Biochemistry

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Biochemistry

The present Department of Biochemistry is renamed in 2005 from the Department of Biochemistry and Agricultural Chemistry that was developed from the erstwhile Chemistry and Biochemistry section which was bifurcated in 1982-83 from the Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science under Faculty of Agriculture. The present department came into existence in 1986 with the following mandates :

1. 1. To train students and develop special aptitude for tackling biochemical problems related to agriculture

2. 2. To conduct basic and applied biochemical research for solutions to problems in agriculture

3. 3. To impart training in the use of biochemical tools and techniques to students and agricultural scientists from other disciplines

The department is offering UG courses to BSc (Hons.) Agriculture),  BSc (Hons) Community Science and BSc(Hons) Food Nutrition and Dietetics students. Besides, the department is currently helping in carrying out UG biochemistry teaching in College of Sericulture. It is also offering elective Biochemistry courses to BSc (Hons) Agriculture degree programme. For PG teaching, the department has the collaboration with other departments like Agricultural Biotechnology, Horticulture, Plant Breeding and Genetics, Food Science and Technology Programme, Plant Pathology, Crop Physiology and Tea Husbandry and Technology. During this period from 1986 to 2025 , as many as 107 students obtained their masters degree and 14 students completed PhD programme from the department.

The priority wise identified research programmes of the department are :

1. Biochemical evaluation of crop germplasm of NE India

2. Biochemical characterization of economic plants of NE India

3. Exploration of novel phytochemicals of commercial importance

4. Biochemical basis of biotic and biotic stress in plants

5. Post-harvest biochemistry of food crops

UG Courses
# Course No. Course Title Course Credit Syllabus
1 BAC(CS)-113 * Principles of Biochemistry 3(2 + 1)
2 BAC(Elec)-323 Food and Nutrition 3(2 + 1)
3 BAC-113 * Fundamentals of Plant Biochemistry 3(2 + 1)
4 BAS(BAC)-112 * Elementary Plant Biochemistry 2(1 + 1)
5 BSH(BAC)-112 * Plant Biochemistry 2(1 + 1)
* courses are compulsory
Masters Courses
# Course No. Course Title Course Credit Syllabus
1 BIO-101 (Bridge cour Introductory Biochemistry 3(2 + 1)
2 BIO-102 (Bridge cour Plant Biochemistry 2(2 + 0)
3 BIOCHEM-501 * BASIC BIOCHEMISTRY 4(3 + 1)
4 BIOCHEM-502 * INTERMEDIARY METABOLISM 3(3 + 0)
5 BIOCHEM-503 * ENZYMOLOGY 3(2 + 1)
6 BIOCHEM-504 MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 3(2 + 1)
7 BIOCHEM-505 * TECHNIQUES IN BIOCHEMISTRY 4(2 + 2)
8 BIOCHEM-506 IMMUNOCHEMISTRY 3(2 + 1)
9 BIOCHEM-507 PLANT BIOCHEMISTRY 3(2 + 1)
10 BIOCHEM-508 ANIMAL BIOCHEMISTRY 3(3 + 0)
11 BIOCHEM-509 NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY 3(2 + 1)
12 BIOCHEM-510 NITROGEN AND SULPHUR METABOLISM 3(2 + 1)
13 BIOCHEM-511 BIOCHEMISTRY ON XENOBIOTICS 2(2 + 0)
* courses are compulsory
PhD Courses
# Course No. Course Title Course Credit Syllabus
1 BIOCHEM-601 * ADVANCED ENZYMOLOGY 3(2 + 1)
2 BIOCHEM-602 ADVANCED MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 3(3 + 0)
3 BIOCHEM-603 BIOCHEMISTRY OF BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC STRESSES 3(3 + 0)
4 BIOCHEM-604 FRONTIER TOPICS IN BIOCHEMISTRY 2(2 + 0)
5 BIOCHEM-605 CONCEPT AND APPLICATION OF OMICS IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 3(3 + 0)
6 BIOCHEM-606 BIOMEMBRANES 2(2 + 0)
7 BIOCHEM-607 * APPLICATION OF TECHNIQUES IN BIOCHEMISTRY 3(1 + 2)
* courses are compulsory
Projects
    • NMPB, Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India sponsored project on "Bio-evaluation, identification quantification of bio-active compounds and development of bio-pesticides from ethno-medicinal plant extracts against major insect pests of vegetable crops", project cost Rs.41.052 Lakh
    • DBT sponsored project on "Development of high-yielding, non-lodging, and biotic-resistant varieties of black scented rice of Manipur and Assam through biotechnological intervention (Scented Rice Group 4 - Phase II)", project cost Rs.2.3006 Crore
    • AAU sponsored project on ""Functional food for human consumption from rice bran"", project cost Rs.9.78 Lakh
    • AAU sponsored project on "Development of plant based insecticide formulation for management of stored grain pests.", project cost Rs.15.00 Lakh
    • AAU sponsored project on "Application of the gut microbes of the gut microbes of greater Wax moth (Galleria mellonella) as efficient plastic polymer degraders efficient plastic polymer degrader",
    • AAU sponsored project on "Bioprospecting of wild edible and cultivated mushroom flora of Assam for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical properties",
    • DBT, GoI, New Delhi sponsored project on "Phytochemical characterization and nutritional profiling of germplasm diversity of Citrus species existing in North East Region", project cost Rs.147.90640 Lakh
    • DBT, GoI sponsored project on "Genetic improvement of chickpea using gene technology for resistance to insect pests",
    • North east centre for Technology Application and Reach, New Delhi sponsored project on "Augmentation of income of small tea growers of Assam through production, processing and marketing of speciality tea.", project cost Rs.20.90 Lakh implemented in 2021. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Priyanka Das)
    • National Innovation Fund, India sponsored project on "Morpho-physiological, bio-chemical and genotypic evaluation of Upendra Rice", project cost Rs.4.9 Lakh implemented in 2021. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Sunayana Rathi)
    • CSB, Bangalore sponsored project on "Standardization of processing and production of a consumable beverage from mulberry leaves and blending with green tea.( Collaborative Programmes with CSB and TTRI, Jorhat)", project cost Rs.11.26 Lakh implemented in 2020. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Priyanka Das)
    • DBT, GoI sponsored project on "Management of low temperature and soil moisture deficit stress in banana grown in North Eastern India", implemented in 2018. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Ananta Madhab Baruah)
    • NMPB, Govt of India sponsored project on "“Post-harvest loss assessment and SOPs of post-harvest management of some important medicinal plants of Assam”", project cost Rs.27.66 Lakh implemented in 2017. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Priyanka Das)
    • ICAR, New Delhi sponsored project on "Network Project, on Transgenics in Crops (NPTC), Sub Project: ICAR–NPTC-3088", project cost Rs.129.60 Lakh implemented in 2015. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Ananta Madhab Baruah)
    • National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) Govt. of India sponsored project on "Occurrence of Major Pests and their Management in Selected Medicinal Plants, Impact of Pest Damage of the Active Fraction", implemented in 2014. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Ananta Madhab Baruah)
    • DST (Govt of India) sponsored project on "“Biochemical Study on indigenous colored rice varieties grown in Assam.” (DBT RA program, for which I was supervisor)", project cost Rs.1 Lakh implemented in 2013. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Priyanka Das)
    • SERB-DST sponsored project on "Mapping of genes for grain quality in Assam rice with particular reference to amylose", project cost Rs.15.196 Lakh implemented in 2013. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Sunayana Rathi)
    • DBT, GoI sponsored project on "Root-specific Reduction of Cytokinin to enhance Root Biomass and Seed Yield in Rapeseed (Brassica camprestris)", project cost Rs.68.22 Lakh implemented in 2013. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Ananta Madhab Baruah)
    • AAU sponsored project on "Studies on viability, germination pattern, dormancy, seed health and seed storability in medicinal plants", implemented in 2013. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Ranjan Kandali)
    • DBT, GoI sponsored project on "In Vitro and Ex Situ Conservation, Eco Restoration and Genetic Pro-filling for selection of Elite Genotypes of Threatened Medicinal Plants of North East India", implemented in 2012. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Ananta Madhab Baruah)
    • DBT (Govt of India) sponsored project on "“Development of entrepreneurship among back-ward population of tapioca growing areas of Assam through post harvest management of tapioca.”", project cost Rs.20.03754 Lakh implemented in 2011. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Priyanka Das)
    • DBT, GoI sponsored project on "Biotech Intervention on Selected Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAP) of NER for their Effective Utilization", implemented in 2011. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Ananta Madhab Baruah)
    • NATP-ICAR sponsored project on "Identification of molecular marker linked to the gene for submergence tolerance in rice", project cost Rs.20.21 Lakh implemented in 2001. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Samindra Baishya)
    • ICAR, New Delhi sponsored project on "Sulphur Fertilization for Increased yield and quality of Rapeseed- Rice in Assam", implemented in 2001. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Ananta Madhab Baruah)
    • ICAR, New Delhi sponsored project on "Biochemical Characterization of Traditional Medicinal Plants used against Jaundice caused by Hepatitis virus", implemented in 2001. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Ananta Madhab Baruah)
    • ICAR sponsored project on "Evaluation of On Farm Storage Methods of Seed Potatoes in Assam", implemented in 1999. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Ranjan Kandali)
    • ICAR sponsored project on "All India Coordinated Research Project on Weed Control", implemented in 1996. (PI/Co-PI/Associated Scientist : Dr. Ranjan Kandali)

Our Faculties

Dr. Samindra Baishya

HOD and Professor

Dr. Priyanka Das

Professor

Dr. Ranjan Kandali

Professor

Dr. Ananta Madhab Baruah

Professor

Dr. Sunayana Rathi

Assistant Professor

Dr. Kritideepan Sarmah

Junior Scientist (Associated Faculty)

Mr. Tabaruk Hussain

Junior Scientist

biochem_fa[at]aau.ac.in