Unit 1. Diversity in Living World 

Biology – its meaning and relevance to mankind 
What is living; Taxonomic categories and aids (Botanical gardens, herbaria, museums, zoological parks); Systematics and Binomial system of nomenclature.  
Introductory classification of living organisms (Two-kingdom system, Five-kingdom  system); Major groups of each kingdom alongwith their salient features (Monera, including Archaebacteria and Cyanobacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia); Viruses; Lichens  
Plant kingdom – Salient features of major groups (Algae to Angiosperms); 
Animal kingdom – Salient features of Nonchordates up to phylum, and Chordates up to class level.

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

Cell wall; Cell membrane; Endomembrane system (ER, Golgi apparatus/Dictyosome, Lysosomes, Vacuoles); Mitochondria; Plastids; Ribosomes; Cytoskeleton; Cilia and Flagella; Centrosome and Centriole; Nucleus; Microbodies. 
Structural differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic,  and between plant and animal cells. Cell cycle (various phases); Mitosis; Meiosis. 
Biomolecules – Structure and function of Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, and Nucleic acids. 
Enzymes – Chemical nature, types, properties and mechanism of action. 

Unit 3. Genetics and Evolution 

Mendelian inheritance; Chromosome theory of inheritance; Gene interaction; Incomplete dominance; Co-dominance; Complementary genes; Multiple alleles; 
Linkage and Crossing over; Inheritance patterns of hemophilia and blood groups in humans. 
DNA –its organization and replication; Transcription and Translation; Gene expression and regulation; DNA fingerprinting. 
Theories and evidences of evolution, including modern Darwinism. 

Unit 4. Structure and Function – Plants 

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; 
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. 
Mineral nutrition – Macro- and micro-nutrients in plants including deficiency disorders; Biological nitrogen fixation mechanism. 
Photosynthesis – Light reaction, cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation; Various pathways of carbon dioxide fixation; Photorespiration; Limiting factors . 
Respiration – Anaerobic, Fermentation, Aerobic; Glycolysis, TCA cycle; Electron transport system; Energy relations. 

Unit 5. Structure and Function  - Animals 


Tissues; Elementary knowledge of morphology, anatomy and functions of different systems of earthworm, cockroach and frog.  
Human Physiology – Digestive system - organs, digestion and absorption; Respiratory system – organs, breathing and exchange and transport of gases. Body fluids and circulation – Blood, lymph, double circulation, regulation of cardiac activity; Hypertension, Coronary artery diseases. 
Excretion system – Urine formation, regulation of kidney function 
Locomotion and movement – Skeletal system, joints, muscles, types of movement. 
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. 

Unit 6. Reproduction, Growth and Movement in Plants 

Asexual methods of reproduction; Sexual Reproduction - Development of male and female gametophytes; Pollination (Types and agents); Fertilization; Development of embryo, endosperm, seed and fruit (including parthenocarpy and apomixis). 
Growth and Movement – Growth phases; Types of growth regulators and their role in seed dormancy, germination and movement; Apical dominance; Senescence; Abscission; Photo-  periodism; Vernalisation; Various types of movements. 

Unit 7. Reproduction and Development in Humans 

Male and female reproductive systems; Menstrual cycle; Gamete production; Fertilisation; Implantation; Embryo development; Pregnancy and parturition; Birth control and contraception. 

Unit 8. Ecology and Environment 

Meaning of ecology, environment, habitat and niche. 
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; Energy flow; Major types of ecosystems including agroecosystem. 
Ecological adaptations – Structural and physiological features in plants and animals of aquatic and desert habitats. 
Biodiversity – Meaning, types and conservation strategies (Biosphere reserves, National parks and Sanctuaries) 
Environmental Issues – Air and Water Pollution (sources and major pollutants); Global warming and Climate change; Ozonedepletion; Noise pollution; Radioactive pollution; Methods of pollution control (including an idea of bioremediation); Deforestation; Extinction of species (Hot Spots). 

Unit 9. Biology and Human Welfare 

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 helminths, and their control.  
Cancer; AIDS. 
Adolescence and drug/alcohol abuse; 
Basic concepts of immunology. 
Plant Breeding and Tissue Culture in crop improvement. 
Biofertilisers (green manure, symbiotic and free-living nitrogen-fixing microbes, mycorrhizae); 
Biopesticides (micro-organisms as biocontrol agents for pests and pathogens); Bioherbicides; 
Microorganisms as pathogens of plant diseases with special reference to rust and smut of wheat, bacterial leaf blight of rice, late blight of potato, bean mosaic, and root - knot of vegetables. 
Bioenergy – Hydrocarbon - rich plants as substitute of fossil fuels. 

Unit 10. Biotechnology and its Applications 

Microbes as ideal system for biotechnology; 
Microbial technology in food processing, industrial production (alcohol, acids, enzymes, antibiotics), sewage treatment and energy generation. 
Steps in  recombinant DNA technology – restriction enzymes, DNA insertion by vectors and other methods, regeneration of recombinants.            
Applications of R-DNA technology.  In human health –Production of  Insulin, Vaccines and Growth hormones, Organ transplant, Gene therapy. In Industry – Production of expensive enzymes, strain improvement to scale up bioprocesses.  In Agriculture – GM crops by transfer of genes for nitrogen fixation, herbicide-resistance and pest-resistance including Bt crops.