Optics : Reflection and refraction at plane and spherical surfaces, total internal reflection, thin lenses, power of a lens, combination of lenses and mirrors, deviation and dispersion by prisms.
Simple and compound microscopes, astronomical telescope, human eye: defects and remedies.
Coherent sources, interference of light, Young’s double slit.
Taxonomy and Classification : Definition; Importance of Taxonomy, Binomial Nomenclature, Law of Priority (Homonym & Synonym)
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).
