Grade 12

Molecular Biology

(a) Biomolecules: introduction to biomoleculesdefinition and types. Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins and enzymes – their structure and properties.
(b) Nucleic acids: an understanding of nucleic acids, their importance in biotechnological work, biochemical structure and capacity to replicate.
(c) Protein Synthesis: synthesis of different RNAs, and the complete mechanism of polypeptide chain formation. Different metabolic diseases which occur due to a change in the DNA structure.

Genetic Engineering

(a) Innovations in Biotechnology: select examples of products already available, produced by using modern biotechnological tools.
(b) Introduction to gene cloning: concept of cloning and vectors. Various vectors used for recombinant DNA.
(c) Biochemical techniques: classification of techniques based on various factors.
(d) Gene analysis techniques: various techniques involved in any work in recombinant DNA technology.

Cell Culture Technology

(a) Introduction and techniques: basic understanding of cell culture technology and its significance in biotechnology. Different materials and methods used in this technology.
(b) Cell culture and cellular totipotency: types of cell culture and the concept of cellular totipotency.
(c) Germplasm conservation: definition and significance of germplasm conservation and various methods involved in it.
(d) Applications of cell culture technology: different fields in which cell culture technology is used and the ways it is used.

Bio-informatics

(a) Introduction: an introduction to computers, both hardware and software aspects. Global
biological databases.
(a) Genomics: basic understanding of genome, types of genome, criteria for selecting an organism for sequencing. Various theoretical aspects of searching genes using the computer.
(b) Proteomics: definition and introduction.