BIOLOGY SYLLABUS

1. Diversity of Living Organisms

(i) The Living World Three domains of life; taxonomy and systematics; concept of species and taxonomical hierarchy; tools for study of taxonomy-museums, zoological parks, herbaria, botanicalgardens, key. 

(ii) Biological Classification Five kingdom classification; s alient features and classification of Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia. Lichens, Viruses and Viroids.  

(iii)Plant Kingdom (a) Algae - characteristics (morphology, common name, major pigments, stored food, composition of cell wall, flagellar number and position of insertion, habitat, mode of sexual reproduction) and examples of Chlorophyceae, Phaeophyceae, Rhodophyceae; Economic importance of algae – any five. (b) Bryophyta – three general characteristics, graphic outline of life cycle of Funaria with reference to alternation of generations. Economic importance of bryophytes. (c) Pteridophyta: three characteristics; Graphic outline of life cycle of a typical pteridophyte (fern). Definition of homospory and heterospory with relevant examples. Economic importance. (d) Gymnosperms: general characteristics and graphic outline of life cycle of a typical gymnosperm (Pinus). Economic importance. (e) Angiosperms – general characteristics and classification into monocots and dicots. (f) Comparison of life cycle patterns of different plant groups (haplontic, diplontic and haplo-diplontic).

(iv) Animal Kingdom Non-chordata - five distinguishing characters with two examples of Porifera, Cnidaria, Ctenophora, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda (Aschelminthes), Annelida, Mollusca, Arthropoda, Echinodermata, Hemichordata.Chordata – sub-classification of Chordata with reference to notochord - sub phyla Urochordata, Cephalochordata. Vertebrata (classes – cyclostomata, chondrichthyes, osteichthyes, amphibia, reptilia, aves and mammalia) – three distinguishing characters with two examples of each).

2. Structural Organisation in Animals and Plants

(i) Morphology of Flowering Plants Morphology of flower. Structure of a typical flower, types of inflorescence (racemose and cymose).  

(ii) Anatomy of Flowering Plants (a) Plant Tissues: Internal structure of root, stem and leaf. Cellular diagrams of T.S. of roots and stem and V.S. of monocot and dicot leaves are required. (b) Secondary growth in dicot stem. Basic idea of how secondary growth takes place in dicot stems (with the help of outline diagrams) and formation of annual rings. Activity of the cambium and cork cambium, formation of secondary tissues, differences between heart wood and sap wood. Definition of bark.

(iii) Structural Organisation in Animals Cockroach Morphology, anatomy and functions of different systems (digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous and reproductive) of an insect (cockroach) - a brief account only.

3. Cell: Structure and Function

(i) Cell - the Unit of Life Structure of eukaryotic cells; cell envelope; cell membrane, cell wall (including definition of plasmodesmata); cell organelles – ultrastructure and function; endomembrane system (endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, lysosomes, vacuoles), mitochondria, ribosomes, plastids, microbodies; cytoskeleton, cilia, flagella, centrioles; nucleus, nuclear membrane, chromatin, nucleolus. 

(ii) Biomolecules Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, enzymes. Carbohydrates: general classification and functions of: monosaccharides (glucose, ribose and deoxyribose), disaccharides (maltose, lactose and sucrose), polysaccharides (glycogen, starch, cellulose, inulin, and chitin). Proteins: amino acids – (structure: glycine, alanine, serine); essential and nonessential amino acids; levels of protein structure (primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary); functions of proteins. Lipids: classification, structure and functions of fats and oils. Enzymes: general properties, nomenclature and classification of enzymes according to type of reactions, co-factors (prosthetic groups, coenzymes and metal ions. Factors affecting enzyme activity - temperature, pH, substrate concentration. Competitive inhibitors.

(iii) Cell Cycle and Cell Division Cell cycle and meiosis. Definition of C-value, different stages of cell cycle (Go, G1, S, G2 and M). Different stages of meiosis with diagrams. Significance of meiosis. 

4. Plant Physiology

(i) Transport in Plants Plant-water relations, water potential, long distance transport of water - absorption, apoplast, symplast, transpiration pull, root pressure and guttation; transpiration, opening and closing of stomata; uptake and translocation of mineral nutrients - transport of food - phloem transport, mass flow hypothesis.

(ii) Mineral Nutrition Essential minerals, macro and micronutrients and their role; deficiency symptoms; mineral toxicity; elementary idea of hydroponics, nitrogen cycle, biological nitrogen fixation.

(iii) Photosynthesis in higher plants Photosynthesis: Definition; site of photosynthesis, photochemical and biosynthetic phases of photosynthesis; cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation; chemi-osmotic hypothesis; photorespiration; C3 and C4 pathways; factors affecting photosynthesis.

(iv) Respiration in Plants Cellular respiration - glycolysis, fermentation (anaerobic), TCA cycle and electron transport system (aerobic); energy relations - number of ATP molecules generated; amphibolic pathways; respiratory quotient.

(v) Plant Growth and Development Seed germination; phases of plant growth; differentiation, dedifferentiation and re-differentiation; growth regulators - auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, ethylene, ABA; seed dormancy; vernalization; photoperiodism.

5. Human Physiology

(i) Digestion and Absorption. Alimentary canal and digestive glands, role of digestive enzymes; peristalsis, digestion, absorption and assimilation of proteins, carbohydrates and fats; calorific values of proteins, carbohydrates and fats; egestion; nutritional and digestive disorders.

(ii) Breathing and exchange of gases. Respiratory system in humans; mechanism of breathing and its regulation - exchange of gases, transport of gases and regulation of respiration; disorders related to respiration.

(iii)Body fluids and circulation. Human circulatory system - structure of human heart; cardiac cycle, cardiac output, ECG; double circulation; regulation of cardiac activity; disorders of circulatory system.

(iv) Excretory products and their elimination. Modes of excretion - ammonotelism, ureotelism, uricotelism; human excretory system - structure and function; urine formation, osmoregulation; regulation of kidney function, renin - angiotensin, atrial natriuretic factor, role of erythropoietin; disorders of the excretory system - uraemia, renal failure, renal calculi, nephritis; dialysis and artificial kidney.

(v) Locomotion and Movement Skeletal muscles - contractile proteins and muscle contraction; skeletal system and its functions; joints; disorders of muscular and skeletal system. 

(vi) Neural Control and Coordination Neuron and nerves; nervous system in humans - central nervous system; peripheral nervous system and visceral nervous system; generation and conduction of nerve impulse; sensory perception; sense organs; elementary structure and functions of eye and ear. 

(vii) Chemical Co-ordination and Integration Endocrine glands and hormones; human endocrine system - hypothalamus, pituitary, pineal, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, gonads; mechanism of hormone action (elementary idea); role of hormones as messengers and regulators, hypo - and hyperactivity and related disorders; dwarfism, acromegaly, cretinism, goitre, exophthalmic goitre, diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus, Grave’s disease, Addison's disease.