The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda 1 ABOUT FACULTY OF SCIENCE The Faculty of Science is a Constituent Institution of the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda under the direct management and control of the University. The Old Baroda College which was founded in the year 1881 consisted of Arts and Science Sections. The Faculty of Science started its independent existence in March, 1951 with Dr. C.S. Patel as its First Dean. The Old Building which houses the Faculty of Science at present was completed in early 30s during the reign of Srimant Sayajirao III Gaekwad, a far sighted Ruler and maker of modern Baroda. The building is conspicuous by its small copper dome and is flanked on the west by the building of Faculty of Education and Psychology and on the east by the majestic building of the Old Baroda College, now the Faculty of Arts. The Faculty comprise of 12 Departments including Biochemistry, Botany, Chemistry, Computer Applications, Environmental Studies, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Physics, Statistics and Zoology. The Faculty also houses the Vikram Sarabhai Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology and Prof. Bharat Chattoo Genome Research Center. The faculty boasts of excellent teaching and research facilities and has contributed immensely in form of research grants, articles and patents. The faculty has also the rare distinction of producing a Noble laureate Dr. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan 2 FOREWORD It is my pleasure to invite you all for the annual OPEN HOUSE at Faculty of Science. Science an ever learning platform for better celebrations. The open house has gone online this year and can be accessed via a dedicated portal created for this purpose @ http://msuopenhouse.in. Open house portal will have videos with information about the various aspects of Faculty of Science as well as its Departments and institutes. It will feature videos of participants explaining various phenomenon of science through Posters, Models, interactive boards etc. as part of a competition at Faculty level. The event is aimed at exposing school children/teachers to latest advancements in science and inculcate curiosity in their young minds. I hope the OPEN HOUSE will be of immense help in popularizing science and scientific temper amongst the school children of Vadodara and will be a joyful experience for all. Sincerely Yours, Prof. Hari Kataria Dean, Faculty of Science The M.S. University of Baroda 3 Head of the Departments Prof. C. RatnaPrabbha (Biochemistry) Prof. N. Krishnayya (Botany) Prof. Anjali Patel (Chemistry) Prof. Rakesh Srivastava (Computer Applications) Prof. Kauresh Vachharajani (Environmental Studies) Prof. Bindu Bhatt (Geography) Prof. Atul Joshi (Geology) Prof. Prof. Rajendra G. Vyas (Mathematics) Prof. G. Archana (Microbiology) Prof. S.K. Mukherjee (Physics) Prof. Vipul Kalamkar (Statistics) Prof. Dolly Kumar (Zoology) Prof. Hari Kataria (Director, CMB) Organizing Committee Department Committee Member(s) Biochemistry Dr. Devesh Suthar and Dr. Ravi Vijayvargia Botany Mr. Sanket Charola Cell and Molecular Biology Dr. Ravi Vijayvargia and Dr. Muskaan Belani Chemistry Prof. Prasanna Ghalsasi (Convener), Dr. Arun Patel and Dr. Rajendra Jadeja (Dean of Students) Computer Applications Ms. Heta Parekh and Dr. Kshitij Tripathi Environmental Studies Dr. Neha Singh and Dr. Manthan Tailor Geography Dr. Ami Raval Geology Prof. Manoj Limaye, Dr. V. Sharma and Dr. Aditya Joshi Mathematics Prof. Bhadresh Dave and Ms. Shilpa Gupta Microbiology & Biotechnology Prof. Devarshi Gajjar, Dr. Nandita Baxi and Dr. Poonam Mishra Physics Dr. P. H. Soni, Dr. Mitesh Sarkar and Ms. Urmi Doshi Statistics Dr. Deepa Kandpal and Dr. Khimya Tinani Zoology Prof. Vihas Vasu and Dr. Hetal Roy 4 ABSTRACTS INDEX S.No. Name of the Department Page No. 1. Bio-Chemistry 6-7 2. Botany 8 3. Cell and Molecular Biology 9-15 4. Chemistry 16-24 5. Computer Applications 25-26 6. Environmental Sciences 27-28 7. Geography 29-48 8. Geology 49 9. Mathematics 50-58 10. Microbiology and Biotechnology 59-67 11. Physics 68-77 12. Statistics 78-83 13. Zoology 84-86 5 1. DEPARTMENT OF BIO-CHEMISTRY CHARACTERIZATION OF XYLANASE ENZYME PRODUCED BY Bacillus subtilis. Dimpal J Aghera & Jigna H Patel Department of Biochemistry The M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara 390002 Xylanase is a class of enzymes which is produced by microorganisms. Xylanase degrades xylan into monomers of various sizes by catalysing, possessing potential in wide industrial applications, along with uses in agriculture and for human health. Xylanase has applications in the food and paper making industries. There are different types of xylanases produced by different type of microorganisms. These enzymes act under different conditions, such as different pH levels, different salt levels, and different temperatures, different salts and different solvents. Xylanase is industrially important enzyme which is produced by natural resources like agricultural waste. Bacillus subtilis is a Gram-positive bacterium which is isolated from farm soil. Xylanase enzyme produced by Bacillus subtilis was partially purified by 70% ammonium sulphate saturation. Different temperatures (20°C,30°C,40°C,50°C,60°C,70°C), pH (4,5,6,7,8,9,10), salt concentration (0%,1%,2%,5%,10%,15%,20%) different metal salts like BaCl2, CaCl2, FeCl3, HgCl2, KCl, MnCl2, NaCl, MgSO4, different inhibitors like SDS, EDTA, CTAB, Urea and different solvents like methanol, ethanol, butanol, acetone, isoamyl alcohol, chloroform, isopropanol, n-hexane were experimented for the characterization of enzyme. Enzyme is found to be stable at various conditions. ANTIMICROBIAL AND ENZYMATIC POTENTIAL OF ACTINOBACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH SEA WEED DICTYOPTERIS SP. Krishna B. Bhutiya and Sangeeta D. Gohel Department of Biochemistry The M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara 390002 Seaweeds are sessile multicellular photosynthetic eukaryotes that are differentiated from plants by their lack of specialized tissues. The seaweeds are ecologically important primary producers, competitors, and ecosystem engineers that play a central role in coastal habitats ranging from kelp forests to coral reefs. They are the part of highly productive ecosystems and are habitats of numerous bioactive compounds producing microorganisms. Actinobacteria are one of the active marine bacteria which are heterogeneous group of gram positive, high G+C bacteria noted for a filamentous and branching growth pattern. Thus, the present study focused on actinobacteria species associated with Dictyopteris sp. Total10 actinobacterial strains were isolated from Dictyopteris sp. from the coastal region of Veraval, Gujarat, India. The selected actinobacterial strains displayed consistent antimicrobial and antifungal activity along with enzymatic potential. The actinobacteria strain Ds-11 showed comparatively batter antimicrobial activity against E. coli, Proteus sp., Shigella sp., B. subtilis, B. megaterium, B. cereus and E. faecalis and antifungal 6 activity against A. niger and A. flavus. Whereas, actinobacteria strain Ds-11 secreted comparatively high protease on gelatin agar medium supplemented with 0-10 % NaCl (w/v). The effect of various physical and chemical parameters such as pH, temperature and salt on the growth and protease production was studied in liquid culture medium. The actinobacteria strain Ds-11 produced protease even at 10% NaCl (w/v) in liquid culture media while the protease production was optimum at 6% NaCl (w/v). 7 2. DEPARTMET OF BOTANY SCIENCE AN EVER-LEARNING PLATFORM FOR BETTER FUTURE Kachariya prince Dilipbhai T.Y. B.Sc. Department of Botany The M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara 390002 The Value of Learning Science Beyond the potential scientific breakthroughs, there are individual benefits to learning science, such as developing our ability to ask questions, collect information, organize and test our ideas, solve problems, and apply what we learn. Insulin is very important for the metabolism of glucose in the body. If its amount increases or decreases, some defects occur in the body. for example, Diabetes. This insulin is first obtained from the pancreas of cattle taken to the slaughterhouse but is not in pure form, which can lead to many diseases. To prevent this, biotechnology was invented using science platforms. Man-made insulin was then made. Thus, science always provides a platform to learn something new. Sonam Wangchuck has recently set up a tent in Ladakh for the Indian Army, which is very useful for soldiers. Thus, Science always provides a platform to learn and do something new. Just as water is universal, so is science universal. Science has a vast ocean. 8 3. INSTITUTE OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY CYTOGENETIC STUDY IN CRIMINALS (MURDERERS): ROLE OF XYY CHROMOSOME IN CRIMINALITY Yash Darji & Nikunj Parmar Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Institute of Cell & Molecular Biology The M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara-390002 Crime & criminals are a curse to society. All types of advanced scientific methods should be used for detection of crime to prove the guilt of criminal and also to see that innocent subjects are not victimized. Although there are many methods of detecting crime, cytogenetic study has a unique character of its own in its application to forensic science. The crime rates in India are increasing and approximately 5% of the criminals are murderers. the famous Danish `Adoption Studies` states that in addition to socio-economic factors, hereditary plays an important role in the determination of criminality. In this study an attempt