Genetic studies at Asutosh College

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 23

Asutosh College will soon become the only college in the state to offer an undergraduate course in genetics.
The course will be offered in the self-finance mode from the 2008 academic session. “We wanted to start this course from the current academic session but could not. However, the CU syndicate has already given its approval. It is too late for starting the course this year and hence we will launch it in 2008,” said principal Debabrata Chowdhury. At present, Calcutta University (CU) only offers a postgraduate course in genetics.
The course will cover three aspects of genetics — medical, environmental and agricultural. The college has already drawn up the syllabus for the course, which would include topics such as microbes, plants, recombinant BNA technology, biotechnology, gene transfer method, gene therapy, genetic engineering, DNA fingerprinting, genetically modified crop and transgenic crops and human genome. “Genetics is an inter-disciplinary subject and hence the syllabus will include biology, biotechnology, zoology, microbiology, physics and chemistry,” said Dipak Kar, head of BSc in microbiology and in charge of BSc in genetics.
Talking about the importance of genetics in modern science, Kar said: “Genes are present in every living organism and define their character. To know genes and use them for human development is what genetics aims at. It is a subject of today which students who take up would like immensely.”
The college authorities are optimistic that students who opt for the course will find good placements. “For the past few years, our college has been offering campus placements and since we already have courses such as microbiology and biochemistry we have been getting enquiries from quite a few companies about genetics students,” said Chowdhury.
Students who complete the course can hope to work in the applied area of genetics or go into research work. “The passouts will have a huge role to play in medical science, forensic science and other biomedical-related field. It is a subject with huge opportunities.”
Though the subject is modern, the teachers are finding it difficult to find books for the undergraduate course and are busy culling out reading material from journals and postgraduate and research level books.
To begin with, there will be 25 seats and the college has decided to set a high cut-off mark for applicants. “This is a very serious subject and needs in-depth study and to begin with we would be looking at students who would be able o pull it off,” said Chowdhury. Class XII passouts with physics, chemistry, biology or biotechnology will be eligible to apply.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com