UNIT I: Diversity in Living World
• What is living? ; Biodiversity; Need for classification; Three domains of life; Taxonomy &
Systematics; Concept of species and taxonomical hierarchy; Binomial nomenclature; Tools for
study of Taxonomy – Museums, Zoos, Herbaria, Botanical gardens.
• Five kingdom classification; salient features and classification of Monera; Protista and Fungi into
major groups; Lichens; Viruses and Viroids.
• Salient features and classification of plants into major groups-Algae, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes,
Gymnosperms and Angiosperms (three to five salient and distinguishing features and at least two
examples of each category); Angiosperms classification up to class, characteristic features and
examples).
• Salient features and classification of animals-nonchordate up to phyla level and chordate up to
classes level (three to five salient features and at least two examples).
UNIT II: Structural Organisation in Animals and Plants
• Morphology and modifications; Tissues; Anatomy and functions of different parts of flowering
plants: Root, stem, leaf, inflorescence- cymose and recemose, flower, fruit and seed (To be dealt
along with the relevant practical of the Practical Syllabus).
• Animal tissues; Morphology, anatomy and functions of different systems (digestive, circulatory,
respiratory, nervous and reproductive) of an insect (cockroach). (Brief account only)
UNIT III: Cell Structure and Function
• Cell theory and cell as the basic unit of life; Structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell; Plant cell
and animal cell; Cell envelope, cell membrane, cell wall; Cell organelles-structure and function;
Endomembrane system-endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, lysosomes, vacuoles; mitochondria,
ribosomes, plastids, micro bodies; Cytoskeleton, cilia, flagella, centrioles (ultra structure and
function); Nucleus-nuclear membrane, chromatin, nucleolus.
• Chemical constituents of living cells: Biomolecules-structure and function of proteins,
carbodydrates, lipids, nucleic acids; Enzymes-types, properties, enzyme action.
• B Cell division: Cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis and their significance.
UNIT IV: Plant Physiology
• Transport in plants: Movement of water, gases and nutrients; Cell to cell transport-Diffusion,
facilitated diffusion, active transport; Plant – water relations – Imbibition, water potential,
osmosis, plasmolysis; 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; Diffusion of gases (brief mention).
• Mineral nutrition: Essential minerals, macro and micronutrients and their role; Deficiency
symptoms; Mineral toxicity; Elementary idea of Hydroponics as a method to study mineral
nutrition; Nitrogen metabolism-Nitrogen cycle, biological nitrogen fixation.
• Photosynthesis: Photosynthesis as a means of Autotrophic nutrition; Site of photosynthesis take
place; pigments involved in Photosynthesis (Elementary idea); Photochemical and biosynthetic
phases of photosynthesis; Cyclic and non cyclic and photophosphorylation; Chemiosmotic
hypothesis; Photorespiration C3 and C4 pathways; Factors affecting photosynthesis.
• Respiration: Exchange gases; Cellular respiration-glycolysis, fermentation (anaerobic), TCA
cycle and electron transport system (aerobic); Energy relations- Number of ATP molecules
generated; Amphibolic pathways; Respiratory quotient.
• Plant growth and development: Seed germination; Phases of Plant growth and plant growth rate;
Conditions of growth; Differentiation, dedifferentiation and redifferentiation; Sequence of
developmental process in a plant cell; Growth regulators-auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, ethylene,
ABA; Seed dormancy; Vernalisation; Photoperiodism.
UNIT V: Human Physiology
• Digestion and absorption; Alimentary canal and digestive glands; Role of digestive enzymes and
gastrointestinal hormones; Peristalsis, digestion, absorption and assimilation of proteins,
carbohydrates and fats; Caloric value of proteins, carbohydrates and fats; Egestion; Nutritional
and digestive disorders – PEM, indigestion, constipation, vomiting, jaundice, diarrhea.
• Breathing and Respiration: Respiratory organs in animals (recall only); Respiratory system in
humans; Mechanism of breathing and its regulation in humans-Exchange of gases, transport of
gases and regulation of respiration Respiratory volumes; Disorders related to respiration-Asthma,
Emphysema, Occupational respiratory disorders.
• Body fluids and circulation: Composition of blood, blood groups, coagulation of blood;
Composition of lymph and its function; Human circulatory system-Structure of human heart and
blood vessels; Cardiac cycle, cardiac output, ECG, Double circulation; Regulation of cardiac
activity; Disorders of circulatory system-Hypertension, Coronary artery disease, Angina pectoris,
Heart failure.
• Excretory products and their elimination: Modes of excretion- Ammonotelism, ureotelism,
uricotelism; Human excretory system-structure and fuction; Urine formation, Osmoregulation;
Regulation of kidney function-Renin-angiotensin, Atrial Natriuretic Factor, ADH and Diabetes
insipidus; Role of other organs in excretion; Disorders; Uraemia, Renal failure, Renal calculi,
Nephritis; Dialysis and artificial kidney.
• Locomotion and Movement: Types of movement- ciliary, fiagellar, muscular; Skeletal muscle-
contractile proteins and muscle contraction; Skeletal system and its functions (To be dealt with the
relevant practical of Practical syllabus); Joints; Disorders of muscular and skeletal system-
Myasthenia gravis, Tetany, Muscular dystrophy, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, GoutNeural control and coordination: Neuron and nerves; Nervous system in humanscentral nervous
system, peripheral nervous system and visceral nervous system; Generation and conduction of
nerve impulse; Reflex action; Sense organs; Elementary structure and function of eye and ear.
• Chemical coordination and regulation: 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 (Common disorders e.g. Dwarfism, Acromegaly, Cretinism,
goiter, exopthalmic goiter, diabetes, Addison’s disease).
(Imp: Diseases and disorders mentioned above to be dealt in brief.)
