Savitribai Phule Pune University
(Formerly University of Pune)
Syllabus for Ph.D. (PET) Entrance Exam : Biotechnology
Research Methodology
1) Foundation of Research: Meaning, Objectives, Motivation, Utility, Characteristics and
Types. Characteristics of scientific methods - understanding the language of research -
Concept, Construct, definition, Variable. Scientific Research Process. Steps of research,
methods of research, research ethics.
2) Problem Identification & Formulation: definition and formulating the research problem,
Necessity of defining the problem, Importance of literature review in defining a
problem. Literature survey: primary and secondary; web sources; critical literature
review. Research Question - Investigation Question - Hypothesis testing - Qualities of a
good hypothesis - Null hypothesis & Alternative Hypothesis
3) Research Design: Concept and Importance in Research - Features of a good research
design - Exploratory Research Design - Concept, Types and uses, Descriptive Research
Design - concept, types and uses. Experimental Design - Concept of Independent &
Dependent variables. Biased and unbiased research design
4) Qualitative and Quantitative Research: Qualitative - Quantitative Research - Concept of
measurement, causality, generalization, replication. Merging the two approaches.
Biological data: Types of data - Qualitative data, Quantitative data
5) Data Collection and analysis: Execution of the research - Observation and Collection of
data - Methods of data collection, hypothesis-testing - Generalization and
Interpretation.
6) Measurement: Concept of measurement - what is measured? Problem in measurement
in research - Validity and Reliability. Levels of measurement - Nominal, Ordinal, Interval,
Ratio.
7) Sampling, data collection and analysis: Concept of Statistical population, Sample,
Sampling Frame, Sampling Error, Sample size, Non Response. Characteristics of a good
sample, sample distribution, Probability and Probability distributions. Determining size
of the sample - Practical considerations in sampling and sample size. Data analysis -
Univariate analysis (frequency tables, bar charts, pie charts, percentages), Bivariate
analysis - Cross tabulations and Chi-square test including testing hypothesis of
association including Chi test, correlation and regression analysis.
8) Interpretation of Data and Paper Writing: Graphical interpretation of data, Layout of a
Research Paper, Journals, Ethical issues related to publishing, Plagiarism and Self-
Plagiarism.
9) Use of tools / techniques for referencing and writing: methods to search required
information effectively, PubMed, effective literature search using Entrez, Google
Scholar. Software for paper formating like MSOffice, software for detection of
Plagiarism. Basics of internet and e-mailing. Reporting and Thesis writing - Structure and
components of scientific reports - Types of report - Technical reports and thesis -
Significance - Different steps in the preparation - Layout, Structure and Language of
typical reports - Illustrations and tables - Bibliography, referencing and footnotes -
Reproduction of published material - citation and acknowledgement - Oral presentation
- Planning - Preparation - Practice - Making presentation - Use of visual aids - Importance
of effective communication.
10) Application of results and ethics: Environmental impacts - Ethical issues - ethical
committees - Commercialization - Copy right - royalty - Intellectual property rights and
patent law - Falsification and verification.
11) Reasoning and Mental ability: Analogy, Logical reasoning and aptitude, Classification,
Series, Coding-Decoding, Direction Sense, Representation Through Venn Diagrams,
Mathematical Operations, Arithmetical Reasoning, Inserting the Missing Character,
Number, Ranking and Time Sequence Test, Eligibility Test, Representation through Venn-
diagrams, Number & symbols ordering, Comprehension questions, Statement &
assumptions, Statement & conclusions, Statement & actions.
Books recommended
1. Research Methodology-C R Kothari
2. Research Methodology: An Introduction-Stuart Melville and Wayne
3. Practical Research Methodology-Catherine Dawson
4. Research Methods for Science Michael P Marder
5. Research Methodology: Principle, Methods and Practices-Joshua [Link] and Hina
Rashid
6. Research Methodology: A Step By Step Guide for beginners- Ranjeet Kumar
7. How to Write and publish a Research Paper- Seventh Edition-Robert Day And Barbara
Gastle
8. Introduction to Biostatistics and Research Methods- P S S Sunder Rao
9. Research Methodology and Scientific Writings- C George Thomas
References:
1) Garg, B. [Link] R. Agrawal, F. and Agrawal U. K., 2002. An Introduction to Research
Methodology, RBSA Publishers
2) Kothati C. R.,1990. Research Methodology: Methods And Techniques New Age
International 418p.
3) Sinha S. C. and Dhiman A. K., 2002. Research Methodology Ess Ess Publications 2
Columes.
4) Trochim W. M. K., 2005. Research Methods: The Concise Knowledge Base Atomic Dog
Publishing. 270P
5) Wadehra B. L., 2000. Law Relating to Patents, Trade Marks, Copyright Design and
Geographical Indications, Universal Law Publishing
Additional reading
1) Anthony M. Graziano A. M. And Raulin M. L., 2009. Research Methods: A Process Of
Inquiry Allyn And Bacon
2) Carlos C. M., 2000. Intellectual Property Rights The WTO and Developing Countries: The
Trips Agreement and Policy Options, Zed Books New Yorks
3) Coley S. M., and Scheinberg C.A., 1990, “Proposal Writing”, Sage Publications
4) Fink A., 2009. Conduction Research Literature Reviews: From the Internet to Paper. Sage
Publications
5) Leedy, P. D. and Ormrod J. E., 2004 Practical Research: Planning and Design, Prentice
Hall
6) Satarkar S. V., 2000. Intellectual Property Rights and Copy Rights Ess Ess Publications
7) Website for guidelines on experimentation animals (Institutional Animal Ethics
Committee as per CPCSEA) : [Link]
8) Website for guidelines on Indian Biosafety Safety Rules & Regulations :
[Link]
9) Website for guidelines on research using human subjects (Institutional Human Ethics
Committee as per ICMR) : [Link]
Subject Concerned Syllabus
Biotechnology
Sr. No. Name of the course Topics
1 Biochemistry Enzymology
Metabolism
Bioenergetics
Thermodynamics
Macromolecule chemistry
Stereochemistry
Plant hormone synthesis pathways
Biochemical & Biophysical Techniques
2 Cell Biology Organelles
Cell cycle and apoptosis
Cytoskeleton
Cell Membrane and Signaling
Differentiation
Plant cell biology
3. Molecular Biology Central Dogma
Replication
Transcription
Translation
Post Translational Modifications
DNA damage and repair
Recombination and transposition
Genome structure and organization
Organelle genomes
Genetic analyses; Cot curve
Reverse transcription
4 Immunology Innate & Acquired Immune system
B cell, T cell ontogeny and trafficking
Antibody structure and classification
TCR and BCR gene rearrangement
Antigen processing and presentation (MHC)
Complement activation
Hypersensitivity
Autoimmunity
Techniques in cellular Immunology
5 Microbiology Classification of microbes
Cellular Structure, growth and propagation
Nutrition and cellular metabolism
Antimicrobial agents
Operon system
Microbial metabolism
Biofilm&Quorum sensing
Plant and animal pathogens
Multi Drug resistance
Fungal Biotechnology
Applied microbiology
Techniques in Microbiology
6. Virology Classification of plant and animal viruses
Propagation of bacteriophages
Morphology and ultrastructure of viruses
Replication of viruses
Retroviruses
Viral vectors
Viral vaccines
7. Genetics Mendelian& non mendeliangenetics
Mutation and chromosomal aberration
Dosage compensation
Linkage maps
Population genetics
Genotoxicity
Plant and microbial genetics
8. Bio-informatics Introduction to biological databases
Python , C++ languages
Homology modelling
Gene prediction & annotation
Molecular Docking
Phylogeny
9 Biostatistics T-test
Anova
Correlation and regression
Distribution
Mean, median , mode, standard deviation,
error
Probability
Advanced courses (30%)
10 Animal Tissue Culture Establishment of cell lines
Primary, transformed and non-transformed
cells
Cell-cell ; cell-matrix adhesion
Adherent and Non adherent culture
Cell synchronization and separation
Transfection
Media constituents
11 Plant Tissue Culture Callus culture
Suspension culture
Protoplast culture
Organ culture
Embryo genesis
Growth and development
Contaminants and problems
12 Genetic Engineering Vectors: Expression and cloning strategies
DNA modifying enzymes
Restriction endonucleases
Induction of expression
Library construction
Shuttle and Phage vectors
DNA markers
miRNAs/siRNAs
13 Genomics and Proteomics Sequencing
Microarray
Human genomics
Structural genomics
Functional Genomics
Protein Technology
Mass Spectrometry
14 Biochemical and Biophysical Techniques IR
NMR
CD
Fluorescence/Absorbance Spectroscopy
Microscopy
Separation techniques
Radioactivity