About the Department

The History:

                The first Science Department of this prestigious university was instituted by the senate in the year 1925. The department was started in the year 1927 in a single room in the "Marine villa", with Sir K. Ramunni Menon, M. A. (Cantab), I.E.S; as Honorary Director with one research student. When Sir K. Ramunni Menon became Vice-Chancellor of University of Madras in 1929, Prof. R. Gopala Iyer, M. A., L. T., M. Sc., was appointed as full time Director. The Department was subsequently moved to a spacious building, the "Madras Aquarium & Lumbdi Gardens" at Royapettah. In 1932, the Department was shifted to its own building at Chepauk, presently housing Department of French and Engineering wing of University of Madras. After completion of centenary celebrations of our university, the Department moved to the more spacious (1200 sq.m) university centenary building. A phenomenal growth in teaching and research, from 1970 to 1980, compelled us to move to the present Life Sciences Buildings at Guindy Campus in the year 1986 (2000 sq.m).During the last 15 years it added a laboratory and class room facilities with additional 960 square meters.

Research:

                Being ideally placed for marine research, the Department has been researching on various aspects of Marine Biology with special reference to

•    Biology of coastal marine organisms

•    Productivity of sea through planktonic studies including the one and the only "planktonic calendar' for the Madras coast.

•       Physiology & Pathology of marine organisms with special reference to reproduction growth, moulting, nutrition and immunobiology of marine and brackish water organisms.

•     Ecology of coastal environment.

•  The Biology of marine bio-fouling organisms.

•   Entomology: Insect Pest Management - Natural Biopolymers with Potential Biomedical Applications

•  Herbal Sciences: Anti-atherosclerotic, Anti- cancer, Anti- Cataractogenic and pesticidal herbal compounds and products.

                The faunistic studies on marine coast carried out by this Department brought a good recognition for this laboratory and hence it became the birth place for at least 3 National Marine Research Institutes, including 1) Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, 2) National Institute of Oceanography 3) Wood Research and Preservation Centre presently located at Cochin, Goa and Bangalore and funded by Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Department of Environment and Forestry and Department of Ocean Development, Government of India.

Distinction and Recognition:

                Recognizing the research potential, UGC has accorded SAP - DSA status to this Department with a financial support of Rs.72 lakhs (2007-2012). In addition under 12th plan, UGC has sanctioned a sum of Rs. 50 Lakhs for infra structure development with 12 research fellowships under strengthening of basic sciences.

                In recognition of the research contribution in Environmental Science, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Government of India sponsored Environmental Information System centre (EMCB - ENVIS centre) in this Department with a grant of Rs. 7.83 lakhs per annum to develop scientific database on Microorganisms and Environment Management, and to disseminate this information through web- enabled mechanisms.

                In appreciation of the quality of teaching and research output in terms of generation of scientific manpower and original research contributions, UGC came forward with a grant of Rs. 59 lakhs under COSIST programme (2002-2007) to upgrade the post - graduate teaching and research facilities of this Department.

                The Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi has identified this Department and extended financial support to develop the infrastructure of this Department under DST - FIST programme (2003-2008).

                The research activities in this Department have attracted funding from various government / non-governmental agencies in India (DST, DBT, CSIR, UGC, DOD, DOEn & F, DAE) as well as International funding agencies (European Economic Commission, Brussels, Belgium; International Foundation for Science, Sweden).

                UGC approved this Department to take up teaching-extension activity in Zoology under COSIP - ULP in 1979, involving curriculum development, preparation of laboratory manuals and text books, updating college laboratory, and establishment of a COSIP - library for Zoology teachers.

                Thus during the last 12 years, the department has been recognized by various funding agencies and received grants to the tune of over Rs.6.5 crores including Extra-mural funding by the agencies.

Partnership/Collaboration:

National: Teaching:

• Collaboration with Mediclone Biotech Pvt. Ltd., Chennai for conducting P. G. Diploma in Immunotechnology.

Research:

•          Poseidon Aquatech Pvt, Ltd., Chennai. Development of immunostimulants against diseases caused by white spot syndrome virus in shrimp farms.

•   Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai.

•     Marine Technologies Inc., Chennai. Development of live feed organisms for culture of shrimp / prawn farms

•      National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai. On Enhancement of Marine living resources.

Library:

                The Department library houses variety of journals and about 4000 textbooks. The journals over here are of utmost necessity to the students and to mention a few, Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Journal of Morphology, Proceeding of Indian Academy of Science, Journal of Marine Biological Association, UK, Transaction of New York Academy of Science, Limnology and Oceanography, etc. The library also has well organized catalogue system which enables one to access their needs.

Endowments :

1.      Dr. (Mrs). Sudha Varadarajan Memorial Gold Medal for best Ph.D. thesis in Zoology

2.      Prof. V.A. Murthy endowment Gold Medal for best Ph.D. thesis in Zoology

3.      Dr. Mepur H. Ravindranath Endowment Lecture

4.      Prof. K. Ramalingam Endowment Lecture

Courses Offered

•     M.Sc. Special Zoology

•     M.Phil. Zoology

•     P.G. Diploma in Immunotechnology *

•     P.G. Diploma in Stem Cell Biology & Tissue Engineering **

Self - supportive - In collaboration with M/s Mediclone Biotech Pvt. Ltd., Chennai. ** Self - supportive - In collaboration with Ms. Frotier Life line Hospitals

Infrastructure

Lab:

• Research Laboratories 4 (4800 sq. ft)

•  Teaching Laboratories 3 (3600 sq. ft)

Equipments:

Sophisticated Equipments/ Facility

•    Phase Contrast, fluorescence & dark field microscope system - 3 nos. (Zeiss, Leica)

•    Gel Doc System - 2 nos. (Biorad)

•   Gas Chromatography System - Varian

•    High Performance Liquid Chromatography System - Shimadzu

•     Fast Performance Liquid Chromatography System - Amersham

•    Spectrofluorimeter - Plate reader type - Perkin Elmer

•     ELISA Plate Reader - Medispec

•     Gradient PCR - Eppendorf

•     C0₂ - Incubators-2 nos

•      Diode- array Spectrophotometer

•     Deep- freezer (-80?C) - 2 nos - Cryo Scientific

•     Ultra-centrifuge – Beckman

•     Inter Coupled Plasma –Optical Emission Spectrometer

•     Real Time PCR

Other Research Facilities:

•    Tissue Culture Facility COSIST - UGC

•     Live Feed Culture Facility DOD - Govt. of India

•     Insectarium UPE / HSP - UGC

•    Computation & Internet facility DST - FIST - Govt. of India

•   EMCB - ENVIS Centre DOEN & F - Govt. of India

•   Circulating Sea Water Systems UGC - X Plan Grant

   Animal House Non-Plan grant