CSIR NET UNIT 13 SYLLABUS
METHODS IN BIOLOGY
CSIR NET UNIT 13 includes topics like molecular biology and recombinant DNA methods,
histochemical and immunotechniques, biophysical methods, statistical methods, radiolabeling
techniques, microscopic techniques, electrophysiological methods, and methods in field biology.
Topics include DNA sequencing, molecular cloning, immunoprecipitation, statistical analysis,
radiolabeling, microscopy, electrophysiology, and field biology methods.
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CSIR NET UNIT 13 Topics
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A) Molecular Biology and - Isolation and purification of RNA, DNA (genomic and
Recombinant DNA Methods plasmid), and proteins
cN - Different separation methods
- Analysis of RNA, DNA, and proteins by one and
two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, Isoelectric focusing
gels
- Molecular cloning of DNA or RNA fragments in bacterial
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and eukaryotic systems
- Expression of recombinant proteins using bacterial,
animal, and plant vectors
- Isolation of specific nucleic acid sequences
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- Generation of genomic and cDNA libraries in plasmid,
phage, cosmid, BAC, and YAC vectors
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- In vitro mutagenesis and deletion techniques, gene
knockout in bacterial and eukaryotic organisms
- Protein sequencing methods, detection of
post-translation modification of proteins
- DNA sequencing methods, strategies for genome
sequencing
- Methods for analysis of gene expression at RNA and
protein level, large-scale expression, such as
microarray-based techniques
- Isolation, separation, and analysis of carbohydrate and
lipid molecules
- RFLP, RAPD, and AFLP techniques
B) Histochemical and - Antibody generation
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Immunotechniques
- Detection of molecules using ELISA, RIA, western blot,
immunoprecipitation, flow cytometry, and
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immunofluorescence microscopy
- Detection of molecules in living cells, in situ localization
cN by techniques such as FISH and GISH
C) Biophysical Method - Molecular analysis using UV/visible, fluorescence,
circular dichroism, NMR, and ESR spectroscopy
- Molecular structure determination using X-ray diffraction
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and NMR
- Molecular analysis using light scattering, different types
of mass spectrometry, and surface plasma resonance
methods
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D) Statistical Methods - Measures of central tendency and dispersal
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- Probability distributions (Binomial, Poisson, and normal)
- Sampling distribution
- Difference between parametric and non-parametric
statistics
- Confidence Interval
- Errors
- Levels of significance
- Regression and Correlation
- t-test
- Analysis of variance
- X2 test
- Basic introduction to Multivariate statistics, etc.
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E) Radiolabeling Techniques - Detection and measurement of different types of
radioisotopes normally used in biology
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- Incorporation of radioisotopes in biological tissues and
cells
cN - Molecular imaging of radioactive material
- Safety guidelines
F) Microscopic Techniques - Visualization of cells and subcellular components by
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light microscopy
- Resolving powers of different microscopes
- Microscopy of living cells
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- Scanning and transmission microscopes
- Different fixation and staining techniques for EM
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- Freeze-etch and freeze-fracture methods for EM
- Image processing methods in microscopy
G) Electrophysiological - Single neuron recording
Methods
- Patch-clamp recording
- ECG
- Brain activity recording
- Lesion and stimulation of the brain
- Pharmacological testing
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- PET, MRI, fMRI, CAT
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H) Methods in Field Biology - Methods of estimating population density of animals and
plants
cN - Ranging patterns through direct, indirect, and remote
observations
- Sampling methods in the study of behavior
- Habitat characterization: ground and remote sensing
methods
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Study tips for CSIR NET UNIT 13: Practice hands-on techniques in molecular cloning and
immune techniques, understand principles of biophysical methods, utilize statistical tools for
data analysis, and explore applications of electrophysiological methods. Familiarize yourself
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with microscopic techniques and their applications, and gain practical experience in field biology
methods.
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