This is an achieved page. Please visit the new website at  or  you will be redirected automatically in seconds

 

Department of Plant Sciences
University of Colombo
P.O.Box 1490, Colombo 03
Sri Lanka

 Phone : +94(0)11 2585038
 Fax : +94(0)11 2503148
 Email: office@pts.cmb.ac.lk

• BT 2001: BIOSTATISTICS (15L/30P, 2C)

• BT 2002: EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS (15L, 1C)

• BT 2003: PRINCIPLES OF MICROBIOLOGY (15L/30P, 2C)

• BT 2004: TRANSPORT SYSTEMS IN PLANTS (15L, 1C)

• BT 2005: INTRODUCTORY PLANT BIOCHEMISTRY (15L, 1C)

• BT 2006: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY (15L, 1C)

• BT 2007: PLANT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (15L, 1C)

• BT 2008: PRACTICAL COURSE (30P, 1C)

Dependencies: None

Syllabus: Introduction to statistics; Description of data: Graphical forms, numerical forms; Probability and probability distributions: Introduction to probability, finding probability of simple and multiple events, random variables, probability distributions for discrete random variables (Binomial & Poisson distributions) and continuous random variables (Normal distribution); Sampling distributions: Random sampling, central limit theorem and sampling distributions for sample means; Statistical Inferences: Estimation, hypothesis testing; Inferences involving one population; Inferences involving two populations using independent and paired samples.

Assessment: End of semester written examination.

Suggested Reading: Statistical methods in Biology (Norman T.J. Bailey); General Statistics (Chase, W. and Brown, F.) 1992, 2 nd ed.; Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences (Weinberg, S., Goldberg, K.) 1990.

Back to top

Dependencies: BT 2001 recommended

Syllabus: Experiments and errors: What is an experiment? Why experimental designs are required?, variables, interactions, treatments and treatment effects, errors and effects of errors, how errors are minimized, situations not requiring experimental designs; Experimental Designs: How to use experimental designs, importance of selecting a design at planning, correct use of software for data analyses, interpretation of the results obtained from data analyses, details of selected experimental designs (CRD, RCBD, Lattice Design, and Latin Squire Design); Treatment arrangements: Arrangements in above designs (Ordinary, Factorial, Split plot, and Nested treatment arrangements); Comparison tests: Multiple Comparison tests (LSD, HSD, SNK, DMRT); Correlation & Regression: Correlation and regression, statistical significance of results; Introduction to Cluster and Factor Analyses; Surveys and survey designs: Use of statistics in surveys, questionnaires and sample selection; Presentation of results: How to present results of an investigation, use of SI units, scientific articles and presentations.

Assessment: End of semester theory examination.

Suggested Reading: Investigation by Experiment (Heath, O.V.S.) 1970; Biometry (Sokal & Rohlf) 2 nd ed.; Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research (Gomez and Gomez) 2 nd ed.; Statistical Methods in Agriculture and Experimental Biology (Mead and Curnow) 1987; How to Conduct Surveys (Fink and Kosecoff) 1985.

Back to top

Dependencies: BT 1005 recommended.

Syllabus: The main themes of microbiology: Microorganisms, main areas of microbiology, microbial evolutionary relationships, importance in environmental aspects, role in natural cycles, microorganisms and health, microbial growth curve, cell cycles, batch and continuous cultures, fermentation; Methods of handling and control of microorganisms: Laboratory handling and safety, sterilization and disinfection, enumeration, disposal of cultures, universal precautions in clinical laboratories, antiseptics and disinfectants, detergents and sanitizers, antibiotics and sulfa drugs; Microbial Ecology: Communities and ecosystems, universal distribution in biosphere, extreme environments, population interactions (Commensalism, Synergism, Mutualism, Competition, Amenalism, Predation, Parasitism), biogeochemical natural cycles, basics of soil biology, biomagnification, biodegradation, biological control, bacterial and viral pesticides; Microbe-Human interactions: Natural flora of human body, progress of an infection, size of an inoculum, mechanisms of invasion and establishment, signs and symptoms, body defense, portal of exit, epidemiology, reservoirs, nosocomial infection, etiology, immunity and allergic reactions; Introduction to microbial biotechnologies: Fermentation industry, technology & compatible work practices, environmental biotechnologies (solid & liquid waste treatment and drinking water, bioremediation, biomanipulation); Basics of Food Technology: Water activity, preservation, food infection & poisoning; Microbiology of Milk.

Assessment: End of semester theory examination and practical examination.

Suggested Reading: Principles of Microbiology (Atlas, R.M.); Microbiology (Sharma, P.D.).

Back to top

Dependencies: BT 1002 and BT 1006 are recommended.

Syllabus: Movement of water in plants: Roles of water in plants, structure and properties of water, water potential concept, movement of water in cells, measurement of water potential, osmotic potential and pressure potential; Water transport: Water in the soil, water uptake, ascent of sap, stomata and mechanism of stomatal movement, transpiration; Movement of Photosynthate / Phloem translocation: Pathways of translocation, materials translocated, rates of movement, phloem loading and unloading, mechanism of translocation; Transport systems and plant growth.

Assessment: End of semester theory examination.

Suggested reading: Plant Physiology ( Salisbury, F.B. and Ross, C.W.); Plant Physiology (Taiz, L. and Zeiger, E.) 1991.

Back to top

Dependencies: BT 1002 and BT 1006 are recommended.

Syllabus: Enzymes:Exergonic and Endergonic reactions; Properties of enzymic reactions: Distribution of enzymes in cells, activation energy, structure of enzymes, mechanism of enzyme action, denaturation, cofactors, factors affecting rates of enzymic reactions, inhibition of enzyme activity, enzymes & regulation of metabolism, industrial uses of enzymes; Respiration / Energy release: energy interconversions in living cells, Glycolysis, Krebs Cycle and election transport system, fermentation, oxidative phosphorylation & proton concentration gradient, pentose phosphate pathway, significance of respiratory metabolism; Photosynthesis: Historical summary, chloroplast structure & pigments, light absorption and transfer, thylakoid membrane & major complexes, electron transport from H 2O to NADP across thylakoid, photophosphorylation, photosynthetic carbon reduction (Calvin cycle), C4 pathway, photorespiration, Crassulacean Acid Metabolism, formation of sucrose & starch, environment and agricultural aspects.

Assessment: End of semester theory examination.

Suggested Reading: Plant Physiology ( Salisbury, F.B. and Ross, C.W.); Plant Physiology (Taiz, L. and Zeiger, E.) 1991; Biology of Plants (Raven, P., Ray E. and Eichhorn S.E.) 1996.

Back to top

Dependencies: BT 1002 is recommended.

Syllabus: Chemical basis of hereditary material: Components of DNA and RNA, structure of DNA double helix; Gene Structure and Organization in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes; The Properties and Functions of nucleic acids and basic genetic mechanisms: Gene expression in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, control of transcription of bacterial operons; DNA replication: The mechanism and enzymology of the DNA replication process; DNA repair: Mutations - depurination, deamination, Thymine dimers, mechanism of repair; Recombinant DNA Technology: Introduction to Recombinant DNA technology and its applications.

Assessment: End of semester theory examination.

Suggested Reading: Molecular Cell Biology (Lodish, H., Berck, A., Zipursky, S.L., Matsudaira, P., Baltimore, D. and Darnell, J.) 2000, 4 th ed.; Molecular Biology of the Cell (Alberts, B., Bray, D., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K. and Watson, J.D.) 1994, 3 rd ed.; Gene IV, V, VI (Lewin, B.)

Back to top

Dependencies: None

Syllabus: Mineral nutrition: Essential mineral elements and criteria for essentiality, beneficial elements, plant analysis for mineral content, basic techniques of growing plants for mineral nutrition studies, nutrient disorders, fertilizers and their application; Plant hormones: Chemistry, biosynthesis, transport, regulatory processes and mechanisms of action of Auxins, Cytokinins, Gibberellins, Abscisic acid and Ethylene; Phytochrome, Photomorphogenesis and induction of flowers: The photochemical and biochemical properties of phytochrome, photoperiodism and the phytochrome regulation of flower induction.

Assessment: End of semester theory examination.

Suggested Reading: Plant Physiology ( Salisbury, F.B. and Ross, C.W.); Plant Physiology (Taiz, L. and Zeiger, E.) 1991.

Back to top

Syllabus: Includes laboratory practicals of BT 2004 (Transport Systems in Plants), BT 2005 (Introductory Plant Biochemistry), BT 2006(Molecular Biology and Recombinant DNA Technology) and BT 2007 (Plant Growth and Development).

Assessment: Practical examination at the end of the semester and / or continuous assessments.

Back to top