BITSAT 2009 Biology Syllabus

1. Diversity in Living World

1. Biology - its meaning and relevance to mankind

2. What is living; Taxonomic categories and aids; Systematics and Binomial system of nomenclature.

3. Introductory classification of living organisms (Two-kingdom system, Five-kingdom system);

4. Plant kingdom - Salient features of major groups (Algae to Angiosperms);

5. Animal kingdom - Salient features of Nonchordates up to phylum, and Chordates up to class level.

2. Cell: The Unit of Life; Structure and Function

1. Cell wall; Cell membrane; Endomembrane system (ER, Golgi apparatus/Dictyosome, Lysosomes, Vacuoles); Mitochondria; Plastids; Ribosomes; Cytoskeleton; Cilia and Flagella; Centrosome and Centriole; Nucleus; Microbodies.

2. Structural differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic, and between plant and animal cells.

3. Cell cycle (various phases); Mitosis; Meiosis.

4. Biomolecules - Structure and function of Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, and Nucleic acids.

5. Enzymes - Chemical nature, types, properties and mechanism of action.

3. Genetics and Evolution

1. Mendelian inheritance; Chromosome theory of inheritance; Gene interaction; Incomplete dominance; Co-dominance; Complementary genes; Multiple alleles;

2. Linkage and Crossing over; Inheritance patterns of hemophilia and blood groups in humans.

3. DNA -its organization and replication; Transcription and Translation;

4. Gene expression and regulation; DNA fingerprinting.

5. Theories and evidences of evolution, including modern Darwinism.

4. Structure and Function - Plants

1. Morphology of a flowering plant; Tissues and tissue systems in plants; Anatomy and function of root, stem (including modifications), leaf, inflorescence, flower (including position and arrangement of different whorls, placentation), fruit and seed; Types of fruit; Secondary growth;

2. Absorption and movement of water (including diffusion, osmosis and water relations of cell) and of nutrients; Translocation of food; Transpiration and gaseous exchange; Mechanism of stomatal movement.

3. Mineral nutrition - Macro- and micro-nutrients in plants including deficiency disorders; Biological nitrogen fixation mechanism.

4. Photosynthesis - Light reaction, cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation; various pathways of carbon dioxide fixation; Photorespiration; Limiting factors.

5. Respiration - Anaerobic, Fermentation, Aerobic; Glycolysis, TCA cycle; Electron transport system; Energy relations.

5. Structure and Function - Animals

1. Human Physiology - Digestive system - organs, digestion and absorption; Respiratory system - organs, breathing and exchange and transport of gases.

2. Body fluids and circulation - Blood, lymph, double circulation, regulation of cardiac activity; Hypertension, Coronary artery diseases.

3. Excretion system - Urine formation, regulation of kidney function

4. Locomotion and movement - Skeletal system, joints, muscles, types of movement.

5. Control and co-ordination - Central and peripheral nervous systems, structure and function of neuron, reflex action and sensory reception; Role of various types of endocrine glands; Mechanism of hormone action.

6. Reproduction, Growth and Movement in Plants

1. Asexual methods of reproduction;

2. Sexual Reproduction - Development of male and female gametophytes; Pollination (Types and agents); Fertilization; Development of embryo, endosperm, seed and fruit (including parthenocarpy and elminth).

3. Growth and Movement - Growth phases; Types of growth regulators and their role in seed dormancy, germination and movement;

4. Apical dominance; Senescence; Abscission; Photo- periodism; Vernalisation;

5. Various types of movements.

7. Reproduction and Development in Humans

1. Male and female reproductive systems;

2. Menstrual cycle; Gamete production; Fertilisation; Implantation;

3. Embryo development;

4. Pregnancy and parturition;

5. Birth control and contraception.

8. Ecology and Environment

1. Meaning of ecology, environment, habitat and niche.

2. Ecological levels of organization (organism to biosphere); Characteristics of Species, Population, Biotic Community and Ecosystem; Succession and Climax. Ecosystem - Biotic and abiotic components; Ecological pyramids; Food chain and Food web;

3. Energy flow; Major types of ecosystems including agroecosystem.

4. Ecological adaptations - Structural and physiological features in plants and animals of aquatic and desert habitats.

5. Biodiversity and Environmental Issues - Meaning, types and conservation strategies (Biosphere reserves, National parks and Sanctuaries), Air and Water Pollution (sources and major pollutants); Global warming and Climate change; Ozone depletion; Noise pollution; Radioactive pollution; Methods of pollution control (including an idea of bioremediation); Deforestation; Extinction of species (Hot Spots).

9. Biology and Human Welfare

1. Animal husbandry - Livestock, Poultry, Fisheries; Major animal diseases and their control. Pathogens of major communicable diseases of humans caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, protozoans and elminthes, and their control.

2. Cancer; AIDS.

3. Adolescence and drug/alcohol abuse;

4. Basic concepts of immunology.

5. Plant Breeding and Tissue Culture in crop improvement.

10. Biotechnology and its Applications

1. Microbes as ideal system for biotechnology;

2. Microbial technology in food processing, industrial production (alcohol, acids, enzymes, antibiotics), sewage treatment and energy generation.

3. Steps in recombinant DNA technology - restriction enzymes, NA insertion by vectors and other methods, regeneration of recombinants

4. Applications of R-DNA technology in human health -Production of Insulin, Vaccines and Growth hormones, Organ transplant, Gene therapy.

5. Applications in Industry and Agriculture - Production of expensive enzymes, strain improvement to scale up bioprocesses, GM crops by transfer of genes for nitrogen fixation, herbicide-resistance and pest-resistance including Bt crops.