

B-SC-HONS in Biotechnology at JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research


Mysuru, Karnataka
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About the Specialization
What is Biotechnology at JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research Mysuru?
This B.Sc (Hons.) Biotechnology program at JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, focuses on providing a strong foundation in biological sciences combined with advanced biotechnological applications. It is designed to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals in India''''s rapidly expanding biotech sector, covering areas from molecular biology to industrial applications. The program emphasizes research-oriented learning and practical skills essential for innovation in life sciences.
Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for aspiring scientists and researchers with a keen interest in biology, chemistry, and their interdisciplinary applications. It attracts fresh 10+2 graduates with a science background (Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology) who seek entry into the dynamic field of biotechnology. It also suits individuals passionate about contributing to healthcare, agriculture, and industrial processes through biological advancements, and those considering higher studies or research careers.
Why Choose This Course?
Graduates of this program can expect diverse career paths in India, including roles in R&D, quality control, biomanufacturing, and clinical research. Entry-level salaries typically range from INR 2.5 Lakhs to 4.5 Lakhs per annum, with experienced professionals earning significantly more. Growth trajectories often lead to senior scientist, project manager, or entrepreneur roles in pharma, food, and environmental sectors, aligning with certifications like those in clinical research or intellectual property.

Student Success Practices
Foundation Stage
Master Core Concepts and Fundamentals- (Semester 1-2)
Diligently focus on building a strong theoretical foundation in subjects like Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Cell Biology. Utilize official textbooks, NPTEL courses, and online resources to deepen understanding. This robust conceptual knowledge is vital for tackling advanced topics and excelling in foundational biotech roles.
Tools & Resources
Standard Textbooks, NPTEL Courses, Khan Academy, Reference Journals
Career Connection
A strong foundation ensures readiness for advanced studies and analytical roles in diagnostics and basic research.
Develop Hands-on Laboratory Proficiency- (Semester 1-2)
Actively engage in all practical sessions, mastering techniques such as microscopy, microbial culturing, biochemical assays, and basic biophysical measurements. Maintain detailed lab records and understand the theoretical principles behind each experiment. Practical skills are critical for roles in R&D labs, quality control, and clinical diagnostics.
Tools & Resources
Lab Manuals, Laboratory Equipment, Safety Protocols
Career Connection
High proficiency in lab techniques makes you a valuable asset in research and industrial laboratory settings.
Engage in Peer Learning and Academic Groups- (Semester 1-2)
Form study groups with classmates to discuss challenging topics, prepare for examinations, and collaborate on assignments. Participate in departmental seminars and workshops to expand your knowledge base and refine your presentation abilities. Collaborative learning strengthens understanding and prepares you for teamwork in professional environments.
Tools & Resources
Study Groups, Online Forums, Departmental Seminars
Career Connection
Enhances problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills, crucial for any scientific or industry career.
Intermediate Stage
Explore Specializations and Mini-Projects- (Semester 3-5)
Identify areas of interest within biotechnology, such as Molecular Biology, Immunology, or Bioinformatics, and actively seek mini-projects or internships. Work closely with faculty members to align projects with your career aspirations and utilize institutional lab resources. Early specialization helps build a focused profile for targeted career paths in biopharma or environmental biotech sectors.
Tools & Resources
Faculty Mentors, Departmental Labs, Research Internships
Career Connection
Gain practical experience and clarity on career choices, making you a more desirable candidate for specialized roles.
Enhance Data Analysis and Bioinformatics Skills- (Semester 3-5)
Prioritize learning and applying statistical methods and bioinformatics tools. Familiarize yourself with software like R or Python for data analysis, and master bioinformatics platforms such as BLAST and UniProt. Online courses from platforms like Coursera can supplement classroom learning. These skills are indispensable for interpreting experimental results and are highly valued in modern biotech R&D.
Tools & Resources
R/Python, BLAST, UniProt, Coursera/edX Courses
Career Connection
Positions you for roles requiring data interpretation, computational biology, and bioinformatics expertise in various industries.
Network with Professionals and Attend Industry Events- (Semester 3-5)
Actively participate in national and regional biotechnology conferences, workshops, and industry expos. Engage with guest speakers, researchers, and industry leaders to understand current trends and opportunities. Building a professional network can lead to invaluable internship and placement opportunities in India''''s biotech landscape.
Tools & Resources
Industry Conferences, LinkedIn, Alumni Network, Guest Lectures
Career Connection
Expands your professional network, leading to internships, mentorship, and potential job leads.
Advanced Stage
Undertake a Comprehensive Research Project/Industrial Training- (Semester 6)
Dedicate significant effort to your final year project or industrial training, choosing a topic aligned with your career goals. Focus on problem-solving, innovation, and scientific rigor. Aim to present your findings at conferences or contribute to publications. This capstone experience is a major differentiator for R&D job applications and postgraduate studies.
Tools & Resources
Research Supervisors, Industry Mentors, Institutional Libraries
Career Connection
Showcases your research capabilities and project management skills, highly sought after in R&D and academic roles.
Prepare Rigorously for Placements and Higher Education- (Semester 6)
Actively engage with the career guidance cell for placement preparation, including aptitude tests, group discussions, and technical interviews. Tailor your resume and cover letters for specific job roles. For higher education aspirations, prepare for entrance exams like GATE (Biotechnology) or international tests like GRE/TOEFL. JSS AHER provides resources to support both pathways.
Tools & Resources
Career Guidance Cell, Mock Interviews, Placement Brochures, GATE/GRE Prep Material
Career Connection
Maximizes your chances of securing a desirable job placement or admission to top postgraduate programs.
Develop Professionalism and Ethical Acumen- (Semester 6)
Cultivate a strong understanding of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and bioethical considerations, as covered in subjects like IPR & Bioethics. Participate in discussions on regulatory affairs and professional conduct. Demonstrating ethical awareness and professional communication is critical for responsible scientific practice and career progression in regulated industries like pharmaceuticals.
Tools & Resources
IPR Resources, Bioethics Case Studies, Professional Development Workshops
Career Connection
Ensures compliance and builds trust, essential for leadership roles and ethical practice in biotechnology.
Program Structure and Curriculum
Eligibility:
- Passed 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Biology / Biotechnology as optional subjects with English as one of the languages of study and obtained a minimum of 40% of marks in aggregate in the optional subjects. The candidate should have completed 17 years of age as on December 31 of the year of admission.
Duration: 3 years (6 semesters)
Credits: 140 Credits
Assessment: Internal: 50%, External: 50%
Semester-wise Curriculum Table
Semester 1
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BT 101 | Basic Microbiology | Core | 4 | History of Microbiology, Microscopic Techniques, Staining Methods, Sterilization Techniques, Bacterial Growth Curve, Microbial Culture |
| BT 102 | Cell Biology | Core | 4 | Prokaryotic & Eukaryotic Cells, Cell Organelles (Mitochondria, ER, Golgi, Nucleus), Cell Cycle, Cell Division (Mitosis, Meiosis), Membrane Structure & Transport |
| BT 103 | Biological Chemistry | Core | 4 | Water and pH, Carbohydrates Structure and Function, Lipids and Membranes, Amino Acids & Proteins, Nucleic Acids (DNA, RNA), Enzymes and Coenzymes |
| BT 104 P | Basic Microbiology Practical | Lab | 2 | Microscopy and Observation, Microbial Staining Techniques, Sterilization Procedures, Culture Media Preparation, Isolation of Microbes |
| BT 105 P | Cell Biology & Biological Chemistry Practical | Lab | 2 | Microscopic Observation of Cells, Experiments on Osmosis, Qualitative Tests for Carbohydrates, Protein Estimation Techniques, Enzyme Activity Measurement |
| AECC 1 | English | Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course | 2 | Basic English Grammar, Reading Comprehension, Writing Skills, Oral Communication, Presentation Skills |
Semester 2
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BT 201 | Biochemistry | Core | 4 | Bioenergetics, Glycolysis & Kreb''''s Cycle, Electron Transport Chain, Photosynthesis, Lipid Metabolism, Protein Synthesis |
| BT 202 | Genetics | Core | 4 | Mendelian Genetics, Chromosome Structure & Function, Linkage & Crossing Over, Gene Mutations, Gene Expression Regulation, Human Genetics |
| BT 203 | Biophysics | Core | 4 | pH and Buffers, Spectroscopy Principles, Centrifugation Techniques, Electrophoresis Methods, Chromatography Techniques, Radioactivity and its Applications |
| BT 204 P | Biochemistry Practical | Lab | 2 | Enzyme Kinetics Studies, Carbohydrate Profiling, Lipid Estimation, Photosynthetic Pigment Extraction, Paper Chromatography |
| BT 205 P | Genetics & Biophysics Practical | Lab | 2 | Mendelian Ratios in Experiments, Chromosome Staining, DNA Isolation Techniques, Spectrophotometry Applications, Gel Electrophoresis |
| AECC 2 | Environmental Studies / Indian Constitution | Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course | 2 | Environmental Pollution, Ecosystems and Biodiversity, Sustainable Development, Indian Constitution Overview, Fundamental Rights and Duties |
Semester 3
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BT 301 | Molecular Biology | Core | 4 | DNA Replication, Transcription Process, Translation Mechanism, Gene Regulation, Genetic Code, DNA Repair Mechanisms |
| BT 302 | Immunology | Core | 4 | Innate & Adaptive Immunity, Antigens & Antibodies, Lymphoid Organs, Hypersensitivity Reactions, Autoimmunity, Immunological Techniques |
| BT 303 | Biostatistics & Bioinformatics | Core | 4 | Measures of Central Tendency, Probability & Distributions, Hypothesis Testing, Sequence Alignment (BLAST, FASTA), Biological Databases (NCBI, UniProt), Phylogenetics |
| BT 304 P | Molecular Biology Practical | Lab | 2 | DNA/RNA Isolation, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Restriction Digestion, Gel Electrophoresis (Agarose, SDS-PAGE), Plasmid Isolation |
| BT 305 P | Immunology & Biostatistics Practical | Lab | 2 | Blood Grouping, ELISA Technique, Immunodiffusion, Chi-Square Test, t-Test, Sequence Retrieval & Analysis |
| SEC 1 | Entrepreneurship Development / Basic Computer Applications | Skill Enhancement Course | 2 | Business Planning, Market Analysis, Startup Ecosystem, MS Office Suite, Internet Usage & Security |
Semester 4
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BT 401 | Recombinant DNA Technology | Core | 4 | Cloning Vectors, Restriction Enzymes, Gene Cloning Principles, DNA Libraries, Gene Transfer Methods, Blotting Techniques (Southern, Northern, Western) |
| BT 402 | Animal Biotechnology | Core | 4 | Animal Cell Culture, Organ Culture, Transgenic Animals, Gene Therapy, Animal Cloning, Stem Cells and their Applications |
| BT 403 | Plant Biotechnology | Core | 4 | Plant Tissue Culture, Micropropagation, Plant Transformation, Transgenic Plants, Plant Secondary Metabolites, Molecular Breeding |
| BT 404 P | Recombinant DNA Technology Practical | Lab | 2 | Plasmid Isolation, Restriction Digestion, Ligation Reaction, Bacterial Transformation, Agarose Gel Electrophoresis, PCR Amplification |
| BT 405 P | Animal & Plant Biotechnology Practical | Lab | 2 | Plant Tissue Culture Initiation, Callus Culture, Animal Cell Viability Testing, Transformation Protocols, Protoplast Culture |
| SEC 2 | Research Methodology / Communication Skills | Skill Enhancement Course | 2 | Scientific Writing, Research Design, Data Collection Methods, Presentation Skills, Technical Communication, Report Writing |
Semester 5
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSE 1 (Option A) | Industrial Biotechnology | Discipline Specific Elective | 4 | Fermentation Technology, Bioreactors Design, Downstream Processing, Enzyme Technology, Biofuels Production, Biocatalysis |
| DSE 1 (Option B) | Food Biotechnology | Discipline Specific Elective | 4 | Food Preservation, Probiotics & Prebiotics, Fermented Foods, Food Safety & Quality Control, Food Additives, Genetically Modified Foods |
| DSE 1 (Option C) | Medical Biotechnology | Discipline Specific Elective | 4 | Molecular Diagnostics, Vaccine Technology, Gene Therapy, Drug Discovery & Development, Regenerative Medicine, Biopharmaceuticals |
| DSE 2 (Option A) | Microbial Technology | Discipline Specific Elective | 4 | Industrial Microbes, Microbial Product Development, Bioremediation by Microbes, Waste Treatment using Microorganisms, Microbial Fermentation, Probiotic Technology |
| DSE 2 (Option B) | Environmental Biotechnology | Discipline Specific Elective | 4 | Bioremediation, Pollution Control, Waste Management, Biosensors for Environment, Bioenergy Production, Environmental Monitoring |
| DSE 2 (Option C) | Nano Biotechnology | Discipline Specific Elective | 4 | Nanomaterials Synthesis, Nanomedicine Applications, Biosensors & Nanosensors, Drug Delivery Systems, Nanoparticles in Imaging, Ethics in Nanobiotechnology |
| BT 501 P | Industrial/Food/Medical Biotechnology Practical | Lab | 2 | Fermentation Setup & Monitoring, Enzyme Immobilization, Food Spoilage Analysis, Diagnostic Test Procedures, Microbial Product Characterization |
| BT 502 P | Microbial/Environmental/Nano Biotechnology Practical | Lab | 2 | Microbial Strain Isolation, Heavy Metal Removal Techniques, Biodegradation Studies, Nanoparticle Synthesis, Biosensor Fabrication |
| GE 1 | Open Elective | Generic Elective | 2 |
Semester 6
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSE 3 (Option A) | IPR & Bioethics | Discipline Specific Elective | 4 | Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks, Bioethical Principles, Regulatory Affairs in Biotechnology, Biotechnology Law, Ethical Dilemmas in Research |
| DSE 3 (Option B) | Clinical Research & Pharmacovigilance | Discipline Specific Elective | 4 | Drug Development Process, Clinical Trials Phases, Pharmacovigilance, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Regulatory Aspects of Clinical Research, Clinical Data Management |
| DSE 3 (Option C) | Bioprocess Engineering | Discipline Specific Elective | 4 | Bioreactor Design, Mass Transfer Operations, Heat Transfer in Bioprocesses, Downstream Processing, Scale-up of Bioprocesses, Process Control & Optimization |
| DSE 4 (Option A) | Animal Physiology | Discipline Specific Elective | 4 | Digestion and Absorption, Respiration and Gas Exchange, Circulatory System, Excretion and Osmoregulation, Nervous System, Endocrine System |
| DSE 4 (Option B) | Plant Physiology | Discipline Specific Elective | 4 | Photosynthesis, Respiration in Plants, Water Relations in Plants, Plant Hormones, Nutrient Uptake and Transport, Stress Physiology |
| DSE 4 (Option C) | Genetic Engineering | Discipline Specific Elective | 4 | Gene Editing (CRISPR-Cas9), Functional Genomics, Proteomics, Metagenomics, Synthetic Biology, Gene Silencing |
| BT 601 P | DSE 3 Practical | Lab | 2 | Patent Search, Ethical Case Studies, Clinical Data Analysis, Bioreactor Simulation, Regulatory Document Preparation |
| BT 602 P | DSE 4 Practical | Lab | 2 | Physiological Experiments, Genetic Modification Protocols, Plant Hormone Effects, Molecular Marker Techniques, Tissue Culture Applications |
| GE 2 | Open Elective | Generic Elective | 2 | |
| BT 603 | Project Work / Industrial Training | Project | 6 | Research Design, Data Analysis and Interpretation, Scientific Writing, Presentation Skills, Literature Review, Report Submission |




