Cell and Molecular Biology

Paper Code: 
BOT121
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

 

Course Objectives:

This course will enable the students to –

  1. To provide knowledge about the intricacies of life processes at the molecular and cellular level.
  2. To impart knowledge in theory and practice about cell structure, organelles and their functions, molecules like proteins and nucleic acids

 

Course Outcomes (COs):

     Course

Course Outcome

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Paper Code

Paper Title

BOT121

Cell and Molecular Biology

CO1: Students will understand the structures and purposes of basic components of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, especially macromolecules, membranes, and organelles

CO2: Students will understand how these cellular components are used to generate and utilize energy in cells

CO3: Students will understand responses to environmental or physiological changes, or alterations of cell function brought about by mutation.

CO4:Describe the roles of checkpoints, Cyclin, Cdks, and MPF in cell cycle control

 

Class lectures

Seminars

Tutorials

Group discussions and Workshops

Question preparation

 

 

 

Class test, Semester end examinations, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, Assignments, Presentation, Individual and group projects

 

 

Unit I: 
Fundamentals of Cell

Structural organization of cell, difference between plant and animal cell; prokaryote and eukaryote cell, types of bonds and specialized plant cell types.

Cell wall: Basic architecture of cell wall and biogenesis.

Plasma membrane: Structure, models, functions; ion carriers, channels and pumps

Unit II: 
Chloroplast, Mitochondria, Plasmodesmata,Plant vacoule, Ribosomes

Chloroplast: Structure, biogenesis, genome organization and nucleochloroplastic interactions

Mitochondria: Structure, genome organization and biogenesis.

Plasmodesmata: Structure, functions, comparision with gap junctions.

Plant vacuole: Tonoplast membrane, vacuoles as multifunctional compartments, vacuoles as storage organelle.

Ribosomes: Structure, functions and biosynthesis.        

                                                                                                                          

Unit III: 
Nucleus

Structure, nuclear pore complex, nucleolus, packaging of DNA (nucleosome organization, solenoid model).

DNA: Structure, types (A, B and Z forms), replication, damage and repair mechanisms. RNA: Structure and types of RNA, transcription, RNA splicing, RNA editing.

                                                                                                                        

Unit IV: 
Other cellular organelles

Structure and functions of Golgi apparatus, lysosomes,   endoplasmic reticulum, microbodies

The cytoskeleton: organization of microtubules, microfilaments and intermediate filaments, cytoskeletal accessory proteins.

Protein sorting: Targeting of proteins into endoplasmic reticulum and chloroplast

Unit V: 
Cell Cycle

Regulation of cell cycle, role of cyclins and cyclin dependent kinases.Apoptosis and Programmed Cell Death: Cytokinesis and cell plate formation and Programmed Cell Death.

                                                                                                

Essential Readings: 
  • Alberts, B; Bray, D; Lewis, J; Raff, M; Roberts,K and Watson, JD. 1999. Molecular Biology of the Cell. Garland Publishing Inc., New York.
  • Buchanan, BB; Gruissem, W and Jones, RL. 2000. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants. American Society of Plant Physiologists. Maryland, USA.
  • De Robertis. Cell and Molecular Biology. Waverly International.
  • De, DN. 2000. Plant Cell Vacuoles: An Introduction. CSIRO Publication. Collingwood, Australia.
  • Karp and Gerald. Cell and Molecular Biology: Concepts and Experiments (3rd edition). John Wiley & Sons.
  • Kleinsmith, LJ and Kish, VM. 1995. Principles of Cell and Molecular Biology (2nd edition). Harper Collins College Publishers. New York, USA.
  • Krishnamurthy, KV. 2000. Methods in Cell Wall Cytochemistry. CRC Press,Boca Raton; Florida.
  • Lewin, B 2000. Genes VII. Oxford University Press, New York.
  • Lodish, H; Berk, A; Zipursky, SL; Matsudiara, P; Baltimore, D and Darnell, J. 2000. Molecular Cell Biology (4th edition). WH Freeman & Co., New York.
  • Nath, P. Molecular Insight in Plant Biology.
  • Rost, T et al. 1998. Plant Biology. Wordsworth Publishing Co. California, USA. Wolfe, SL. 1993. Molecular and Cellular Biology. Wordsworth Publishing Co. California, USA.
  • Weil, JH. 2003. Molecular Insight in Plant Biology. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd.

 

 

References: 
  • Khasim, SM. 2002. Botanical Microtechnique: Principles and Practice. Capital   
  • Publishing Co., New Delhi.
  • Protein Expression: A Practical Approach. Ed. Higgins, SJ and Hames, BD.
  • Oxford University Press
  • Malacinski, GM and Freifelder, D. Essentials of Molecular Biology III Ed.Jones & Barlett Publishers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Academic Year: