| Email ID : pbb@wcc.edu.in |
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| The department offers Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology at the undergraduate level. The course is designed for students who wish to study biology with an emphasis on applications. The department was selected by UGC to offer the Vocational Training Course in Industrial Microbiology from 1994. Under the choice based credit system, since 2004, the B.Sc. course is a balanced blend of Plant Biology, Microbiology and Biotechnology. |
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| The department was started in the year 1921. It was then headed by an eminent Plant Scientist Dr Alma G. Stokey. Dr S. N. Chandrasekaran, a famous Geneticist and plant breeder had taught here in 1921. Dr E. K. Janaki Ammal, Winner of Padmashri award in 1977, rendered her services to the department between 1921 and 1928. Dr Florence Thivy a renowned Phycologist was on the faculty of the department in 1931 and her unique algal collections enrich the herbarium of the department. Dr Anna Zachariah the Head of the department was also the Principal of the college from 1965 to 1972. Mrs S. Ananthakrishnan, who served the college for 37 years, was the Head of the department from 1973 to 1987. Dr I. Michael, Principal of the college between 1981 and 1994 was also on the staff of the department. Autonomy was introduced in the department in 1981 and the syllabus was modified considerably with the inclusion of a number of new courses in Biology. Dr. G. Rengasami was the Head of the Department of Botany from 1987 - 2001. The department was selected by the UGC to offer the Vocational Training Course in Industrial Microbiology from 1994 onwards. |
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| The syllabus is framed to maintain student interest, which is essential for learning any subject. It includes fundamental aspects and recent advances in the subject. The course is supported by relevant laboratory sessions. Since the applications of the concepts to everyday life are integrated into the course, the course is made interesting. The course gives an opportunity to the students to enter into diverse Post Graduate courses as well as self employment. The academic progress in the department is strengthened by the contacts with the alumnae who are in India and abroad. |
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| Faculty : |
| Dr. Vijaya Sundaram, M.Sc., M.Phil.,Ph.D. - Reader & Head of the Department |
| Dr. Pamela Sukumaran, M.Sc., M.Phil.,Ph.D. - Reader |
| Dr. Jannet Jeyasingh, M.Sc., M.Phil, Ph.D. - Reader & Dean of Student Services |
| Dr. Selvi Gnanasekaran, M.Sc.,
M.Phil.,Ph.D. - Reader |
| Dr. I.L.G. Bhavani, M.Sc., M.Phil.,Ph.D. - Reader |
| Ms. R. Pauline, M.Sc., M.Phil. - Lecturer S.S |
| Ms. Sherrie David, M.Sc., M.Phil. - Lecturer |
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| Student strength: |
| Sanctioned strength for each batch is 50. Currently 133 students are registered in the department. |
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| Courses Offered: |
| B.Sc. Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology |
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| The department is offering B.Sc. Plant Biology & Plant Biotechnology along with the Vocational Training Course in Industrial Microbiology. The students can opt for On the Job Training at the end of semester IV, during summer vacation, to earn extra credits. |
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| Challenging curriculum enables the students to pursue different post graduate courses in national and international institutions. It also allows them to choose appropriate jobs in research institutes. |
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| Instrumentation Facilities: |
1. spectrophotometer hitachi u 2001
2. temperature controlled high-speed centrifuge.
3. sartorius monopan balance
4. air conditioned room for culture and experimental work.
5. laminar air flow.
6. autoclave.
7. microwave oven.
8. sartorius membrane filter unit.
9. horizontal and vertical electrophoresis unit with all accessories
10. anaerobic jar
11. conductivity meter
12. ph meter
13. photoelectric colorimeter
14. column chromatography setup
15. inverted tissue culture microscope.
16. trinocular microscope with photography attachment.
17. additional ac room for the instruments.
18. orbital shaker
19. overhead projector, slide projector & paxiscope.
20. computer with multimedia and software packages on recent subjects.
21. audio visual - tv, vcr, dvd, video cassettes and cds on various biological themes.
22. olympus digital research microscope
23. digital colony counter
24. soxhlet apparatus
25. incubators
26. refrigerators
27. bright field compound microscopes & dissection microscopes
28. pentax slr camera |
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| Eligibility for B.Sc. Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology : |
| Those students who have taken Botany/Biology and Chemistry in their higher secondary or equivalent course are eligible to apply. |
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| Special Feature: |
| Microbiology is offered to students of other departments at different levels as Core Elective for final year B.Sc. students of the Home Science department, as Supporting Elective for the first year Chemistry students, as an Optional course for second year students and Recent Advances in Food Microbiology to the Post graduate students of the Home science department. |
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| The department has introduced Principles and Applications of Biotechnology for M.Sc. students under choice Based Credit System. Other new courses offered to UG students include Clinical Microbiology, Herbal Science, Horticulture, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics |
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| One of the elective courses (Principles and Applications of Biotechnology) offered by the department has been selected for the cluster college programme. E-modules of the course will enable PG students of member colleges to take the course. |
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| Activities: |
- The students represent college in various extra curricular activities at both collegiate and intercollegiate competitions.
- They are encouraged to participate in Seminars/Symposia conducted in the city.
- They are motivated to make models and charts for the department using their imagination and creativity.
- The members of the Staff are continuously involved in Faculty Improvement Programmes, Seminars, Symposia, Workshops and relevant Research activities.
- The Department organises and conducts Seminars/Workshops/Refresher courses for college teachers. A UGC sponsored regional seminar for college teachers on Herbal Medicine - The changing scenario was conducted on 10th & 11th August 2006.
- The Department organizes Guest lectures for the students. Dr. Abirami Chidambaram (Forensic Lab, Alaska) gave a lecture on DNA finger printing – December 2005.
- The Department arranges Field trips/Study tours to support the curriculum.
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| Prizes : |
- The Alma Stokey Botany is awarded to the Best all round student in Botany.
- The Dr. Anna Zachariah Botany Prize is given to student with highest marks in VTC Theory and Practicals in V and VI semesters.
- The P. X. Rengasami Sinnadurai Memorial Prize is given to the student with the highest marks in all core practical papers.
- The Sarah Varghese Memorial Prize is awarded to a second year Botany student for securing the highest marks in Core Theory and Practicals in I to IV semesters.
- The Sinnadurai Muthammal Prize is awarded to a student of Botany for securing the highest marks in Core Theory papers in I and II semesters.
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| Future Plans: |
| The Department has plans to introduce a post graduate course in Plant Biology / Herbal Science and short term Certificate and Diploma courses in different branches of Biology such as Horticulture, Organic farming. Health Foods & Mushroom cultivation. |
