Teaching Experience

Domain and Kingdom concept; Definition: Taxonomy, Classification, and Systematics; Species concept: Typological, Biological, Evolutionary and Phylogenetic; Important rules of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN): Principles of Priority, Synonymy, Homonymy and Typification; Linnaean Hierarchy, Taxon, Phenon, and Category; Basic principles of Phenetics and Cladistics

General characteristics and schematic classification up to phyla (Levine et al., 1980); Locomotion in Amoeba, Conjugation in Paramoecium; Metazoa: Classifying Metazoan phyla based on morphological and developmental criteria; Hypotheses of metazoan origin; Symmetry: Types and evolution

General characteristics and schematic classification up to order (Hyman, 1940); Canal system and spicules of sponges

General characteristics and schematic classification up to order (Ruppert and Barnes, 1994); Metagenesis of Obelia; Coral reef types and formation

General characteristics

General characteristics and schematic classification up to class (Ruppert and Barnes, 1994)

General characteristics and schematic classification up to class (Ruppert and Barnes, 1994)

General characteristics and schematic classification up to order (Ruppert and Barnes, 1994); Metamerism: Types and origin; Nephridia: Structure and function

General characteristics and schematic classification up to class (Ruppert and Barnes, 1994), Respiratory structures and function: Book gill, Book lung, Trachea; Eyes in Insects; Metamorphosis in insects: Types, chemistry, source of hormones

Affinities and evolutionary significance

General characteristics and schematic classification up to class (Ruppert and Barnes, 1994); modification of foot; nervous system and torsion in Gastropods

General characteristics and schematic classification up to class (Ruppert and Barnes, 1994); Water vascular system of Asterias; Structure of tube Feet; Larval forms in Echinodermata

General characteristics of phylum Hemichordata; relationship between non chordates and chordates

General characteristics and classification up to extant orders (Duellman and Trueb, 1986); Metamorphosis: Stages, anatomical and physiological changes, hormonal control; Parental care

General characteristics and classification up to living orders (Young, 1981); General features of poisonous and non-poisonous snakes; Poison apparatus (types of fangs), chemical nature of venom, and biting mechanism in snakes

General characteristics and classification up to living subclass (Young, 1981); Exoskeleton (beak & foot); Principles and aerodynamics of flight; Migration: Types, reasons, mechanisms, navigation, patterns and routes

General characteristics and classification up to living orders (Young, 1981); Affinities of Prototheria; Exoskeletal derivatives of mammals; Echolocation in bats and whales; Adaptive radiation in mammals with reference to locomotory Organs

Fish: Gill structure (basic) and mechanism of respiration, accessory respiratory organs, swim bladder; Bird: Respiratory structures and functions; Anamniotes and Amniotes: Kidney structure and function; Bovine ruminant stomach: Special digestive structure and function

Membrane Lipids and Proteins. Architecture of plasma membrane based on the Fluid Mosaic Model (Singer and Nicolson, 1972; Nicolson, 2014); Transport across membrane: LDL receptor-mediated endocytosis, simple diffusion (O2 and CO2 transport), facilitated diffusion (Glucose transportation, Na+ and K+ transportation), primary active transport (Na+-K+ anti-transportation), and secondary active transport (Na+-glucose co-transportation)

Extracellular Matrix: Components and Their Role; Cytoskeleton: Basic structure and dynamics of actin, microtubule, and lamin; microtubule-associated motor proteins; Cell junctions: Occluding junction (tight junction and septate junction), anchoring junction (cell-cell and cell-matrix), and communicating junction (gap junction)

Endoplasmic Reticulum: Structure and function (Co-translational translocation of proteins through ER membrane, glycosylation and chaperone-mediated folding of protein); Golgi Apparatus: Structure and functions of individual compartments, vesicular transport and cisternal maturation model of Golgi; Lysosome: Structure and functions; Protein sorting and mechanisms of vesicular transport

Mitochondria: Outline structure, structure of FoF1 complex, Mitochondrial respiratory chain, and generation of proton motive force, chemiosmotic and binding-change hypotheses of ATP Synthesis; Nucleus: Nuclear pore complex and transportation of mRNA through nuclear pore complex; Nucleosome, solenoid, and zigzag model of DNA packaging, nucleolus

Cell cycle and its regulation in vertebrates; role of cyclins; Mitotic and meiotic cell divisions. Basic process; MTOC and its role in chromosome movement; Cancer: Properties of cancer cells in brief

Overview of cell signaling transduction pathways; Types of signaling molecules and receptors (Classification and examples only); Basic concept of apoptosis, cytological features of an apoptotic cell

Risk Factors, pathophysiology, and management; Gastrointestinal diseases: Diarrhoea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Cirrhosis of liver; Cardiovascular diseases: Atherosclerosis, Ischemic heart disease, and Myocardial infarction; Diabetes: Types 1 and 2, and Gestational diabetes; Kidney diseases: Glomerular Nephritis, and Nephrolithiasis; Respiratory disease: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Basic concept and types; Mechanism of allergic reaction, Diagnostic test, and prophylactic measures

Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM), Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD), Iron Deficiency Disorders (IDD)

Endocrine system, classification of hormones, modes of hormone secretion and transport, feedback mechanism, neurosecretion and neurohormones

Insect hormones: Types and their release sites; endocrine regulation of insect growth, moulting and metamorphosis; Vertebrate-type hormones in crustaceans: X-organ, Y-organ, and other endocrine organs

Hypothalamo-hypophysial axis; Functional aspects and regulation of hormones of endocrine glands: pituitary, pineal, thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas and adrenal; Role of hormones in homeostasis: Glucose and calcium; Hormonal control of osmoregulatory functions; Endocrine control of gestation, parturition, and lactation; Hormonal regulation of spermatogenesis and oogenesis

Endocrine receptors, mechanisms of action of steroid and peptide hormones (emphasizing the role of second messengers)

Common endocrine disorders in humans, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs); Hormone mimics and their applications in insect pest management; Bioassays of hormones using RIA and ELISA

1. Salient features of DNA, Watson and Crick Model of DNA; RNA

1. Mechanism of DNA Replication in Prokaryotes, Semi-conservative, bidirectional and discontinuous Replication, RNA priming; 2. Replication of telomeres

Mechanism of Transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, Transcription factors, Difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic transcription.

1. Mechanism of protein synthesis in prokaryotes; 2. Ribosome structure and assembly in prokaryotes, fidelity of protein synthesis, aminoacyl tRNA synthetases and charging of tRNA; Proteins involved in initiation, elongation and termination of polypeptide chain; 3. Genetic code, Degeneracy of the genetic code and Wobble Hypothesis; 4. Inhibitors of protein synthesis; 5. Difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic translation

1. Capping and Poly A tail formation in mRNA; 2. Split genes: concept of introns and exons, splicing mechanism, alternative splicing, Exon shuffling, and RNA editing; 3. Processing of tRNA

1. Regulation of Transcription in prokaryotes: lac operon and trp operon; 2. Regulation of Transcription in eukaryotes: Activators, enhancers, silencer, repressors; 3. miRNA mediated gene silencing; 4. Genetic imprinting

Types of DNA repair mechanisms, RecBCD model in prokaryotes, nucleotide and base excision repair, SOS repair

1. PCR; 2. Western and Southern blot; 3. Northern Blot; 4. Sanger DNA sequencing

1. Brief introduction of Parasitism, Parasite, Parasitoid and Vectors (mechanical and biological vector); 2. Host parasite relationship

Study of Morphology, Life Cycle, Prevalence, Epidemiology, Pathogenicity, Diagnosis, Prophylaxis and Treatment of Giardia intestinalis, Trypanosoma gambiense, Leishmania donovani

Study of Morphology, Life Cycle, Prevalence, Epidemiology, Pathogenicity, Diagnosis, Prophylaxis and Treatment of Schistosoma haematobium, Taenia sajinata

1. Study of Morphology, Life Cycle, Prevalence, Epidemiology, Pathogenicity, Diagnosis, Prophylaxis and Treatment of Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale, Wuchereria bancrofti and Trichinella spiralis, Brugia malayi; 2. Nematode plant interaction; Gall formation

Biology, importance and control of ticks (Soft tick Ornithodoros, Hard tick Ixodes), mites (Sarcoptes), Lice (Pediculus), Flea (Xenopsylla) and Bug (Cimex)

Brief account of Cookiecutter Shark, Hood Mocking bird, Vampire bat

Chemogeny, RNA world, Biogeny, Origin of photosynthesis, Evolution of eukaryotes

Lamarckism, Darwinism and Neo Darwinism

1. Geological time scale; 2. Fossil records of Hominids (from Australopithecus to Homo sapiens), evolution of horse; 3. Neutral theory of molecular evolution, Molecular clock

Heritable variations and their role in evolution

1. Population genetics: Hardy-Weinberg Law (statement and derivation of equation, application of law to biallelic Population); 2. Evolutionary forces upsetting H-W equilibrium; Natural selection (concept of fitness, types of selection, selection coefficient, mode of selection heterozygous superiority); 3. Genetic Drift mechanism (founder's effect, bottleneck phenomenon) Role of Migration and Mutation in changing allele frequencies.

1. Species concept; 2. Isolating mechanisms, modes of speciation; 3. Adaptive radiation/macroevolution (exemplified by Galapagos finches)

Extinctions, Background and mass extinctions (causes and effects), detailed example of K–T extinction

Origin and Evolution of Man, Unique Hominin characteristics contrasted with primate characteristic; Molecular analysis of human origin

Phylogenetic trees, Construction & interpretation of Phylogenetic tree using parsimony, Convergent & Divergent evolution.

1. General idea of Endocrine systems, Classification, Characteristics and Transport of Hormones; 2. Neurosecretions and Neurohormones

1. Structure of pineal gland, Secretions and their functions in biological rhythms and reproduction; 2. Structure and functions of hypothalamus and Hypothalamic nuclei, Regulation of neuroendocrine glands, Feedback mechanisms; 3. Structure of pituitary gland, Hormones and their functions, Hypothalamo-hypophysial portal system, Disorders of pituitary gland.

1. Structure, Hormones, Functions and Regulation of Thyroid gland, Parathyroid, Adrenal, Pancreas, Ovary and Testis; 2. Hormones in homeostasis; 3. Disorders of endocrine glands

1. Mechanism of action of steroidal, non-steroidal hormones with receptors; 2. Bioassays of hormones using RIA & ELISA; 3. Estrous cycle in rat and menstrual cycle in human; 4. Multifaceted role of Vasopressin & Oxytocin; 5. Hormonal regulation of parturition.

Fundamental concepts: Abiotic and biotic components; scales (population, species, community, ecosystems, biomes); niches and habitats.

Population ecology: Population growth rates (density dependent/independent); metapopulation ecology (colonisation, persistence, extinction, patches, sources, sinks); age-structured populations.

Interactions: Types (mutualism, symbiosis, commensalism, competition, parasitism, predation, etc.); ecophysiology (physiological adaptations to abiotic environment); prey-predator interactions (Lotka-Volterra equations, etc.).

Community ecology: Community assembly, organisation and succession; species richness, evenness and diversity indices; species-area relationships; theory of island biogeography.

Ecosystem structure and function: Trophic levels and their interactions; nutrient cycles; primary and secondary productivity.

History of evolutionary thought: Lamarckism; Darwinism; Modern Synthesis.

Fundamentals: Variation; heritability; natural selection; fitness and adaptation; types of selection (stabilising, directional, disruptive).

Diversity of life: Origin and history of life on Earth; diversity and classification of life; systems of classification (cladistics and phenetics).

Life history strategies: Allocation of resources; trade-offs; r/K selection; semelparity and iteroparity.

Interactions: Co-evolution (co-adaptations, arms race, Red Queen hypothesis, co-speciation); prey-predator interactions (mimicry, crypsis, etc.).

Population and quantitative genetics: Origins of genetic variation; Mendelian genetics; Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium; drift; selection (one-locus two-allele model); population genetic structure (panmixia, gene flow, FST); polygenic traits; gene-environment interactions (phenotypic plasticity); heritability.

Molecular evolution and phylogenetics: Neutral theory; molecular clocks; rates of evolution; phylogenetic reconstruction; molecular systematics.

Macroevolution: Species concepts and speciation; adaptive radiation; convergence; biogeography.

Mathematics and statistics in ecology: Simple functions (linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, etc.); concept of derivatives and slope of a function; permutations and combinations; basic probability (probability of random events; sequences of events, etc.); frequency distributions and their descriptive statistics (mean, variance, coefficient of variation, correlation, etc.).

Statistical hypothesis testing: Concept of p-value; Type I and Type II errors; test statistics such as t-test and chi-square test; basics of linear regression and ANOVA.

Classical ethology: Instinct; fixed action patterns; imprinting; learnt behaviour; proximate and ultimate questions.

Sensory ecology: Neuroethology; communication (chemical, acoustic and visual signalling); recognition systems.

Foraging ecology: Foraging behaviour; optimal foraging theory.

Reproduction: Cost of sex; sexual dimorphism; mate choice; sexual selection (runaway selection, good-genes, handicap principle, etc.); sexual conflict; mating systems; parental care.

Social living: Costs and benefits of group living (including responses to predators); effect of competition (scramble and contest) on group formation; dominance relationships; eusociality; kin selection; altruism; reciprocity; human behaviour.

Biodiversity and conservation: Importance of conserving biodiversity; ecosystem services; threats to biodiversity; invasive species; in-situ conservation (endemism, biodiversity hotspots, protected areas); ex-situ conservation; conservation genetics (genetic diversity, inbreeding depression); DNA fingerprinting and DNA barcoding.

Disease ecology and evolution: Epidemiology; zoonotic diseases; antibiotic resistance; vector control.

Plant and animal breeding: Marker-assisted breeding; genetic basis of economically important traits.

Global climate change: Causes; consequences; mitigation.

Population Ecology: Population dynamics, growth patterns, life history strategies, metapopulation concepts

Community Ecology: Species interactions, community structure, succession, diversity patterns

Ecosystem Ecology: Energy flow, nutrient cycling, ecosystem structure and function

Biodiversity: Patterns of biodiversity, conservation strategies, ecosystem services, threats to biodiversity

Process-based Modelling: Population growth models, predator-prey interactions, competition models

Food Web Modelling: Trophic interactions, energy flow models, network dynamics

Methods of Ecological Modelling: Mathematical approaches, model validation, parameter estimation, sensitivity analysis

Vegetation sampling methods, animal survey protocols, biodiversity assessment techniques, field data collection standards, GPS usage, statistical sampling design

Hands-on modeling using STELLA and ECOPATH software, population dynamics simulations, ecosystem model development, data analysis and interpretation

Guided students during field trips and excursions for practical application of ecological concepts, species identification, habitat assessment, and real-world data collection experiences