DBT JRF in a Nutshell

A Compilation by www.
biotecnika.org

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Scheme of Question Paper
Nature of Questions:
Multiple Choice Questions
Number of Sections:
Two
Section A & Section B
Number of Question:
100
50 Under each section
Marks:
Total: 300 Marks
3 Marks Per question
150 Marks per section

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Sections
Section A:
Core Courses- 50 questions. (Compulsory)
Section B:
Specialization courses-200 questions of which answer
any 50.
Agricultural biotechnology
Animal biotechnology
Pharmaceutical biotechnology
Environmental biotechnology
Neurosciences
Molecular and human genetics
Marine biotechnology
Medical biotechnology
The M.sc courses of the above branches are used as syllabus

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Is there Any Negative Marking?

Yes!!
1 mark for each wrong answer

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Qualifying Exam & Eligibility
Masters (M.Sc./M.Tech./M.V.Sc.) in Biotechnology
(various branches, namely General, Agriculture,
Medical, Marine, Industrial, Animal, Plant and
Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Bioprocess
Technology), Bioinformatics, Molecular Human
Genetics offered at BHU, Human Genomics offered
at Panjab University, Neuroscience offered at Jiwaji
University, NBRC and TIFR, and B.Tech.
Biotechnology (4-year course) recognized by
UGC/AICTE are eligible for this award.

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Percentage of Marks Required for Eligibility

Open : 60 % or equivalent CGPA

Reserved : 55 % or equivalent CGPA

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Expected Syllabus
Broadly Divided into:
Immunology
Microbiology
Industrial Biotechnology
Bioinformatics
Genetics
Ecological & Behavioural Biology
Marine Biotechnology
Biochemistry: Superficial Questions are asked
Cell Biology: any questions are asked

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Immunology
Immune system.
Active and passive immunity.
Complement system.
Antibody structure, function and diversity.
Cells of the immune system:
T,B and macrophages.
T and B cell activation.
Major histocompatibilty complex,
T cell receptor.
Immunological techniques:
Immunodiffusion,
Immunoelectrophoresis,
RIA and ELISA

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Microbiology
Bacteria, Archea and their broad classification;
Eukaryotic microbes: Yeasts, molds and protozoa; Viruses
and their classification;
Molecular approaches to microbial taxonomy
Structure and Function: Prokaryotic Cells: cell walls, cell
membranes,
mechanisms of solute transport across membranes,
Flagella and Pili, Capsules,
Cell inclusions like endospores and gas vesicles;
Eukaryotic cell organelles: Endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi
apparatus, mitochondria and chloroplasts Definition of
growth;
Growth curve; Mathematical expression of exponential growth
phase;
Measurement of growth and growth yields;
Synchronous growth; www.biotecnika.org/dbt-jrf
Microbiology Continued….
Continuous culture;
Effect of environmental factors on growth
Energetics: redox reactions and electron carriers;
An overview of metabolism; Glycolysis; Pentose-
phosphate pathway;
Entner-Doudoroff pathway;
Glyoxalate pathway;
The citric acid cycle; Fermentation;
Aerobic and anaerobic respiration;
Chemolithotrophy; Photosynthesis;
Calvin cycle; Biosynthetic pathway for fatty acids
synthesis;
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Microbiology Continued….
Common regulatory mechanisms in synthesis of
amino acids;
Regulation of major metabolic pathways.
Types of mutation; UV and chemical mutagens;
Selection of mutants;
Ames test for mutagenesis;
Bacterial genetic system: transformation,
conjugation, transduction, recombination, plasmids,
transposons;
DNA repair;
Regulation of gene expression: repression and
induction;

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Microbiology Continued….
Operon model; Bacterial genome with
special reference to E.coli;
Phage and its life cycle;
RNA phages;
RNA viruses;
Retroviruses;
Basic concept of microbial genomics.

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Industrial BioTechnology
Bioprocess technology for the production of cell biomass and
primary/secondary metabolites, such as baker’s yeast,
ethanol, citric acid, amino acids, exo-polysacharides,
antibiotics and pigments etc.;
Microbial production, purification and bioprocess application
(s) of industrial enzymes;
Production and purification of recombinant proteins on a large
scale; Chromatographic and membrane based bioseparation
methods;
Immobilization of enzymes and cells and their application for
bioconversion processes. Aerobic and anaerobic biological
processes for stabilization of solid / liquid wastes;
Bioremediation.

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Ind Biotech Contd:
Kinetics of microbial growth, substrate utilization and product
formation;
Simple structured models;
Sterilization of air and media;
Batch, fed-batch and continuous processes; Aeration and
agitation;
Mass transfer in bioreactors;
Rheology of fermentation fluids;
Scale-up concepts;
Design of fermentation media;
Various types of microbial and enzyme reactors;
Instrumentation in bioreactors.

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Bioinformatics
Major bioinformatics resources (NCBI, EBI,
ExPASy);
Sequence and structure databases;
Sequence analysis (biomolecular sequence file
formats, scoring matrices, sequence alignment,
phylogeny);
Genomics and Proteomics

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Genetics
Dominance, segregation, independent assortment, deviation
from Mendelian inheritance, Allele, multiple alleles,
pseudoallele,
Linkage maps, tetrad analysis, mapping with molecular
markers, mapping by using somatic cell hybrids, Polygenic
inheritance, heritability and its measurements,
QTL mapping, Mutation Types, causes and detection, mutant
types – lethal, conditional, biochemical, loss of function, gain
of function, germinal verses somatic mutants, insertional
mutagenesis,
Homologous and non-homologous recombination, including
transposition, site-specific recombination.

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Cell Biology
Diversity of cell size and shape,
Cell Theory,
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cell,
Microscopic technique,
Cellular organelles,
Transport of nutrients and ions across membranes,
Role of mitochondria and chloroplast,
Cell cycle,
Cell motility-cilia, flagella,
biology of cancer,
cellular basis of differentiation and development-mitosis,
gametogenesis and fertilization,
regulation of gene expression

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Biochemistry
Water, pH, Macromolecules, Enzyme catalysis ,
Enzyme characterization and Michaelis-Menten kinetics;
Sugars - mono, di, and polysaccharides,
Glycosylation of other biomolecules glycoproteins and
glycolipids,
Lipids - structure and properties of important members of
storage and membrane lipids, lipoproteins,
Bioenergetics-basic principles, Equilibria and concept of free
energy,
Glycolytic pathway,
Kreb's cycle,
Oxidative phosphorylation;
Photosynthesis ,
Elucidation of metabolic pathways

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Marine Biotechnology
Introduction to Marine Biology
Introduction to marine environment, Marine Flora-
Phytoplankton, seaweeds, sea grasses and mangroves - their
characteristics and identification.
Important marine Organisms and their behaviour
Marine fauna–Zooplankton; Major marine invertebrates
(crustaceans & molluscs), Vertebrates(Pisces) and marine
mammals (dolphin and whales) - characteristics and
identification, Biology - food & feeding - age & growth -
reproduction - life history of crustaceans, molluscs and
fishes.
Marine resources assessment

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Marine Biotechnology Contd
Methods of surveying the living resources (Acoustic, Aerial
and Remote sensing), Principal methods of exploitation
(Indigenous and modern crafts & gears)
Population study and Marine environment protection
Population dynamics - Principles of population dynamics, Unit
stocks, Age & size composition of the population, Abundance
and density, Recruitment, Growth, Mortality(fishing &
natural),
Conservation and management-in situ and ex situ ; IUCN
categorization; Marine biosphere reserves; Marine parks –
heritage sites.

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Oceanography
Physical: waves, tides and currents
Chemical-nutrient cycle, metals, minerals and trace
elements
Biological-primary and secondary productivity,
finfish and shellfish resources.

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NB:
Ecological & Behavioural Biology: It follows CSIR
Syllabus

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See Also:
DBT JRF 2009 Question Paper (Memory Based)
DBT JRF Tips & Tricks (Class Recording)
DBT JRF Tips n Tricks (power point)

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Disclaimer

The syllabus mentioned here is indicative only

and we do not guarantee that this is 100%
accurate. Students are advised to follow it at
their own discretion.

BioTecNika
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Recommended Books:
Biochemistry
Lehninger principles of biochemistry by Nelson and Cox
(study 2 and 4th unit completely)
Practical biochemistry by wilson and walker
Instant notes on biochemistry
Biotechnology:
Biotechnology expanding horizons by B.D. singh
Principles of gene manipulation and genomics by S.B
Primrose
Gene cloning by T. A . Brown
Plant tissue culture by H.S Chawla
Instant notes on molecular biology

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Recommended Books
Genetics:
Fundamental of genetics by B.D. Singh
Lehinger principles of biochemistry by Nelson and Cox
Cell Biology:
The cell a molecular approach by G.M cooper
Gene IX by B. Lewin
Imunology:
Immunology by Kuby
Microbiology:
Microbiology by Prescott

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For Numericals
Calculation in molecular biology and biotechnology
by frank H. stephenson

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Time management
Aim to study at least 14 hour daily
Try to cover syllabus by going through instant notes.
Do keep up with ur study plan
Divide the time between subjects according to the priority
BIOCHEMISTRY- 4 hrs
BIOTECHNOLOGY – 4 hrs
CELL BIOLOGY - 2 hrs
GENETICS -2 hrs
IMMUNOLOGY – 2 hrs
And 2 hrs on alternate days
MICROBIOLOGY – 1 hr
NUMERICALS – 1hr

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