abiotic stress resistance in plants.