Course

Syllabus

Contents – The course starts with theory i.e. basic lecture about a general lay out of a cell culture lab, physical environment needed for the cell culture, growth media and its composition, Biosafety cabinets (BSC), its use in cell culture and how to work in a BSC, contamination during cell culture and how to control it, culturing and splitting of cell lines, cryopreservation of cells and cell viability assays. After qualifying the Biosafety examination, students start working in the cell culture lab. The laboratory work starts in small groups. In the practical laboratory work, the students will have hands-on experience in counting, harvesting, culturing and maintaining cell lines.

Animal handling techniques – animal feed, gavage, different routes of injection, ethical treatment of animalsandInstitutional Animal Ethics Committee policies.

Cell culture module introduces the students to the basics of cell culture. The course provides students with sufficient knowledge and laboratory skills needed in the academia and industry for carrying out basic cell culture techniques properly and safely. On completion of the course, the student should be able to: account at a general level for the function, maintenance and working of Bio-safety Cabinets (BSC) and be able to work in BSCs with a good sterilisation technique, account for different preventive measures to avoid contamination of cell cultures and how a contaminated cell culture may be treated, account in detail for sterilisation equipment and sterilisation techniques, account for different cell-culture media and important components in the media; be able to apply basic cell-culture techniques, such as cell counting using hemocytometer and harvesting of cells.Explain different factors of significance in the cultivation of cells in vitro and be able to maintain cell lines in culture for a longer period of time without contamination.

Course Outcome

CO1: To demonstrate a general level of understanding towards the function, maintenance and working of Bio-safety Cabinets (BSC) and be able to work in BSCs with a good sterilization technique

CO2: To identify culture contamination and methods involved to maintain sterility

CO3: Able to prepare media and maintain adherent cells in culture for atleast a week

CO4: To become aware of standard practices in cell culture and related ethical dilemmas

CO5: Be able to handle small animals and become familiar with ethics involved in animal use for research.

Program Outcomes (PO) (As given by NBA and ABET)

PO1: Bioscience Knowledge

PO2: Problem Analysis

PO3: Design/Development of Solutions

PO4: Conduct Investigations of complex problems

PO5: Modern tools usage

PO6: Bioscientist and Society

PO7: Environment and Sustainability

PO8: Ethics

PO9: Individual & Team work

PO10: Communication

PO11: Project management & Finance

PO12: Lifelong learning

Program Specific Outcomes (PSO):

PSO1. Apply fundamental molecular biology principles to interpret clinical genomic data.

PSO2. Use molecular techniques (e.g., PCR, RT-PCR, sequencing) to detect genetic mutations and biomarkers.

PSO3. Analyze genotype-phenotype correlations in inherited and acquired disorders.

PSO4. Identify pathogenic variants from NGS data and interpret their clinical relevance.

PSO5. Correlate molecular pathways with disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets.

PSO6. Develop and validate diagnostic assays based on molecular biology principles.

PSO7. Utilize molecular biology to support pharmacogenomic profiling and therapy optimization.

PSO8. Integrate multi-omic data (genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic) for personalized health solutions.

PSO9. Apply molecular knowledge to cancer genomics, infectious diseases, and rare genetic disorders.

PSO10. Translate molecular discoveries into clinical interventions through evidence-based practice.

CO–PSO Mapping Table

Evaluation Pattern: 30+70 = 100

Textbook

1. R. Ian Freshney. Culture of Animal Cells: A Manual of Basic Technique and Specialized Applications, 6th ed. 2010. Wiley-Blackwell.

Reference

1. CPCSEA Guidelines for Laboratory Animal Facility, 2004.
2. Guide for the Care and use of Laboratory Animals – 8th Edition, 2011, The National Academic Press.