Concept of Biodiversity : Definition of Biodiversity ; Genetic diversity; Species diversity and Ecosystem diversity. Five kingdom classification (only distinct characters).Salient features of major animal phyla with common examples, classification of Chordates (up to Sub Class) with distinctive characters only.
Origin, Evolution and Diversity of Life : Haldane and Oparin’s concept on origin of life. Modern concept of Natural selection, Biological Species concept.
Human evolution – An outline.
Mutation – Definition and Types; Replication of DNA, Transcription and Translation (Brief idea).
Genetics : Laws of Heredity : (Monohybrid and dihybrid crosses; Mendel’s laws). Back cross, Test cross, Linkage, Crossing over, Sex linked inheritance – Colour blindness, Haemophilia.
Chromosomes and Cell Division : Morphology of chromosomes; Euchromatin and Heterochromatin.
Nucleic acid as genetic material (Examples : Bacterial Transformation and Viral Transduction).
Enzymes : Definition & properties, Examples; Mechanism of Action, Allosterism and Regulation.
