CEE Biotechnology in JNU

Combined Biotechnology Entrance Examination
Admission Announcement
For admission To M.Sc. (Biotechnology);
M.Sc. (Agri) / M.V.SC (Biotechnology) & M.Tech
(Biotechnology) Programmes: 2007-2008
On behalf of the participating universities, the Jawaharlal Nehru University will hold Combined Biotechnology Entrance Examination on Friday the 18 May 2007. for admission to (1) M.Sc. (Biotechnology) (2) M.Sc. Agri./ M.V.Sc (Biotechnology) and (3) M.Tech (Biotechnology) Programmes being offered by various participating Universities (as per details given against each). The entrance examination will be held at: Agartala, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Allahabad, Amristrar, Bangalore, Bareilly, Bhubaneswar, Calicut, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Delhi, Gangtok, Goa, Gorakhpur, Gulbarga, Guwahati, Gwalior, Hyderabad, Imphal, Indore, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Katihar, Kohima, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, Mumbai, Nagpur, Noida, Pantnagar, Patna, Pondicherry, Pune, Raipur, Ranchi, Sambalpur, Shilong, Shimla, Siliguri, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Udaipur, Varanasi, Vijayawada, and Viskhapatnam. (The University reserves the right to change any Centre(s) of Examination without assigning any reason).
1. M.Sc. (Biotechnology) Programme
Eligibility: Candidates with Bachelor’s degree under 10+2+3 pattern of education in Physical, Biological, Agricultural, Veterinary & Fishery Sciences, Pharmacy, Engineering, Technology, 4-Years B.S. (Physician Assistant Course): Or Medicine (MBBS) or BDS with at least 55 % marks are eligible to apply for M.Sc. (Biotechnology) programme being offered by:
2. M.Sc. (Agri) M.V.SC. Biotechnology Programme
(a) M.Sc.(Agri) Biotechnology Programme being offered by; (i) Ch. Sarwan Kumar HP Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur, (ii) G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar; (iii) Indira Gandhi Agriculture University, Raipur; iv) Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur v) Marathwada Agricultural University, Parbhani (Maharashtra); vi) Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar; vii) Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore & viii) University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad .
Tuition Fee / Scholarship:
Fee shall be charged from the admitted candidates as per the fee structure of concerned University. Candidates selected for admission to those of the participating Universities, which are supported by the Department of Biotechnology (Govt. of India), are generally eligible for scholarship at the rates prescribed by the Dept. of Biotechnology. Candidates may please note that the M.Sc. Biotechnology programme being offered at Punjabi University, Patialla and Thapar Institute of Engg and Technology Patiala, is currently not being financially supported by the Department of Biotechnology. Therefore, the award of scholarships, if any, shall be governed by the ruled prevailing in these Universities. Students admitted to Gulbarga University will not get any scholarship.
Reservation / Concession
A) Reservation: 15%, 7½ and 3% of seats shall be reserved for SC, ST and Physically Challenged (Handicapped) (PH) candidates respectively. All the SC / ST and PH candidates who have passed the qualifying examination are eligible to apply irrespective of their percentage of marks in the qualifying degree examination.
b) Concession for Kashmiri Migrants: 10% marks will be added to the overall marks scored by a Kashmiri Migrant candidate in the entrance examination. After adding 10% marks, in case he / she is covered in the cut-off point in the merit list, he / she will be offered admission strictly in accordance with her/his inter-se merit along with other candidates subject to his / her meeting the minimum prescribed eligibility requirements and also subject to his / her producing valid registration documents issued by the notified authorities certifying the candidate’s Kashmiri Migrant status.
Procedure For Getting The Form:
In Person: Application form along with brochure can be obtained personally on cash payment of Rs.120/- per set from any of the participating University as shown above. By post: Those willing to get the Application Form by post should sent their request only to the Deputy Registrar (CEEB), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi – 110067, along with a valid bank draft of Rs.180/- (for one set of application form). The bank draft should be payable to “Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi”. The request should accompany a self-addressed unstamped envelope of the size of 28 x 20 cms. Indicating clearly: Request for Application form for: (i) “M.Sc. Biotechnology” OR (ii) “M.Sc. (Agri) / M.V.Sc. Biotechnology” OR (iii) “M.Tech. Biotechnology”.
Issue of Application Form : From 01 February 2007
Last date for issue of Application Forms :
(i) By Post: 6 March 2007
(ii) By Cash: 16 March 2007
Last date of submission of completed forms : 16 March, 2007
Important Note:
(i) There are different sets of Application Forms for each programme and, therefore, candidates are advised to apply separately in case they wish to apply for more than one programme i.e. (1) For M.Sc. Biotechnology OR (2) For M.Sc. (Agri) / M.V.Sc. Biotechnology (OR) (3) For M.Tech. Biotechnology Programme. (ii) Completed Application Form Can Be Submitted Personally OR Should Be Sent By Registered (CEEB), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi – 110067 and not to any other participating University.
1. Agricultural Biochemistry - Isomerism, hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interaction in biomolecules; chemistry of biomolecules-carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins, lipids and nucleic. Metabolism of carbohydrats, fatty acids and protein. Genetic code, replication, transcription and translation. Enzymes and their kinetics, factors affecting enzyme activity. Competitive- and non-competitive inhibitions. Coenzymes and cofactors. Plant pigments.
2. Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science- Importance of livestock in agriculture; relationship between plant and animal husbandry; mixed farming; animal breeding; breeds of indigenous and exotic cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheep, pigs and poultries and their potential for milk, egg, meat and wool production; classification of feed and fodder; major contagious diseases affecting cattle and drought animals, poultries and pigs; reproduction biology of cattle; artificial insemination, fertility and sterility; principles of imunization and vaccination; description, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of major contagious diseases; drugs used for killing, tranquillizing and doping farm and wild animals; study of milk composition; physical properties and food value of milk; quality control of milk, tests and legal standards; dairy equipments and their cleaning; organization of dairy, milk processing and distribution; microorganism found in dairy and milk products; pregnancy and distochea.

3. Cell Biology - Modern tools and techniques in the study of cytology; prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells-structural and ultrastructural details; functions of organelles including membrane; cell cycle, mitosis and meiosis; numerical structural variation in chromosomes and their significance.

4. Crop Protection - Diseases of field, vegetable, orchard and plantation crops of India and their control; causes and classification of plant diseases; principles of plant disease control biological control of diseases; Seed health testing, Integrated pest management-concepts and components; host plant resistance-biological control of insect pests; genetic manipulation of insects for their control; pesticides, their formulation, classification and safe use; behavioural methods; use of computer modeling in pest and disease out break; use of semiochemicals in IPM; insect growth regulators; biotechnological approaches in IPM; IPM in major crops, Principles of nematode management-integrated nematode management in major crops-silkworm types; mulberry silkworm, culturing methods; pests and diseases of mulberry and mulberry silkworm and their management.

5. Cropping Systems and Crop Management - Impact of the high yielding and short duration varieties on shifts in cropping patterns; concepts of multiple cropping, relay cropping and inter-cropping and their importance in relation to food production crop production practices for important cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fibre, sugar and cash crops; crop weed, their characteristics, cultural biological and chemical weed control; remote sensing and agriculture.

6. Ecology and Environment - Ecology and its relevance to man; natural resources their management and conservation- Climatic elements as factors of crop growth- impact of changing environment on cropping pattern- change in environment due to agriculture-environmental pollution and associated hazards to crops, animals and humans-liquid and solid waste disposal- Pollution prevention and remediation.
7. Principles of Food Science and Processing - Food production and consumption trends in India; food Science objective food composition; nutritive value of foods; importance and scope of food processing; Indian scenario; Effect of processing on different food groups; Food spoilage; Principles and methods of preservation; Quality Standards.

8. Genetics and Plant Breeding -Earlier concepts of heredity; Mendel's work and laws of heredity; Chromosomal theory of inheritance; Gene interactions; Multiple alleles; Multiple factor hypothesis; Linkage and crossing over; Linkage analysis; Construction of genetic map; Sex determination; Sex linked; sex influenced and sex limited traits; Spontaneous and induced mutations; Centre of origin; Domestication of crop plants; Conservations and utilization of genetic resources; Reproductive and pollination mechanisms in plants; Methods and principles in plant breeding; Methods of breeding self-pollinated crops; Methods of breeding cross- pollinated crops; Methods of breeding asexually propagated crops; self incompatibility and male sterility in crop breeding; mutation breeding in crop improvement; Ploidy breeding in crop improvement; Innovative breeding methods in crop improvement.
9. Horticulture and Forestry - Climatic requirements and cultivation of major fruits, flowers and vegetable crops spice in plantation crops, the package of practices and the scientific basis for the same; handling and marketing of fruit and vegetables; preservation of fruits and vegetables; fruit and vegetable in human nutrition; landscaping and floriculture; ornamental plants and design and lay out of lawns and gardens; tissue culture and micropropagation of important fruit, vegetable and ornamental plants including major spices and plantation crops, important features, scope and propagation of various types of forestry plantations, such as, extension/social forestry, agroforestry and the management of natural forests.

10. Agricultural Microbiology - Spontaneous generation theory-Grem theory-Discovery of antibiotics-Types of Microscopes-Principles and equipment of different kinds of sterilisation-staining Techniques-Nutritional types of bacteria-Growth curve-Factors influencing bacterial growth-Fermentation: Principle and Application-Classification of Bacteria-Gene transfer methods in microorganisms Antigen and antibody reaction. Contributions of Beijerinck and Winogradsky-Role of microbes in carbon and nitrogen cycles-Influence of Rhizosphere on soil microorganism-Various types of nitrogen fixing microorgranism-Production of bacterial biofertilizers: Rhizobium, Azospirillum, Phosphobacteria etc.- Fungal biofertilizers; Ecto- and Endomychorizae- Azolla and BGA- Method of application for different biofertilizers.

11. Plant Physiology - Plant physiology and its significance in agriculture; physical properties and chemical constitution of protoplasm; plant cell water relation - imbibition, surface tension, diffusion, osmosis; absorption and translocation of water and nutrients; transpiration, guttation, mineral deficiencies and their symptoms;physiological disorders, correction hydrophonics, foliar nutritions aerobic and anaerobic respiration; Photo respiration Factors affecting respiration and Photo- respiration. Photosynthesis- modern concept and the factors affecting photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation growth development and differentiation; growth hormones, growth retardants, growth inhibitors and their use in agriculture; tropism in plants photoperiodism and vernalization; seed dormancy and germination; fruit ripening process and its control.
12. Seed Technology - Seed technology and its importance; production processing and testing of seeds of crop plants; seed storage, seed certification; role of NSC in production; New seed policy and seed control order.
13. Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry - Soil as a medium of plant growth and its composition; mineral and organic constituents of soil and their role in crop production; chemical physical and microbiological properties of soil; essential plant nutrients, their functions occurrence and recycling; micro-secondary and micro nutrient sources and their management; integrated nutrient management, soil water relationship, principles of soil fertility and its evaluation for judicious use of fertilizers; organic manure and biofertilizers; soil conservation planning on water shed basis; erosion and run -off management in hilly, foot hills and valley lands; processes and factors affecting soil erosion; dryland agriculture and its problems; rainfed agriculture.

14. Biostatistics - Compilation, classification, tabulation and diagrammatic representation of data; measures of central tendency,correlation and regression involving two variables; concept of random sampling; tests of significance testing of hypothesis; statistical tests two kinds of error; chi-square test; principles of sampling; sampling and sampling errors;analysis of variance transformations to stabilize variance; principles of experimental design, randomized block design; latin square design; factorial experiments; missing plot techniuqes. Introduction to computer-Electronic data processing, operating system-common software available-Internet applications-Databases and bioinformatics.
15. Agricultural Biotechnology - Concepts and scope of biotechnology. Tissue culture and its application, Micropropagation. Meristem culture and production of virus-free plants. Anther and microspore culture. Embryo and ovary culture. Protoplast isolation. Protoplast fusion-somatic hybrids, cybrids. Somaclones. Synthetic seeds. In vitro germplasm conservation. Cryopreservation. Organelle DNA, Satellite-and repetitive DNAs. DNA repair. Regulation of gene expression. Recombinant DNA technology-cloning vectors, restriction enzymes, gene cloning. Methods of gene transfer in plants. Achievements and recent developments of genetic engineering in agriculture.

V. Guidelines for Entrance Examination

The question paper for entrance examination will be of three hours duration and consist of two parts, Part-A and PART - B.

Part - A will have multiple choice type questions at the level of 10+2. This part is sub divided into Section-I, II and III, Section I will have about 40 questions from Physics and Chemistry and must be answered by all the candidates. Section-II will have about 20 questions from Mathematics and Section-III will have about 20 questions from Biology. Candidates will have option to answer questions from either Section-II or III. Total marks for Part A will be 60 questions x 1 mark = 60 marks. There will be negative marking and for each wrong answer, ½ mark will be deducted.

PART- B will also have multiple choice questions from the syllabus detailed above in Section IV of this Brochure. There will be 100 questions out of which the candidates will have to attempt 60 questions. Each correct answer will have a weightage of 3 marks. There will be negative marking and for each wrong answer one mark will be deducted.

In order to give an idea about the standard of questions, a few specimen questions are given in Section VI below.

VI (a). Sample questions

In order to give an idea about the standard of questions expected to be answered by the candidates, a set of Sample Questions is given below. However, it is mentioned that the pattern of questions may change from year to year.

PART A (Section I)

1. Which of the following molecular species has unpaired electron(s)?

(a) N2 (b) F2

(c) O2 (d) O2-2

2. Which of the following amino acids is optically inactive?

(a) Alanine (b) Glycine

(c) Valine (d) Leucine
3. pH of 0.1 N NaOH is

(a) 1.0 (b) 7.0

(c) 9.0 (d) 13.0
4. In a given process on an ideal gas, dW = 0 and dQ < 0. Then for the gas

(a) the temperature will decrease (b) the volume will increase

(c) the pressure will remain constant (d) the temperature will increase

SECTION - II

1. The successive discounts of 20% and 15% are given on the purchase of a computer. If the final price of the computer is Rs. 17,000 then what is its printed price?

(a) Rs. 24,000 (b) Rs. 25,000

(c) Rs. 26,000 (d) Rs. 27,000

2. The function ƒ : R → R defined by ƒ (x) = x2 – x is

(a) injective but not surjective (b) surjective but not injective

(c) bijective (d) neither injective nor surjective
3. In which ratio does the Y-axis divide the line segment joining A(1, 4) and B(-4, 1) from A’s side?

(a) 3 : 1 (b) 1 : 3

(c) 4 : 1 (d) 1 : 4
4. The equation of the tangent to the parabola y2 = 8x at its point (2, 4) is

(a) x – y + 2 = 0 (b) x + y + 2 = 0

(c) x + y – 2 = 0 (d) -x + y + 2 = 0

Section - III
1. The longest phase of mitosis is

(a) prophase (b) interphase

(c) anaphase (d) metaphase
.2. Which of the following is found only in sponges?

(a) Amoeboid cells (b) Choanocytes

(c) Pigment cells (d) Pneumatocysts

3. Polysomes do not contain

(a) mRNA (b) tRNA

(c) rRNA (d) Contain all the above

PART - B
1. Curly top virus and maize streak disease virus (MSV) are types of

(a) caulimovirus (b) geminivirus

(c) retrovirus (d) None of the above

2. Which of the following is not a breed of buffalo?

(a) Murrah (b) New Jersey

(c) Nili (d) Bhadwari

3. RNA and DNA absorb light in the UV region due to the presence of

(a) phosphate (b) nitrogenous bases

(c) pentose sugar (d) All of the above

VI (b). PREVIOUS YEARS' QUESTION PAPERS
For the reference of intending candidates, a set of question papers pertaining to the last five years has been prepared. In order to meet the processing and printing charges, the cost of one set of five years question paper has been fixed at Rs.60/- only. Those who wish to obtain this set of five years question paper by post, may write to the Deputy Registrar (CEEB), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi-110067 alongwith (1) Bank Draft for Rs.120/- drawn in favour of "Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi”; and (2) a self-addressed unstamped envelope of not less than 28x22 cm. Mentioning clearly: Request for "M.Sc.(Agri.)/Veterinary/Forestry Biotechnology" previous years' question papers. The previous years’ question papers will be sent by ordinary post. The set of this previous years’ question papers will be issued from February till May 02, 2007 and will be sent through ordinary post.

VII . Selection Procedure
Candidates are advised to exercise in the Application Form options for the participating Universities in order of their preference for joining the participating Universities for admission to the M.Sc.(Agri/M.V.Sc./Forestry) Biotechnology programme. The selection will depend strictly on the inter-se merit of the candidate in the Entrance Test vis-à-vis preferences for joining the Universities indicated by the candidate under column (9) of the Application Form. In case a candidate has not indicated his/her choice for joining a particular University in column (9) of the application form, his/her name will not be considered for that University.

The Selection procedure will be as follows:

1) After the merit list is drawn almost double the number of candidates than the total intake only will be informed of their merit rank in the entrance examination. The candidates will also be informed about the total number of seats in each participating University. The candidates will be asked to exercise their final options once again for joining the Universities in the proforma (which will be sent by JNU). The candidates will be asked to send to JNU a Bank Draft of Rs.5,000/- ( Rs.2,500/- in case of SC, ST, PH and BL candidates) as initial security deposit giving their willingness to be considered for admission to the participating Universities in accordance with their options for joining the universities vis-à-vis their inter-se merit in the Entrance Examination.

2) The candidates who do not exercise their options for joining any of the participating universities will not be considered for admission to that university/universities.

3) After allotment of seats, the JNU will send intimation to the candidates about their allotment of the university and also to the concerned participating university to which the candidate has been selected.

4) The participating university will then inform the candidate about the complete admission procedure and schedule of their university as well as the amount of fee etc. to be deposited by the candidate. The initial security deposit already sent by the candidate through demand draft to JNU will be sent to concerned University for refund to the students after first semester.

5) In case the candidate is offered admission in accordance with his/her options for joining the universities vis-à-vis his/her inter-se merit, but subsequently in case he/she either does not join the concerned university or withdraws during first semester then in that event, the initial security deposit of Rs. 5,000/- or (Rs.2,500/- in case of SC,ST, PH and BL categories) as the case may be, will stand forfeited.

6) The initial security deposit of Rs.5,000/-, or (Rs.2,500/- in case of SC/ST, PH and BL candidates) will be refunded in full to those of the candidates who are not offered admission to any of the participating university.

7) Candidates may note that request for transfer from one university to another will not be entertained under any circumstances. Therefore, candidates are advised not to make any request in this regard.
8) Only the candidates who will be asked to exercise their option once again will be informed by post and the list of these candidates will also be available on JNU website. However, the candidates are advised to find out through their own sources whether their names appear in the list and thereby make arrangement for sending their final option together with initial security deposit by the stipulated date. The University will not be responsible for any postal delay/lapse.
9) In case, after following the above selection procedure, the seats still remain vacant in any university(ies), these will be offered further down the merit list on the basis of merit vis-a-vis their options.

IX. Time-Table for eNTRANCE eXAMINATION

1. Last date for issue of application forms: a) by post : March 06, 2007

b) by cash : March 16, 2007

2. Last date for submission of completed application forms : March 16, 2007

3. Date and time of Entrance Examination : May 18, 2007 (Friday)

(2.00 P.M. to 5.00 P.M.)
4. Results of Entrance Examination : June/July 2007

5. For admission/result queries candidate may visit our website: www.jnu.ac.in http://results.jnu.ac.in

Although University will inform the candidates falling under consideration zone about their merit in CEEB by post, it is the responsibility of the candidate to see the result on University website and University will not be responsible for postal delay/lapse.