VITEEE Biology Syllabus

  1. Taxonomy

Need for classification; three domains of life. Linnaean, Whittaker, Bentham and Hooker systems of classification. Salient features and classification of non-chordates up to phyla levels and chordates up to class levels. Morphology and anatomy of flowering plants. Structural organization in insects(cockroach)

  1. Cell and Molecular Biology

Cell theory. Prokaryotic cell and it’s ultrastructure. Eukaryotic cell- cell wall, cell membrane, cytoskeleton, nucleus, chloroplast, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, ribosomes, lysosomes, vacuoles and centrosomes. Cell cycle and division – amitosis, mitosis and meiosis. Search for genetic material; structure of DNA and RNA; replication, transcription, genetic code, translation, splicing, gene expression and regulation (lac operon) and DNA repair.

  1. Reproduction

Asexual reproduction – binary fission, sporulation, budding, gemmule formation and fragmentation. Vegetative propagation in plants, sexual reproduction in flowering plants and structure of flowers. Pollination, fertilization, development of seeds and fruits, seed dispersal, apomixis, parthenocarpy and poly-embryony. Human reproductive system. Gametogenesis, menstrual cycle, fertilization, implantation, embryo development upto blastocyst formation, pregnancy, parturition and lactation. Assisted reproductive technologies.

  1. Genetics and evolution

Chromosomes – structure and types, linkage and crossing over, recombination of chromosomes, mutation and chromosomal aberrations. Mendelian inheritance, chromosomal theory of inheritance, deviation from Mendelian ratio (incomplete dominance, co-dominance, multiple allelism, pleiotrophy), sex linked inheritance and sex determination in humans. Darwinism, neo Darwinism, Hardy and Weinberg’s principle and factors affecting the equilibrium: selection, mutation, migration and random genetic drift.

  1. Human health and diseases

Pathogens, parasites causing human diseases (malaria, dengue, chickengunia, filariasis, ascariasis, typhoid, pneumonia, common cold, amoebiasis, ring worm) and their control. Basic concepts of immunology, vaccines, antibiotics, cancer, HIV and AIDS. Adolescence, drug and alcohol abuse.

  1. Biochemistry

Structure and function of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. Enzymes – types, properties and enzyme action. Metabolism – glycolysis, fermentation, Kreb’s cycle and pentose phosphate pathway.

  1. Plant physiology

Movement of water, food, nutrients, gases and minerals. Passive diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and active transport. Imbibition, osmosis, apoplast and symplast transport and guttation. Macro and micronutrients and their deficiency symptoms. Transpiration, photosynthesis (light and dark reactions) and electron transport chain. Hormones and growth regulators, photoperiodism and vernalization. Nitrogen cycle and biological nitrogen fixation.

  1. Human physiology

Digestion and absorption, breathing and respiration, body fluids and circulation, excretory system, endocrine system, nervous system, skeletal and muscular systems. Locomotion and movement, growth, aging and death. Hormones – types of hormones, functions and disorders.

  1. Biotechnology and its applications

Recombinant DNA technology, applications in health, agriculture and industries; genetically modified organisms; Human insulin, vaccine and antibiotic production. Stem cell technology and gene therapy. Apiculture and animal husbandry. Plant breeding, tissue culture, single cell protein, fortification, Bt crops and transgenic animals. Microbes in food processing, sewage treatment, waste management and energy generation. Biocontrol agents and biofertilizers. Biosafety issues, biopiracy and patents. Human and rice genome projects. DNA fingerprinting.

  1. Biodiversity, ecology and environment

Ecosystems: components, types, pyramids, nutrient cycles (carbon and phosphorous), ecological succession and energy flow in an ecosystem; Biodiversity – concepts, patterns, importance, conservation, hot spots, endangered organisms, extinction, Red data book, botanical gardens, national parks, sanctuaries, museums, biosphere reserves and Ramsar sites. Environmental issues: pollution and its control.Solid and radioactive waste management. Climate change impact and its mitigation. Population attributes – growth, birth and death rate and age distribution.