IGNOU Msc zoology

[deepa kripesh]

Sir am completed bsc zoology.then i want to do msc zoology in ignou by distanc education.plz give me information about admition.

[Raman Vij]

Hello friend as you want the details about msc zoology of IGNOU so here I am providing you the same…..

IGNOU offer Msc zoology by distanc education mode….

Eligibility:
Candidates must have BSc (3 yrs) Degree after 10+2 with Major/Honours in Life Sciences and any other related life science discipline/Biosciences/Botany/ Zoology

Program fees:
Rs. 5000 is per semester plus other

Syllabus for Entrance Examination
Cell Biology
Evolution of the Cell; Procaryotic Structure, Bacteria, Virus; Evolution of Photosynthesis and Aerobic Respiration; Procaryotes to Eucaryotes; Animal and Plant Cells. Light Microscopy, Electron Microscopy, Radioisotopes, Autoradiography and Antibodies; Tissue Culture and Cinemicrography.
Details of Cell Structure and Functions of Cell Organelles. Chemical Components of Cell, Isolation and Detection of Cellular Macromolecules – Methods of Molecular Separation. Types of Bonds, Proteins, Nucleic Acids, Carbohydrates and Lipids.

Self-Assembly; Self-Assembling Aggregates – Collagen, Actin, Cellulose; Nucleoprotein Aggregates – Tobacco Mosaic Virus, Ribosome; Cell Membrane, Membrane Fluidity, Membrane Asymmetry.
Fluxes, Forces; Membrane Transport Processes – Free Diffusion, Osmosis, Facilitated Diffusion, Active Transport, Shuttle Processes; Electrical Potential Across Membrane. Transport Molecules;
Inhibitors; Ion Gradient and Energy Exchange; Proton Pumps. Enzymes; Activation Energy, Coupled
Reactions; Cofactors; Mechanism of Enzyme Action, Factors Affecting the Rate of Enzyme Action,
Enzyme Kinetics; Allosteric Enzymes; Isoenzymes; Inhibitors; Assay of Enzyme Activity. Regulation
of Enzyme Activity, Techniques for the Study of Metabolic Pathways.
Energy Releasing Pathways; Functional Groups and Common Reactions, Glycolysis, Tricarboxylic
Acid Cycle, Electron Transport Chain, Regulations; Degradation of Lipids and Proteins. Biosynthesis;
Carbohydrates – Interconversion and Regulations, Structure of Glycogen and Starch, Sucrose and
Starch Interconversions; Gluconeogenesis; Ketone Bodies; Glyoxylate Cycle; Synthesis of Fats.
Nuclear Envelope and Components – Organisation and Functions, Replication of DNA, Enzymes
involved in DNA Replication; Transcription in Procaryotes and Eucaryotes, Types of RNA; RNA
Processing in Eucaryotes. Protein Biosynthesis, Rate of Protein Synthesis; Processing of Protein Molecule; Regulation of Protein Synthesis. Strategies of Chemical Signalling, Signalling Mediated by Intracellular Receptors and Cell-surface Receptors, Second Messenger, Target Cell Adaptation; Bacterial Chemotaxis.
Cell Cycle – Phase and Events; Determination of Cell Cycle Times; Regulation of Cell Division, Mitosis. Meiosis. Molecular Theory of Recombination; Differences between Meiosis and Mitosis; Cytokinesis, Distribution of Cytoplasmic Components. Intercellular Recognition and Cell Aggregation; Cell Junctions – Desmosomes, Tight Junctions, Gap Junction, Plasmodesmata; Cell Movements – Pseudopodia, Lamillopodia, Filopodia, Ciliary and Flagellar Movements, Phagocytosis; Extracellular Matrix – Components, Basal Lamina. Differentiated Animal Cell Types – A General Classification and functions; Tissues and cells. Differences between Plant and Animal Cells; Plant Cell Wall; Plant Cell and Tissue Types; Meristems and their Distribution; Plant Cell Growth.

Ecology
Concepts of Ecology, Environment, Population, Community, Ecosystem, Biosphere; Detailed studies
on the environmental components: Light, Temperature, Atmosphere, Water, and Soil.
Ecosystem as a unit of nature; Components of ecosystem; Tolerance range and limiting factor; Trophic
level; Ecological pyramids; Energy input in ecosystem; Energy flow; Food chain and Food web;
Ecosystem control; Biogeochemical cycling: Carbon cycle, Nitrogen cycle, Sulphur cycle, Phosphorus
cycle, Nutrient budgets and Cycling in forests. Biomes of the world; Forests; Grasslands; Deserts;
Aquatic ecosystems; Lentic ecosystems; Lotic ecosystems, Marine ecosystems; Estuaries.
Community studies; Community gradients and boundaries, Analytic characters: Qualitative characters,
and Synthetic characters; Succession: Primary and Secondary succession, Autotrophic and
Heterotrophic succession, Autogenic and Allogenic succession; Processes in succession; Kinds of
succession; Models of succession; Trends in succession. Community organisation – Habitat and Niche,
Functional roles and Guilds, Keystone species, Dominant species, Stability, Community organisation;
Species interaction; Evolution of competitive ability; Predation, Co-evolution of Predator-Prey system;
Herbivory – Defence mechanisms in plants, Herbivore interactions and counter-measures. Population –
Density, Natality, Mortality, Dispersal, Age distribution, Population distribution; Population growth –
Factors affecting biotic potential, Carrying capacity; Population regulation – Density dependent factors,
Genetic diversity of the population; Evolutionary implications of natural regulation.
Human evolution in relation to environment – Historical overview; Characteristics of human
population growth, Trends in growth of human population; Population growth by region; Problems of
resource use related to population growth; Future Trends. Causes of degradation of ecosystem;
Defining wildlife; Threats to wildlife; Extinct, Threatened and Out of danger species; The Red Data
Book; Importance of conserving wildlife. Measures for conservation of wildlife, Conservation in India;
Pollution of Air, Fresh-water bodies, Ground water, and Marine water, Land; Pollution due to noise;
radiation pollution; Control of pollution.

Genetics
Genetics - A historical perspective; Basic terminology; Mendel’s classical experiments with pea, Law
of Segregation, Law of Independent Assortment; The use of test crosses, Reasons for Mendel’s success.
Extensions and modifications of Mendelian genetic analysis – Dominance, Multiple alleles, Rh Factor
alleles in humans, Incompatibility alleles in plants; Gene interactions and modified Mendelian ratios;
Lethal alleles; Pleiotropy; Sex-linked genes; Degrees of gene expression; Environmental modifications
of gene expression. Sex determination in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, Effects of environmental factors
on sex determination; Genetic basis of sex determination. Sex linkage and dosage compensation – The
Chromosome Theory of Inheritance; Sex-linkage; Sex-limited and Sex-influenced traits.
Developmental basis of sex, Gonad formation: Role of hormones, Role of genes; Intersexes; Sex
mosaics; Sex reversal; Sex ratio; Sex selection of the offspring. Linkage, Crossing-over and
chromosome mapping – The Concept of crossing-over, Cytological basis and molecular mechanism;
Genetic mapping, Why didn’t Mendel find Linkage? Extra-nuclear inheritance – Early experiments;
Maternal vs. extra-nuclear inheritance; Systems of extra-nuclear inheritance; Characteristics of extranuclear
genome; Organelle inheritance dependent on nuclear genome; Organelle-associated linear
plasmid DNA; Origin of organelles. Human chromosomes – morphology; Making preparations for
cytogenetic studies; Chromosome banding types, and uses; Karyotyping – organisation, nomenclature,
analysis; Chromosome heteromorphism; Molecular organisation – packaging of DNA into
chromosome; Chromosome banding and taxonomic relationships. Structural abnormalities in
chromosomes and their effects – Deletions, Duplications, Inversions, Translocations, Ring
Chromosomes and Isochromosomes. Numerical abnormalities in chromosomes and their effects –
Euploidy, aneuploidy, autosomal and sex chromosome aneuploidies and associated syndromes. The
nature and structure of genetic material – Experiments performed in the search for genetic material,
DNA as the genetic material, RNA as genetic material; The chemical composition of DNA and RNA;
The physical structure of DNA: The Double Helix, DNA denaturation and renaturation;
Conformational flexibility of DNA molecules. Genetics of Bacteria and Bacteriophages – Structure of a
bacteriophage; Life cycles of phages; Plaque assay technique; Genetic recombination in a phage;
Complementation analysis; Bacterial genetic system; Recombination in bacteria; Transformation –
Molecular mechanism, Competence, Transformation and mapping of genes; Conjugation – Directions
of transfer of genetic information, F + and F  factors, High frequency recombinant bacteria (Hfr
Bacteria), Conjugation and genetic mapping; Transduction; Plasmids and Episomes.
Gene Fine Structure – Bacteriophage as a genetic system for studies; Fine structure analysis of a gene –
Recombination in rII mutants, Deletion mapping; Applying complementation test to the rII locus; The
ultimate in fine structure mapping; Overlapping genes. Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes –
Control points of gene expression; Induction and repression in prokaryotes; Lactose metabolism and
the operon, Positive control of the lac operon by the CAP and cyclic AMP; The tryptophan operon.
Temporal sequences of gene expression during phage infection, regulation of gene expression and
development in eukaryotes – Genetic organisation of prokaryotes vs. eukaryotes; Short-term gene
regulation, Hormonal regulation; Gene regulation in development and differentiation; Models of gene
regulation in eukaryotes. Mutations and mutagenesis – Somatic and gametic mutations, Spontaneous
and induced mutations, Other categories of mutations; Detection of mutation; Molecular basis of
mutations; Transposable genetic elements; Mutagenesis – physical and chemical mutagens,
Environmental mutagens; Use of mutations. Carcinogenesis and teratogenesis – Chemical carcinogens,
Radiation induced cancer, Oncogenic viruses, Genetic aspects of cancer; Prevention and cure of cancer;
Teratogenesis. Immunogenetics – basic concepts, Non-specific defense system, Specific immune
response, Antigen, antibodies; Cells involved in immune response – The cell types of immune system,
Role of T and B lymphocytes in eliciting an immune response; Complement system; Genetics of
antibody diversity; Major histocompatibility complex; Autoimmune diseases.
Genetics of blood – Chemistry and genetics of blood group systems; Haemoglobin gene in eukaryotes;
Blood groups and medicine; Racial differences. Behaviour of genes in populations – Hardy-Weinberg
Law; Determination of allelic and genotypic frequencies, Verification of Hardy-Weinberg law;
Influence of evolutionary forces on gene frequencies. Continuous variations – origin; Quantitative
inheritance, Polygenic hypothesis for quantitative trait; Effect of environment on quantitative traits;
Components of phenotypic variance, Broad sense and narrow sense heritability, Estimation of
heritability; Uses of Heritability Estimates; Twin studies, Uses, Genetic inferences and problems.
Behaviour and Genetics – methods, comparative approaches, Case studies on Behaviour; Genetics of
human behaviour, Human behaviour traits with less defined genetical basis; Genetics and I.Q., Genetics
and human welfare – Diagnosis through genetic counselling, Genetic screening, Therapy for inherited
diseases; Recombinant DNA technique; Applications of genetic engineering. Genetics in agriculture
and plant improvement – Regeneration of plants from callus tissues and protoplasts, The Ti plasmid of
Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Gene transfer in monocotyledonous plants, Herbicide tolerant plants,
Resistance to pests, Resistance to frost formation, Enhanced nitrogen utilisation, Improving nutritional
value, Manipulating gene expression using antisense RNA.

Physiology
Nutrition: Proteins, Carbohydrates, Lipids, Vitamins, Minerals and Trace Elements and, Water; Feeding
Mechanisms; Digestive Tract and process of digestion, Digestive Enzymes, Maintenance of Gut
Lining; Absorption of products of digestion; Energy Metabolism. Respiratory System: Respiratory
Gases; Modes of Respiration; Gills, Lungs, Tracheae; Regulation of Respiration, Adaptations for
Diving and Underwater Swimming; Transport of Gases in Blood: Haemoglobin. Circulation: Body
Fluids: Composition of body fluids, Blood Plasma; General Plan of Circulatory Systems Structure of
Mammalian Heart: Excitation of Heart, Cardiac Output; Blood Vessels: Blood Flow, Arteries, Veins,
Capillaries, Blood Flow During Exercise, Lymphatic System; Haemostatic Mechanisms. Excretion:
Nitrogen Excretion with Formation of Ammonia, Ammonotelism, Ureotelism, Uricotelism,
Guanotelism; Excretory Organs: Functional Principles of osmolarity and membrane permeability,
Contractile Vacuoles, Nephridia of Worms, Molluscan Kidney, Green Gland of Crustaceans,
Malpighian Tubules of Insects, Structure of Vertebrate Kidney; Function and regulation of vertebrate
kidney; osmotic and Ionic Regulation; Problems of Osmoregulation: Osmoregulation in Aqueous
(Freshwater and Marine) and Terrestrial Environment; Hormones in Water and Electrolyte Regulation.
Movements: Amoeboid; Ciliary and Flagellar movements; Muscle and Movements: Structure of
Vertebrate Skeletal Muscles, Mechanism and control of Muscle Contraction, Initiation of Muscle
Contraction; Cardiac and Smooth Muscles. Temperature Relations in Animals: Effects of Temperature,
Acclimation and Acclimatisation; Temperature Regulation in Poikilotherms and Homeotherms;
Hibernation, Aestivation, and daily torpor Behavioural and Physiological Adjustments: Heat
Production, Heat Loss, Heat Exchangers, Regulatory Mechanisms. Reproduction: Reproductive
Mechanisms, Asexual and Sexual Reproduction; Functional Morphology of Reproductive Organs;
Ovary, Testis, Accessory Reproductive Organs; Reproductive Cycles. Communication I: Nervous
System and Nerve Cells; Nerve Impulse; Membrane Potential; Action Potential, All or None Response,
Conduction of nerve impulse; Synaptic Transmission: Chemical Synaptic Transmission, Post Synaptic
Potential, Electrical Synaptic Transmission; Neurotransmitters; Neural Circuits. Communication-II:
Hormonal Control Systems: Chemical Nature, Synthesis and Storage of hormones: Secretion of
Hormones: Steriod Thyroid and Peptide Hormones; Neuroendocrine Connection: Hypothalamus and
Pituitary, Regulation of Hormone Secretion; Insect Hormones; Pheromones.
Plant Water Relations: Early History of Ascent of Sap; Cohesion Theory of Ascent of Sap; The
Pathways of Transport of Water; The Concept of Upper lower case Diffusion, Osmosis, Osmotic
Pressure, Imbibition; Chemical and Water Potentials and factors affecting them; Resistance to Water
Movement and Water Flux; Movement of Water in a Single Cell; Water Relations of a Tissue; Water
Relations of a Whole Plant; Water Absorption: Soil Characteristics, Field Capacity; Water Loss:
Stomata Structure, Frequency and Stomatal Resistance, The Mechanism of Stomatal Opening; Factors
Controlling Stomatal Aperture. Nutrient Elements of Plants: Criteria of Essentiality; Classification and
Functions of Essential Elements; Nutrient Absorption; Nutrients and the Soil, Uptake of Mineral Ions,
Movement of Nutrients into the Roots; Transport of Ions: Ion Transport Across the Plasma Membrane,
Transport with the Help of Membrane Proteins, Radial Movement of Ions into the Roots, Long
Distance Transport; Role of Essential Elements: Macronutrients, Micronutrients. Photosynthesis:
Formulation of Basic concepts; Formulation of the Equation of Photosynthesis; Evidence for the
Existence of Light and Dark Reactions, The Role of Light Reaction; Chemistry of Chloroplast
Pigments; Discovery of Two Light Reactions: Quantum Requirement of Photosynthesis, Red Drop,
Emerson Enhancement Effect.

Photosystems I and II; The Dark Reactions: The Calvin Cycle; Photorespiration and the C4 Plants;
The CAM Plants; The Chloroplast – Ultrastructure and Organisation of Photosynthetic Machinery;
Photosynthesis, Agriculture and Human Welfare: Efficiency of Photosynthesis, Environment and
Photosynthesis, Agricultural Biotechnology; Evolutionary Aspects of the Chloroplast. Translocation in
Plants: The Transport.

Network; Origin and Delivery – The Source and the Sink; The Phloem elements – The Structural and
Functional Relationship; Loading and Unloading of Sieve Tubes; Experiments on Phloem Transport:
Brief Account of Munich Pressure Flow Model; Fensom and Spanner Electro-osmotic Flow
Hypothesis; Protoplasmic Streaming and Tubular Peristaltic Flow Model; Proto-osmotic Model.
Biological Nitrogen-Fixation: The Gifted Species; Requirements of Nitrogen-Fixation, Development
and Formation of Nodules in Legumes, Biochemistry of Nitrogen-Fixation: Factors Influencing
Functions of Nitrogenase enzyme; Genetics of Nitrogen-Fixation, Measurement of Nitrogenase
Activity; Nitrate Assimilation: Biochemical Reactions, Assimilatory Nitrate Reductase and Nitrite
Reductase, Regulation of Nitrate Assimilation; Interaction between Nitrogen and Carbon Assimilation;
Ammonia Assimilation: Biochemical Reactions, Uptake of Ammonia, Regulation of Ammonia
Assimilation; Nitrogen Control of Nitrogen Assimilation; Sulphate Assimilation; Metabolic
Interrelation of Nitrogen, Carbon and Sulphur. Hormones: Discovery and Characteristics of Plant
Hormones; Role of Auxins, Gibberellins, Cytokinins, Ethylene, Abscisic Acid; Other Growth
Regulators; Hormones Action; Applications. Development and Differentiation:. Vegetative
Development: Definitions, Seed Formation and Germination, Dormant Vegetative Structures;
Flowering: Plant Response to Light-Dark Cycles, Importance of Dark Period, Flowering Hormone,
Chilling and Flower Induction, Biochemical Changes; Phytochrome: Discovery of Phytochrome,
Properties of Phytochrome, Biological Responses Controlled by Phytochrome, Mechanism of Action;
Senescence: Regulation of Senescence, Biochemical Changes Associated with Senescence; Tissue
Culture: Historical Perspective and Development of Techniques, Organ, Tissue and Protoplast Culture;
Biological Clocks: Factors Affecting Rhythms.Plant and Stress:The Nature of Stress: Physical,
Chemical and Biological Stress; Ways to Adapt to Stress: Altering the Molecules at Work, Changes in
the Morphology and Behaviour of Plants, Use of Alternate Metabolic Pathways; Plant Responses to
Specific Stress Conditions; Future Prospects.

Developmental Biology
Anther and ovule; Gametogenesis, Pollination and Fertilization – Incompatibility – types and biological
significance, Overcoming incompatibility; Apomixis – types and their peculiarities, Parthenogenesis
and Significance of apomixis. Endosperm – Development, structure, fate and morphological nature,
Types, Endosperm haustoria; Variants. Embryogenesis – Histogenesis and organogenesis;
Dicotyledonous and Monocotyledonous embryo; Polyembryony and its uses. Seed – Parts;
Developments; Appendages; Stored metabolites; Fruit – Development and Dispersal; Vivipary.
Root and shoot Morphogenesis; Topology and organ shapes; Tropic responses. Plant growth regulators
and development, Apical dominance and genetic studies; Applications. Secondary growth in typical
dicotyledonous stem; Secondary growth in monocot stem; Periderm – structure, origin and
development, Cambial variants – In stems and roots. Plant tissue and organ culture – Cellular
totipotency – Organogenesis, Somatic embryogenesis; Applications. Current trends in developmental
studies – The future.
Beginning of a New Organism: Development in Eukaryotic unicellular animals; Structure and types of
sperms, Process of Spermatogenesis and Spermiogenesis in sperm formation; Oogenesis in Amphibians
and Mammals, Types of eggs on basis of presence of yolk and details of Egg Envelopes, Process of
fertilization involving events before and after fusion of egg with sperm and at the time of fusion of egg
and sperm pro-nuclei, Initiation of development. Cleavage and Gastrulation: Cleavage of Zygote and
influence of yolk on cleavage; Planes, Patterns and Mechanisms of Zygote cleavage; Products of
cleavage-Morula and Gastrula; Epiboly and Emboly Morphogenetic movements in gastrulation;
Process of Gastrulation in sea urchins, amphibians and amniotes (chick and mammals especially
eutherians). Morphogenesis and Tissue Organisation: Types of Morphogenetic processes and Modes of
Cell movement in the formation of the Germ layers; Morphogenesis of Ectodermal derivatives namely
neurulation in Amphibians and Chick, Mechanisms of neural plate formation, Morphogenesis of
Mesodermal derivatives, Development of heart in amphibians and chick, development of blood cells,
Origin and Morphogenesis of Endodermal derivatives, Origin and Migration of Primordial germ cells
in Frog ,Chick and Mammals.Mechanisms of Cell Interactions: Totipotency and pluripotency,
Mechanisms of Cell interaction, Analysis of genomic equivalance of Nuclei , Analysis of
developmental potency of nuclei by method of nuclear transplantation in eggs. Cell determination,
interactions and ooplasmic determinants, ooplasmic determinants and somatic determination in
Tunicates, Embryonic induction and cell determination in neural ectoderm by induction from dorsal
mesoderm (primary embryonic induction), Induction of mesoderm in amphibians, Secondary induction,
instructive interaction between ectoderm and mesenchymal cell, Permissive interaction in Pancreas
development, Organogenesis of Eye and Limb: Structure of adult vertebrate eye, Eye field,
Development of vertebrate eye and differentiation of retina, lens and cornea, Tissue interactions in
development of eye. Vertebrate limb and its basic structural pattern, limb field, Determination of limb
polarities and pattern of limb development.
Metamorphosis: Types of Development and Metamorphic Changes, Larval Forms in Various Animal
Groups; Metamorphosis in Amphibians; the process of metamorphosis in anurans and urodeles;
Hormones and their interactions in Metamorphosis of Amphibia, Neoteny; Development, Growth and
Metamorphosis in Insects, Factors Controlling Metamorphosis in insects, Comparison between
Metamorphosis in Amphibians and Insects. Regeneration: Types of Regeneration, Patterns of
Reparative Regeneration: Limb Regeneration in Amphibians, The Origin of Regeneration cells of
Blastema, Role of Wound Epidermis, Apical Epidermal cap, Role of Nerves and Hormones in
regeneration, Role of Distal Transformation of Blastema; Lens Regeneration in Amphibians,
Regeneration in Hydra; and in Planarians, Comparison between Regeneration and Embryonic
Development, A survey of Regenerative Capacity in the Animal Kingdom, Hetromorphosis. Growth,
Aging, Cancer: definition of Growth, Allometric and Isometric Growth, Measurement of Growth,
Factors Governing Growth, Aging and its Consequences, Theories of Cellular Aging; Cancer as a result
of Developmental Error, Characteristics of Malignant Cells, Causes, Stages and, Mechanism of
Carcinogenesis, Multicausal Nature of Cancer, Human development: Gametogenesis,
Spermatogenesisnd Oogenesis in humans,structure of Female Reproductive Tract, Pre-Embryonic
Development: Fertilization, The Pre-embryo development and implantation, Embryonic and Foetal
Development; Developmental Changes After Birth, Extra Embryonic Membranes and Placenta, Flaws
in Development.

Taxanomy and Evolution
Taxonomy; Aims, Objectives and Importance; Principles of Taxonomy and Systematics; History of
Plant Classification; History of Animal Taxonomy; Plant Taxonomy in Ancient India. Types of
Classification; Linnaeus Era: Artificial system of Classification, Natural System of Classification
Bentham and Hooker; Phylogenetic System of Classification – Engler and Prantl’s, Hutchinson’s,
Takhtajan System of classification of animals. Types of Classification – Phenetic Classification,
Natural Classification, Phylogenetic or Cladistic Classification, Evolutionary Classification,
Omnispective Classification, Taxonomic Hierarchy. The Five Kingdom System. Development of
Concepts, Binomial Nomenclature; Important Rules of Nomenclature; Binomial System.
Tools of Taxonomist: Field Observations, Ecological-Physiological; Herbaria and Museums, Botanical
gardens, Zoological Parks; National Parks. Approach in Taxonomy, Morphological, Anatomical,
Palynological, Embryological, Cytological, Paleobotanical, Physiological, Ecological Evidences,
Taxonomy Library Documentation; Keys to Identification; Herbarium Ethics – Modern trends in Plant
Taxonomy, Alpha and Omega Taxonomy; Chemotaxonomy; Numerical Taxonomy, Immunotaxonomy.
Concept of Organic Evolution: Pre-Darwinian Evolutionary Thinking; Lamarckism; Darwinism – The
Significance, Neo-Darwinism and Modern Synthesis; From Modern Synthesis to Molecular Genetics;
Challenges to Darwinism; Creationism. The Geological Records, Evolution of the Horse; Evidences of
Evolution; Biogeography, Comparative Anatomy, Comparative Embryology, Comparative Physiology
and Biochemistry. Basis for Natural Selection; Sources and Expression of Variability; Concept of
Fitness; Natural Selection Under Different Environmental Conditions.
Natural Selection in Action: Industrial Melanism; Interspecific Competition, Coadapted Communities,
Character Displacement and Ecological Exclusion; Parasitism, Predation and Coevolution; Sexual
Selection; Kin and Group Selection. Concept of Species; Mechanisms of Speciation; Genetic
Repatterning during Isolation; Isolating Mechanisms. Human Evolution – Primate Heritage; Trends in
Human Evolution; An Overview of Hominid Phylogeny. Symbolising and Language Skills; Evolution
of Culture; Natural Selection and Future of Man.

Animal Diversity -I
Matter - Living and Non-living, Chemistry of Living Matter, Specific Organisation, Metabolism,
Growth and Development, Reproduction, Irritability, Adaptation, Homeostasis, Movement; Viruses- A
Borderline case between Living and Non-living Things; Acellular and Cellular Organism, Cell Theory
– Exceptions to the Cell Theory, Unified Cell Theory; Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes; Classification of
Living Organisms – Species, Concepts in Classification, Binomial Naming of Organisms,Classification
Systems – Two Kingdom Classification, Three and Four Kingdom Classification, Five Kingdom
Classification, Limitations of Five Kingdom Classification, Interrelationships and Implications of
Classification. Protozoans; General Characteristics, Structural Organisation and Function – Bodyform,
Locomotor Organelles, Nutrition, Osmoregulation and Excretion, Respiration, Mechanisms for
Response, Reproduction and Life Cycles, Encystment; Classification of Protozoa – Flagellated
Protozoans, Amoeboid Protozoans, Spore forming Protozoans, Ciliated Protozoans; Parasitic
Protozoans- Amoebae, Flagellates, Sporozoans, Ciliates. Levels of Body Organisation; Characteristics
of Metazoa; Symmetry – Asymmetrical and Spherical, Radial and Biradial, Bilateral; Development
Patterns – Cleavage, Fate of Blastopore; Germ Layers; Body Cavity-Pseudocoelom, Coelom;
Cephalisation and Segmentation; Origin and Evolution of Metazoa – Syncytial Theory, Colonial
Theory, Polyphyletic Theory.
Metazoan branches – Metazoa, Parazoa and Eumetazoa; Parazoa: Phylum Porifera - Sponges,
Characteristic features, Classification; Phylum Cnidaria- Characteristic features, Classification, Coral
Reefs; Phylum Ctenophora – Characteristic features, Classification; Phylum – Platyhelminthes –
Characteristic features, Classification. Pseudocoelomata: Phylum Nematoda – Characteristic features,
Classification; Phylum Rotifera – Characteristic features, Classification. Coelomata: Eucoelomata:
Phylum Annelida, Coelom, Metamerism, Characteristic features, Classification; Phylum Arthropoda –
Trilobitomorpha, Chelicerata, Crustacea, Uniramia; Phylum Onychophora; Phylum Mollusca –
Monoplacophora, Polyplacophora, Aplacophora, Gastropoda, Bivalvia, Scaphopoda, Cephalopoda;
Phylum Echinodermata – Asteroidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea, Holothuriodea, Crinoidea; Other Phyla.
Skeleton – Exoskeleton, Endoskeleton, Hydroskeleton; Polymorphism – Polymorphism in Cnidaria,
Polymorphism in Insecta.
Locomotion; Significance of Hydraulic Pressure in Locomotion, Locomotion in Coelenterates,
Locomotion in Flatworms, Nematodes, Annelida – Body Musculature, Hydrostatic Skeleton,
Locomotor Structures, Mechanics of Locomotion; Arthropoda, Mollusca – Foot as a Creeping and
Crawling Organ, Foot as a Burrowing Organ, Foot as a Leaping Organ, Foot as a Swimming Organ;
Locomotion in Echinodermata. Nutrition in Non-Chordates – Feeding and Digestion in Sponges,
Coelenterates, Flatworms, Annelids, Molluscs, Echinoderms, Arthropods; Excretion in Non-Chordates
– Protonephridia and Metanephridia, Malpighian Tubules, Coelomoducts of Molluscs; Osmoregulation
in Freshwater Non-Chordates and in Marine Non-Chordates, Water Conservation in Terrestrial Non-
Chordates. Respiratory Systems – Respiratory Organs, Process of Respiration, Respiratory Pigments;
Circulatory System – Open type and Closed type of Circulatory Systems. Organisation of Nervous
System – Nerve Cell, Neuroglia, Ganglia, Nerves; Primitive Nervous System: Nerve Net; Advanced
Nervous Systems – Platyhelminthes, Annelids, Arthropods and Molluscs; Giant Nerve Fibre;
Information Processing; Receptors – Properties, Mechanoreceptors, Chemoreceptors, Photoreceptors.
Endocrine versus Neural Integration; Endocrine Organs – Neurosecretory Cells and the Concept of
Neurosecretion, Neurosecretory Systems, Endocrine Organs; Hormones in Growth and Reproduction –
Annelida, Mollusca, Arthropoda; Hormones Controlling other Functions. Asexual Reproduction –
Binary Fission, Multiple Fission, Fragmentation, Budding, Strobilation, Formation of Special
Reproductive Units – The Gemmules; Regeneration; Autotomy and Regeneration, Epitoky, Polarity and
Regeneration; Asexual Reproduction. Prevalence and Significance.
Sexual Reproduction – The Gametes and Significance of Sexual Reproduction, Sexual Dimorphism,
Patterns of sexual reproduction, The Reproductive Organs, Accessory Sex Glands, Mating and
Fertilization, Ovipary, Vivipary and Ovovivipary; Hermaphroditism; Parthenogenesis; Alternation of
generations; Reproduction, Life Cycles and Larval Forms.
Solitary and Colonial Forms – Colonial Forms Among Protozoans and Metazoans; Adaptive radiations,
Adaptive Radiations in Annelida, Arthropoda and Mollusca, Flight in Insects; Migration in Insects.
Taxis and Kinesis; Biological Rhythms – Control of Biorhythms, Biological Clock; Communication
Behaviour – Visual Signals, Mechanical Signals, Chemical Signals, Communication among
Honeybees, Dance Language; Courtship Behaviour – Need for Courtship Behaviour, Sex Differences
in Courtship Behaviour, Visual, Mechanical and Chemical Displays, Nuptial Gifts, Sperm Competition
and Mate Guarding, Alternative Tactics of Mate Competition, Rejection and Deceit in Courtship; Social
Organisation in Insects – Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Behaviour, Social Wasps, Ants,
Honey Bees, Termites; Parasitism – Types of Parasites, Effects of Parasitism on Parasites. Parasitic
Platyhelminthes – Class Monogenea, Class Trematoda, Class Cestoidea; Parasitic Nemathelminthes –
Class Nematoda; Injurious and Harmful Arthropods – Arachnids of Medical, Veterinary and
Agricultural Importance, Insects of Medical, Veterinary and Agricultural Importance, House Hold
Insects. Beneficial Nature of Non-Chordates; Phylum Arthropoda and Mollusca as source of food;
Kinds of Honey Bees, Production of Honey, Composition of honey, Honey produced; Non Chordates
yielding Industrial Products – Silk, Lac, Beewax, Shells, Pearls, Precious Corals, Sponges, Dyes and
Pigments; Uses of Non-chordates; Agriculture, Soil fertility; Non-chordates as pollinators and
Destroyers of pests; Non-Chordates as Components in Food Chains and as Scavengers.

Animal Diversity -II
Phylum Hemichordata–Basic Adaptive Features, Affinities; Phylum Chordata: General Characters,
Classification, Basic Adaptive Features, Affinities; Ancestry and Evolutionary Trends. Agnatha:
General Characters and Classification; Pisces: General Characters and Classification; Some Common
Fresh Waster Fishes of India; Class Amphibia: Salient Features and General Organisation. Reptiles:
Origin and Adaptive Radiation, Changes in Traditional Classification, Classification of Extant Reptiles,
Main Characteristics, Distinguishing Features of Reptiles as Compared to Amphibians; Birds: Ancestry
and Evolution, Classification, Characteristics, Form and Function, Social Behaviour of Birds.
Mammals: General Characters and Classification; Natural History: Monotremata/Prototheria,
Marsupialia, Eutheria, Primates, Economic Importance; Evolution and Affinities; Threatened Species in
India.
Integument: Embryonic Origin; General Features of the Integument, Integument of Fishes, Tetrapods;
Specialized Derivatives of the Integument–Nails, claws, Hooves, Horns, Antlers, Baleen, Scale.
Dentition (Comparative Account of Dental Formula); Feeding Mechanisms: Fishes and Amphibians,
Reptiles and Birds, Mammals; Digestive System in Non-mammalian Vertebrates: Fishes and
Amphibians, Reptiles and Birds; Digestive System in Mammals. Respiratory System of Aquatic
Vertebrates: Amphioxus, Cyclostomes, Fishes, Accessory Respiratory Organs in Fishes, Amphibians;
Respiration in Terrestrial Vertebrates: Fishes with Lungs, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals;
Voice Apparatus. Heart: Protochordate, Piscine, Early Tetrapod, Ectotherm and Endotherm Heart;
Arterial System: Aortic Arches, Venous System; Embryonic Development of Cardiovascular System;
Blood: Composition, Respiratory Pigments; Lymphatic System.
Urinary System in Protochrodates and Vertebrates; Embryonic Development; Uriniferous Tubules;
Kidney: Structure, Phylogeny, Sucession of Kidney; Functions of Urinary System; Variation in Plan.
Genital System: Embryonic origin, Functions, Genital System in Protochordates. Male Genital System:
Testes, Accessory Sex Glands, Intromittent Organ. Female Genital Organs; Ovary, Ducts, External
Genitilia, Mammary Apparatus. Survey of Gonads in Vertebrates. Nervous System; Central, Peripheral,
Autonomic Nerves, Brain: Comparative Structure; Sense Organs; Specialised Sense Organs. Skeletal
system: Cartilage and Bones; Classification of Skeleton: Axial and Appendicular; Skeleton of Frog and
Rabbit: Skull, Ribs and Sternum, Skeleton of Limbs; Functional Adaptations. Endocrine Glands in
Mammals: Pituitary, Thyroid, Parathyroid, Pancreas, Adrenals, Gastrointestinal and Gonadial
Hormones; Endocrine Glands in Agnatha, Fishes, Amphibians, Reptilians, Birds.
Definition of Behaviour; Importance of Studying Behaviour; Bases of Behaviour. Causes of Behaviour:
Anatomical, Physiological, Ecological, Genetic; Innate Behaviour; Learning and Experience,
Associative Learning, Extinction, Habituation, Latent and Insight Learning, Imprinting; Evolution of
Behaviour; Adaptiveness of Behaviour. Organisation of Behaviour: Neural Command Centers,
Rhythmic, Hormones; Social Organisation, Costs and Benefits, Types, Primate Social Organisation;
Communication; Types of Signals, Migratory Behaviour. Adaptive Behaviour: Colouration; Mimicry;
Biolumeniscence; Defence in Animals; Echolocation in Bats, Mammals and Birds, Locomotion in
Vertebrates–Basic Plan in Water, Air, Ground.

Plant Diversity – 1
Diversity of Life on Earth; Characteristics of Living Things; Origin of Life; Organisation of Cells –
Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes; Evolution by Endosymbiosis; Classification of Organisms:The Five
Kingdoms; Characteristics of Plants; Environmental Degradation and Plant Diversity. Domains of
Organisms of Primary and Ancient Lineage; Characteristics, Affinities, Evolution and Classification of
Cyanobacteria, Fungi, Algae, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes.
Comparative Morphology of Algae: Unicellular Forms; Anacystis, Chlamydomonas, Colonial Forms;
Microcystis, Volvox, Filamentous Forms: Nostoc, Ulothrix, Oedogonium, Heterotrichous Forms;
Draparnaldiopsis, Coleochaete, Ectocarpus, Thalloid Forms: Ulva, Fucus, Polysiphonoid Forms;
Polysiphonia; Structure of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Algal Cells. Reproduction: Vegetative, Asexual
and Sexual Reproduction; Reproduction and Life Cycle of Chlamydomonas, Ulothrix, Ulva,
Laminaria, Fucus; Origin and Evolution of Sex. Classification of Algae: Criteria for Classification ;
Prokaryotic: Division Cyanophyta; Eukaryotic Algae of Divisions Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta,
Rhodophyta, Xanthophyta, Chrysophyta, Euglenophyta, Dinophyta, Cryptophyta, Bacillariophyta;
Systematic Position of the Genera studied. Algal Habitats and Distribution: Aquatic Algae: Fresh Water
and Marine Habitats, Special Habitats; Soil and Subaerial Algae; Algal Associations; Algal-Plant,
Algal-Animal and Algal-Symbiotic Associations. Algae and Human Welfare: A Nutritional Food
Source; A Source of Animal Feed Use in Waste Water Treatment and Biofertilisers; A Source of
Energy; Industrial Applications: Phycocolloids, Diatomite, Pigments; Medicinal Uses; Algal
Companies; Harmful Effects.
Fungal Habitats and Morphology: Habitats; Nutrition and Growth, Morphology; Unicellular Forms
-Yeast, Slime Moulds – Cellular and Plasmodial Types, Filamentous Forms, Pseudoparenchymatous
Forms; The Fine Structure of Fungi. Comparative Account of Reproduction: Vegetative, Asexual,
Sexual; Types of Life Cycles and Alternation of Generations; Phytophthora, Rhizopus, Neurospora,
Puccinia. Fungal Diseases: Symptoms, Pathogen, Disease Cycle and Control Measures of Late Blight
of Potato: (Phytophthora infestans), Powdery Mildew of Rose (Sphaerotheca pannosa), Red Rot of
Sugarcane (Colletotrichum falcatum), Smut of Wheat (Ustilago tritici), Wheat Rusts (Puccinia
graminis), Skin Diseases: Lumpy Wool, Facial Eczema, Sporotrichosis, Ring Worm and Favus. Role of
Fungi in Human Welfare: Food Provider; Food Spoiler; Fermentation; Antibiotics; Drugs and
Hallucinogens; Mycorrhizal Fungi; Role of Fungi in Plant Disease Management; Aerobiology of Fungi;
Fungal Diseases in Human. Lichens: Range of Structure as Individual Organisms; Structure and
Anatomy; Reproduction: Vegetative, Asexual and Sexual; Lichens – A Model of Symbiotic System;
Importance of Lichens in Ecology, as Food, Indicators of Pollution etc.
Morphology and Anatomy of Bryophytes: General Characteristics and Life Cycle; Adaptations to Land
Habit; Morphology and Anatomy of Hepaticopsida - Riccia, Marchantia, Pellia, Anthocerotopsida -
Anthoceros; Bryopsida - Sphagnum, Funaria. Reproduction and Evolutionary Trends in Bryophytes:
General Features of Sexual Reproduction in Bryophytes; Study of Reproduction in Representative
Genera: Riccia, Marchantia, Pellia, Anthoceros, Sphagnum, Funaria; Evolution of Sporophyte in
Bryophytes. Importance and Uses of Bryophytes: Medicine, Construction, Decorative and Packing
Materials, House Hold Uses, Treatment of Waste Water, Mosses as Animal Food and Shelter; Uses of
Bryophytes in Horticulture; Ecological Role in Soil Erosion, Indicators of Mineral Deposits, pH, Seed
Plant Community, Air Pollution, Water Pollution; Bryophytes as Preserver of the Past; Bryophytes and
Research Work.
Pteridophytes: Comparative Morphology and Anatomy, Pteridophytic Life Cycle; General
Characteristics and Relationship with Other Groups; Formation of Fossils and Their Types;
Morphology and Anatomy of Rhynia, Cooksonia, Psilotum, Lycopodium, Selaginella, Equisetum,
Pteris, Cyathea, Marsilea; Distribution of Pteridophytes in India. Comparative Study of Reproduction
in Pteridophytes: Rhynia, Psilotum, Lycopodium, Selaginella, Equisetum, Pteris, Cyathea and Marsilea;
Vegetative Reproduction. Resume: Lower Plants; Telome Concept; Stelar Structure and Evolution;
Heterospory and Seed Habit; Fern as a System for Experimental Studies: Polarity, Regeneration,
Apogamy and Apospory.

Plant Diversity – 1I
General Characters of Gymnosperms, Distribution, Morphology, Anatomy, Reproduction, Embryogeny,
Polyembryony, Mature Seed and Germination; General Patterns of Life Cycles; Wilwitschia;
Classification of Gymnosperms. Economic importance of Gymnosperms. Cycas, Pinus, Ephedra and
Gnetum: Distribution, Habitat and General Features; Vegetative Structures:Reproductive Structures:
Pollination, Fertilization and Embryogeny; Conservation Concerns.
General Characters of Angiosperms; Distribution and diversity Angiosperms; Vascular tissue,
Reproduction, Dispersal, Plant Defence, Origin and Classification of Angiosperm; Representative,
Angiosperms; (Asteraceae, Orchidaceae, Poaceae, Leguminoseae); Economic Significance. Meristems;
Mature Tissues: Simple Tissues, Complex Tissues; Epidermal Tissue System: Root, Stem and Leaf –
comparative studies, Specialized Stem, Leaf and Root, Abscission. Flower; Transition and Formation of
floral organs; Morphological Nature of Flower; Vascular Anatomy of the Flower; Fruits: Simple and
Compound Fruits, False Fruits, Development; Fruit Abscission; Apomixis; Seed; Diversity in Seed
Form. Pollination; Attractants for Pollinators; Specific Pollinators and Behaviour; Flowers – Pollinator
Coevolution; Deception of Flower visitors.
Wheat; Maize or Corn; Rice; Rye; Oats; Sorghum; Barley; Triticale. Legumes; Groundnut; Gram; Pea;
Soybean; Cowpea; Beans; Urd; Mung. Fruits: Mango, Banana, Pineapple, Papaya, Guava, Fig, Citrus
Fruits, Melons, Watermelon, Muskmelon, Litchi, Pomegranate, Pome Fruits, Apple, Pear; Nuts:
Cashew nut, Pistachio, Walnut, Almond, Chestnut, Hazelnuts and Filberts. Vegetables from Roots and
Other Underground Parts: Potato, Sweet Potato, Cassava, Onion, Garlic, Beetroot, Carrot; Vegetables
from Leaves: Cabbage, Lettuce, Spinach; Vegetables from Fruits and Seeds: Cucurbits, Tomato,
Brinjal, Chillies, Okra. Oils and Fats from Plants, Vegetable and Essential Oils, Classification of
Vegetable Oils, Ground nut, Mustard, Safflower, Coconut, Cotton, Soybean, Sunflower, Linseed, Olive,
Castor, Sesame. Sugars and Starches: Sugarcane, Potato, Cassava.
Spices and Condiments; Spices obtained from Underground Parts; Bark; Spices obtained from Flower
Buds or Flowers; Spices obtained from Fruits, Seeds. Tea; Coffee; Cocoa. Medicinal Plants; Fumatory
and Masticatory Materials Yielding Plants; Oil-Yielding Plants. Commercially Important Timber
Yielding Plants; Commercially Important Fibre-Yielding Plants: Cotton, Jute, Coconut.
Study of Dicot Families: Ranunculaceae; Brassicaceae; Malvaceae; Rutaceae; Fabaceae: Mimosoideae,
Caesalpinioideae, Papilionoideae; Myrtaceae; Cucurbitaceae; Apiaceae. Rubiaceae; Asteraceae; Sapotaceae; Apocyanaceae; Asclepiadaceae; Solanaceae; Acanthaceae; Lamiaceae; Amaranthaceae; Santalaceae; Euphorbiaceae. Study of Monocot families: Musaceae; Liliaceae; Arecaceae; Poaceae. Variation in Flowers, Variations in Floral parts; Window leaves, Parasitic Plants: Carnivorous Plants, Seeds and Fruits, Some Special Monocots.