Assistant professor Zoology Detailed Syllabus
Kerala PSC announced
the exam for the post of Assistant professor Zoology
in
the collegiate education Department. The main topics and detailed syllabus for the
Assistant professor Zoology exam can be read and Syllabus pdf can
be downloaded in this page.
Exam details
Category Number: 295/2019
Name of Post:
Date of Test: 23.12.2020
Duration: 2
Hours
Conducted by: Kerala
PSC
Mode of Exam: Descriptive Exam (offline) Written Test
(Question cum Answer Booklet)
Medium of Questions: English
Total Marks: 100
Main Topics
– Assistant professor Zoology
In the Exam Calendar, the syllabus is given
as questions based on educational qualifications.
The main Topics of Assistant
professor Zoology exam are:
Module I - Systematics,
Animal Diversity, Ethology , Evolution And Zoogeography
Module II
- Research Methodology And Biostatistics
Research Methodology
Module III - BIOPHYSICS AND INSTRUMENTATION
Module IV
- Biochemistry, Physiology And Immunology
Module V
- Cell Biology, Molecular Biology And Bioinformatics Cell Biology
Module VI
- Developmental Biology And Genetics Developmental Biology
Module VII
- Ecology, Biodiversity Conservation Ecology
Module VIII
- Microbiology And Biotechnology Microbiology
Module IX
- Economic Zoology, Entomology , Fisheries , Wildlife Biology And Human
Genetics
Module IX
- Recent Developments In Zoology
Detailed
Syllabus of Assistant professor Zoology
Hope you already got
to know the main topics of this exam. The detailed syllabus of Assistant
professor Zoology is given below.
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Syllabus for Zoology
Assistant Professor Examination -Collegiate Education
MODULE 1.
SYSTEMATICS, ANIMAL DIVERSITY, ETHOLOGY , EVOLUTION AND ZOOGEOGRAPHY
SYSTEMATICS
Basic concepts,
Importance and Applications, Theories of Biological classification, Taxonomic
characters. Five kingdom classification Hierarchy of categories, Obligatory
categories of classification Species concept Taxonomic procedures and Tools:
Collection, Preservation, Curating and Identification Taxonomic keys: ICZN,
Nomenclature, merits and demerits, ethics, Modern Taxonomic Trends: Chemotaxonomy,
Cytotaxonomy, Molecular taxonomy, Cladistics, Numerical taxonomy, Bar coding
techniques
ANIMAL DIVERSITY
Lower Metazoans: Porifera,
Cnidaria-Polymorphism, Ctenophora, Acoelomata, Placozoa, Mesozoa and
Pseudo-coelomata Phylogenetic position of Molluscs, Adaptive Radiation in
Molluscs and Annelids. Phylogeny of Arthropod-Monophyly and Polyphyly
Echinoderms: Classification and adaptive radiation
Hemichordates:
Position in the animal kingdom, phylogeny and evolutionary significance
Chordates: Cephalochordates and Urochordates. Vertebrate Phylogeny-Agnatha,
Ostraco derms and Gnathostomes Placoderms, Acanthodians, Chondrichthyes and
Osteichthyes. Structural and Functional adaptations of fishes.
Terrestrial
Vertebrates: Tetrapod phylogeny - modern Amphibians,
diversity, distribution, status and threats. Reptiles – origin and adaptive
radiation. Mesozoic world of reptiles and extinction. Birds and Mammals:
Origin of birds and mammals. Structural and functional modifications for aerial
life.
Class Mammalia:
Prototheria, Metatheria and Eutheria. Phylogeny of Mammalian orders. Adaptive
radiation in mammals. Scientific names and common names of organisms under all
phylums Organisms with special features, Exceptions in biology
ETHOLOGY
Learning behaviour:
Short and long term memory, Habituation, Classical conditioning (Pavlov’s
experiments), Instrumental conditioning, Latent learning, Trial and error
learning, Instinct, Imprinting.
Communication
behaviour: Evolution of communication, Sensory mechanisms:
Electrical, Chemical, Olfactory, Auditory and Visual. Dance language of honey
bees, Pheromonal communication Orientation, Navigation, Migration (Fishes and
birds), Navigation cues. Biological rhythms – Circadian, Lunar periodicity,
Tidal rhythms.
Social Behaviour:
Aggregations, altruism, inclusive fitness, co-operation, territoriality,alarm
call, social organization in insects and primates Adaptations to stress- basic
concept of environmental stress, acclimation, acclimatization, avoidance and
tolerance .
EVOLUTION
Pre-Darwanian,
Lamarck, Darwin and Wallace and Post Darwinian concepts. Concepts of variation,
adaptation, struggle, fitness and natural selection-spontaneity of mutation.
Origin and Evolution of Life, Origin of basic biological molecules, abiotic
synthesis of or ganic monomers and polymers, concept of Oparin - Haldane,
Miller-Urey Experiments.
The RNA world. Idea
of Panspermia. The First Cell. Evolution of Prokaryotes- origin of eukaryotic
cells- evolution of unicellular eukaryotes, genome evolution. Geological
Timescale. Major events in evolutionary timescale. Anthropocene. Tools and
techniques in estimating evolutionary time scale. Mass extinction and its
consequences. Fossilsfossilization and its significance. Population Genetics.
Gene pool, gene frequency, Hardy-Weinberg Law. Rate of change ingene frequency
through natural selection, migration and random genetic drift. Founder effect.
Isolating mechanisms and speciation.
Micro, Macro and Mega
evolution. Coevolution. Developmental and Evolutionary Genetics, Gradualism v/s
punctuated equilibrium, anagenesis v/s cladogenesis, Primate Evolution and
Human Origins. Stages in Primate evolution- Prosimii, Anthropoidea and
Hominids. Factors in human origin, hominid fossils. Cytogenetic and molecular
basis of origin of man-African origin of modern man- Mitochondrial Eve, Y
chromosomal Adam
ZOOGEOGRAPHY
Biogeographical zones
of India
MODULE II RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND BIOSTATISTICS RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Basic concepts - Knowledge, Information and
Data - Science, Pseudoscience. Life Science - Definition, Laws,
Characteristics. Scientific temper, Empiricism, Rationalism and Units of
measurements.
Types of Research
(Descriptive/Analytical, Applied/ Fundamental, Quantitative/ Qualitative,
Conceptual/Empirical. Research and scientific method. Research Process.
Research formulation -Observation and Facts, Prediction and explanation,
Induction, Deduction.
Hypothesis -Null and
alternate hypothesis and testing of hypothesis - Research Design -Basic
principles, Meaning, Need and features of good design, Important concepts.
Development of a research plan -Exploration, Description, Diagnosis,
Experimentation, determining experimental and sample designs. Data collection
techniques. Scientific Documentation and Communication.
Information Science,
Extension and Ethics: Sources of Information -Primary and secondary sources.
Intellectual Property Rights – Copy right, Patents, Trademarks, Geographical
indications. Safety and precaution - ISO standards, Lab protocols, Lab animal
use, care and welfare, animal houses, radiation hazards. Extension: Lab to
Field, Extension communication, BIOSTATISTICS Data and Variable (Collection,
Types, Sources).Population, Sample, Sampling Methods (Random, Cluster,
Stratified and Geographical) and Sampling Errors/Bias.
Organization of Data
- Editing, Classification, Tabulation (forming a frequency distribution from
raw data and types and characteristics of a Frequency table).Presentation of
Data - Types and Characteristics of Tables and Visual aids – Graphs, Charts,
Diagrams, Flow charts, Cartographs. Statistical Analysis Tools - Parametric and
Non Parametric; Bivariate and Multivariate Analysis. Interpretation and
Forecasting, Characteristics, Merits and De merits of Mean, Median and Mode,
Range, Quartile Deviation, Mean Deviation and Standard Deviation. Correlation,
Regression, Probability analysis. Probability distributions Binomial, Poisson
and Normal. Chi- Square Test Student’s ‘t’ test F-test and Analysis of Variance
(ANOVA - One way)
MODULE III BIOPHYSICS AND INSTRUMENTATION BIOPHYSICS
Diffusion and
Osmosis: Diffusion -Kinetics of diffusion, Fick’s law of
diffusion and diffusion coefficient, Biological significance in animals,
Electrochemical gradient, Stokes-Einstein equation and Graham’s law,
Facilitated diffusion, Gibbs-Donnan equilibrium. Osmosis- osmotic concentration
and osmotic pressure, Van’t Hoff’s laws. Biological significance of osmosis in
animals. Radiation Biophysics: Ionizing radiation, units of radioactivity,
exposure and dose. Interaction of radiation with matter – effect on nucleic
acids, proteins, enzymes and carbohydrates. Cellular effects of radiation :
somatic and genetic.
Nuclear medicine :
Internally administered radioisotopes. Radio iodine in thyroid function
analysis. Renal, liver and lung function analysis. Application of radioactive
tracers, Radiation protection and therapy.
INSTRUMENTATION
Microscopy:
Light microscope and dark field microscope, Phase contrast micro scope,
Differential Interference contrast (Nomarsky) microscopy, Confocal micro scope,
Electron microscope –TEM, SEM, Scanning Tunnelling and Atomic Force Micro
scopes., Polarising microscope, fluorescence microscope and camera lucida
Chromatography: Paper chromatography, Thin layer chromatography, Ion exchange
chro matography. Gel permeation chromatography, Affinity chromatography, Gas
chromatogra phy, High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Electrophoresis. Paper electrophoresis, Gel
electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) – SDS and nonSDS ,
Agarose gel electrophoresis , Disc electrophoresis, High voltage
electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis, isoelectric focusing. Colorimetry,
Spectrophotometry and Spectroscopy.
Principle and
applications of colorimetry and spectrophotometry (UV and visual) . Spectroscopy
, X-ray diffraction crystallography, Flame emission spectroscopy, Atomic
absorption spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR),
Circular dichroism spectroscopy, ESR spectroscopy, Mass spectroscopy.
Centrifugation: Basic principles of sedimentation,
Types of centrifuges,
Analytical and Preparative centrifugation, Differential and density gradient
centrifugation. Radioisotope Detection and Measurement.
Dosimetry:
Ionization chamber, GM counter, Solid and liquid scintillation counters, Autoradiography.
Nanotechnology: Nanosensors and Nanomedicines, Radio Immuno Assay, Enzyme
Linked Immuno Sorbant Assay (ELISA).
pH meter, Principle
and working. Types of pH meters. Electrophysiological methods: ECG, EEG, PET,
MRI, CAT, Biological and Histological Techniques: Fixation, preparation of
temporary and permanent slides, whole mounts, smears, squashes and sections.
Specimen preparation for TEM, SEM, shadow casting, freeze fracturing, freeze
etching, negative staining. Microphotography. Cytochemical and histological
methods- Microtome techniques, fixation, staining. Cytochemistry of nucleic
acids, detection of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids.
MODULE IV BIOCHEMISTRY, PHYSIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY BIOCHEMISTRY
Macromolecules and their subunits. Chemical bonds
of biomolecules. Carbohydrates: Classification of carbohydrates with
examples-Structure of monosaccharides- glucose, fructose, galactose, mannose
and ribose. Isomerism - Structural isomerism (functional group isomerism) and
stereo isomerism (optical isomerism)- mention epimer, anomer and enantiomer
with examples , Mutarotation Biological roles of monosaccharides. Structure and
biological roles of maltose, sucrose, lactose, trehalose and cellobiose.
Hompolysaccharides - Structure and biological roles of cellulose, starch,
glycogen, inulin and chitin. Heteropolysaccharide - Structure and biological
roles of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin, chondroitin sulphate, keratan sulphate,
heparin and agar-agar Proteins:
Amino acids,
Classification: (a) on the basis of number of amino
and carboxyl group (b) on the basis of the chemical composition of side chain
(c) based on the polarity of side chain (R) Amphoteric properties of amino
acids pk value and Isoelectric point (pI) of amino acids. Peptide bond and
peptides (di, tri, tetra, oligo and polypeptide). Structure of protein. Primary
structure, Secondary structure ( -helix -parallel & antiparallel and
B-pleated sheet), random coil conformation, Tertiary structure, Quarternary
structure.
Brief note on protein domains, motifs, folds
and Ramachandran plot. Biological roles of proteins Lipids: Classification of
lipids -Simple lipids (fats, oils and waxes), compound lipids (phospholipids,
glycolipids, lipoproteins and sulpholipids) and derived lipids. Biological
roles of lipids - as food reserves (storage lipids), structural lipids in
membrane, as signals, as co-factors, as pigments, as insulators, as vitamin
carriers. Prostaglandins - Chemical nature and functions. Fatty acids -
definition; essential fatty acids.
Classification with
examplesSaturated, unsaturated, hydroxyl and cyclic fatty acids Nomenclature of
fatty acids - Genevan system. Nucleic acids: Structural organization of DNA
(Watson -Crick model) Structural organization of t-RNA;. Biological roles of
nucleotides and nucleic acids Enzymes: Classification- (I.U.B. system).
Mechanism of enzyme
action: Formation of enzyme substrate complex- Michaelis-Menten theory,
Fischer's template theory and Koshland's induced fit theory. Factors
influencing enzyme action. Enzyme kinetics - Michaelis-Menten equation -
derivation; significance of K m and V max Values. LineweaverBurk equation and
double reciprocal plot of enzyme reaction. Enzyme inhibition - Competitive,
non-competitive and uncompetitive inhibition, suicide inhibition and feedback
inhibition. Classification, Structure and functions of Vitamins. Vitamins as
co-enzymes.
Bioenergetics:
Laws of
thermodynamics and biological system- Enthalpy, Entropy, Free energy concept.
Energy of activation, Standard free energy change. Role of ATP as a free energy
carrier in the biological system. Metabolism and biosynthesis of biomolecules.
Carbohydrate metabolism. Glycolysis - Fate of pyruvic acid Citric acid cycle;
Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex Electron
transport system and oxidative phosphorylation; Redox potential, Chemiosmotic
hypothesis; inhibitors of electron transport chain Gluconeogenesis,
Glycogenesis, Glycogenolysis; regulation of glycogen synthesis and breakdown .
Pentose phosphate
pathway (HMP pathway) and its significance Uronic acid pathway Amino acid
metabolism: Biosynthesis and degradation of amino acids - glutamic acid, phenyl
alanine, methionine, tryptophan, isoleucine, histidine, valine. Fate of amino
acids in the body. Transamination, Decarboxylation and deamination reactions in
the biological system. Lipid metabolism Oxidation of fatty acids Biosynthesis
of fatty acids.
Biosynthesis of
cholesterol Nucleic acid metabolism. Biosynthesis and degradation of purines
and pyramidines PHYSIOLOGY Nutrition: Constituents of normal diet and their
daily requirements. Physiological calorie value of food stuffs. Antioxidant
nutrients. Movements of GI tract: deglutition, gastric motility and emptying,
intestinal motility and defecation. Mechanism of absorption of monosaccarides,
amino acids and lipids and vitamins. The role of hormones and neurotransmitters
in the control of gastrointestinal Motility.Energy balance and obesitycauses
and consequences. BMR and its significance.
Excretory System:
Introduction: Brief description of different types of excretory organs in
different animal groups (flame cells, green glands, malpighian tubules).
Functional anatomy of mammalian kidney, nephron and juxtaglomerular apparatus-
structure ,parts and function. Urine formation (glomerular filtration, tubular
reabsorption and tubular secretion) Regulation of water balance -Mechanism of
concentration of urine – Counter Current system . Renal regulation of acid-
base balance & electrolyte balance. Structure of urinary bladder,
micturition reflex and micturition. Renal clearance – definition, concept and
significance; clearance value of urea, creatinine, phosphate, potassium,
chloride and sodium.
Respiratory system:
Introduction: Brief description of major respiratory organs (tracheal system,
book lungs, gills and ctenidia). Physiological anatomy and histology of
respiratory passage and lungs. Mechanism of pulmonary ventilation (inspiration
& expiration) .Alveolar ventilation, dead space and its effect on alveolar
ventilation. Role of surfactant in alveolar expansion.
Pulmonary volumes and
capacities – definition & normal values (tidal volume, inspiratory reserve
volume, expiratory reserve volume, residual volume, functional residual
capacity, inspiratory capacity, vital capacity, total lung capacity). Exchange
of gases- partial pressures involved-lung and tissues. Oxygen dissociation
curve – factors affecting binding of oxygen to haemoglobin (PO 2 ,PCO 2 ,CO,
pH, body temperature, diphosphoglyceric acid level, foetal haemoglobin and also
myoglobin). Neural and chemical regulation of respiration: Respiratory centres
& factors regulating respiration. Nervous system: Organisation of human
brain. Cerebrum and cerebral lobe. Cerebral cortex and its functional areas-
Motor cortex, Broca‟s area ,cortex and
its association area, gustatory cortex, visual cortex and its association area,
auditory cortex and its association area, olfactory cortex, wernick‟s
area, Brodman map, cerebral dominance . Cortical white matter- commissures, association
fibers, projection fibers, corpus callosum and fornix, basal nuclei, Brain
stem, Cerebellum, Diencephalon –. Functional brain systems - Limbic system and
reticular formation. Protection of brain – Meninges, cerebrospinal fluid-
formation and function, blood brain barrier and its function. Diseased states
of brain - schiz ophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, Senile dementia &
Parkinson’s disease. somatosensory. Memorytypes of memory- short term,
intermediate long term and Long term memory, consolidation of memory. PNS and
Autonomic nervous system.Spinal cord – structure. Reflex action, reflex arc,
monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflexes , inverse stretch reflex and golgi
tendon organ.
Special senses
Vision: Structure of eyeball Fluid systems of the eye Layers
of Retina and photoreceptors (rods & cones) Neuronal cell types and neural
circuitary of the retina and visual pathways from retina to visual cortex Image
formation Taste: Primary sensations of taste. Taste buds, Physiology of taste ,
Smell: Olfactory membrane and receptor cells Physiology of olfaction, Tactile
response: Mechanoreceptor, Pain receptors , . Thermal receptors, Formation of
image on the retina. A brief general account of electrophysiology of vision
Photochemistry of vision and colour vision Cardiovascular system : Structural
organization of myogenic heart (in human beings). Physiological anatomy of
cardiac muscle – specialized tissue.
Cardiac cycle. Neural
and chemical regulation of heartfunction. Blood volume and blood pressure.
Physiological anatomy of coronary blood flow, Ischemic heart disease. Lymphatic
System. Lymph channels of the body. Composition and formation of lymph.
Functions of lymph and lymphatic system including. Muscle physiology, Skeletal,
Smooth and Cardiac muscles , physiology of muscle contraction, muscle proteins,
molecular mechanism of muscle contraction, muscle twitch, rigor mortis,
summation. Endocrinology: Invertebrate and vertebrate endocrine system.
Endocrine glands. Synthesis, physiologic role, control and mechanisms of
hormone action. Neuro-endocrine regulation of hormone action. Disorders of
hormonal imbalance in Man. Reproductive physiology: Anatomy and histology of
adult testis and ovary. Reproductive cycles of mammals and their hormonal
control. Physiology of implantation, pregnancy, parturition, and lactation.
Environmental Physiology: Thermoregulation. Comfort zone, normal body
temperatures (oral, skin & core). Temperature regulating mechanism ( hot
& cold) , role of hypothalamus, thyroid and adrenal glands.
IMMUNOLOGY
Hematopoiesis – Lymphoid and myeloid lineages.
Hematopoietic growth factors. Genes that regulate hematopoiesis. Regulation of
hematopoiesis. B- Lymphocytes, T- lymphocytes and Antigen presenting cells.
Antigens Immunogenicity, Antigenicity. Factors that influence immunogenicity.
Adjuvants. Haptens. Epitopes. Properties of B-cell and T- cell epitopes.
Immunoglobulins (Antibodies) Structure and function of Antibody molecules.
Generation of Antibody diversity. Immunoglobulin gene.
Antigenic determinants
of immunoglobulin - (a) Isotype (b) Allotype (c) Idiotype. B-cell receptor
(BCR). Monoclonal Antibodies. Production of Monoclonal Antibodies (Hybridoma
technology). Clinical uses of Monoclonal Antibodies. Antibody Engineering.
Antigen- Antibody interactions Strength of antigen – antibody interactions. (a)
Antibody affinity (b) Antibody avidity. Cross- reactivity. Precipitation
reactions. Immunotechnics – ELISA, RIA, Western Blot, Immunoelectrophoresis,
Flow cytometry and fluorescence .Humoral immunity. Cellular immunity. T- Cell
receptor, TCR-CD3 complex. Activation, maturation and differentiation of
B-Cells and T-Cells. Immune effector mechanism.
Cytokines. Cytokine
antagonists. Cytokine secretion by TH1 and TH2-cells.Cytokine related diseases.
(a) Bacterial septic- shock (b) chaga‟s
disease) (c) lymphoid and myeloid cancers. Therapeutic uses of cytokines. Toll-
like receptors. The Complement system. The functions of complement components.
Complement activation (a) Classical pathway (b) Alternate pathway (c) Lectin
pathway. Regulation of complement system. Biological consequences of complement
activation. Complement deficiencies. Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)
General organization and inheritance of MHC. MHC molecules and genes. Cellular
distribution of MHC.
Antigenprocessing and
presentation-Exogenous and Endogenous pathways. Presentation of nonpeptide
antigens. Transplantation immunology Auto graft, Allograft, Isograft and
xenograft Immunological basis of graft rejection. Role of cell- mediated
responses. Transplantation antigens. General immune suppressive therapy.
Hypersensitivity Reactions. Allergens IgE- mediated (type- I) hypersensitivity.
Antibody- mediated
cytotoxic (type- II) hypersensitivity. Immune complex- mediated (type- III)
hypersensitivity. TDTH- mediated (type- IV) hypersensitivity Vaccines.: Active
and passive immunization. Whole organism vaccines. Recombinant vector vaccines.
DNA vaccines. Synthetic peptide vaccines.
Multivalent vaccines. Immunity and
malnutrition and immune deficiency diseases. Immunity and malnutrition. Primary
immune deficiency diseases. (a)Burton‟s
disease (b) Di-George syndrome and SCID. Secondary immune deficiency - AIDS.
Transmission of HIV. Vaccines to prevent AIDS. Autoimmunity
MODULE V CELL
BIOLOGY, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS CELL BIOLOGY
Cellular Membranes:
Membrane structure and chemistry, dynamic nature of the plasma membrane,
membrane functions, Diffusion and osmosis, Facilitated diffusion, Active
transport, Bulk transport. Nucleus and nuclear membrane membrane potentials,
ion channels. Cell junctions: Cell adhesion and Extracellular matrix Basal
membrane and laminin, Collagen, Proteoglycan, Fibronectin. Interaction of cells
with extracellular matrix: Integrins.
Focal adhesion and
hemidesmosomes. Interaction of cells with other cells: Selectins,
Immunoglobulins, Cadherins, Adherens. Junctions and desmosomes. Tight
junctions, Gap junctions and Plasmodesmata. Structural organization and
function of intracellular organelles: Endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex,
Ribosome, Mitochondria. Lysosome, Chloroplasts, Peroxisomes and Glyoxysomes
Organization of chromosomes and genes.: Structure of chromatin and chromosomes,
heterochromatin, euchromatin –unique and repetitive DNA.
Chromosomal
changeseuploidy, aneuploidy, chromosomal aberrations- Structural
alterations-gene mutationsmolecularchanges- deletion, duplication,
translocation, inversion and sister chromatid exchange. Interrupted genes and
gene families. Concept of gene-Allele, multiple alleles, pseudoallele,
complementation tests. Extrachromosomal inheritance- inheritance of
mitochondrial and chloroplast genes, maternal inheritance. Cell Signalling:
Basic principles of cell communication. Extracellular messengers (signalling
molecules), role of Calcium and Nitric oxide (NO) as intracellular and
intercellular messengers.
Receptors: G- Protein
coupled receptors, Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK), Ion channel receptors,
Cytokine receptors (Tyrosine kinase linked receptors).Second messengers:
Cyclic-AMP, Cyclic-GMP, Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3), Di-acyl glycerol
(DAG). Signalling pathways: G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) and cyclic AMP
pathway – role of protein kinase A (PKA), GPCR pathway in rod cells, Receptor
protein tyrosine kinase and Ras-MAP kinase pathway, JAK-STAT pathway, Calcium
phosphatidyl- inositol pathway, Phospho Inositide 3-kinase (PI3
kinase),Transforming growth factor (TGF) signaling pathway.
Regulation of
signaling pathways. Cellular Reproduction: Cell cycle: Mitosis, meiosis and
Structure of chromosomes, Control of cell cycle, Checkpoints in cell cycle.
Control of cell division and cell growth. Apoptosisextrinsic and intrinsic
pathways, significance. Cancer: Basic properties of a cancer cell, Types of
cancer, Causes of cancer, Genetics of cancer, Tumour suppressor gene, Oncogene.
New strategies for combating cancer: Immunotherapy, Gene therapy, Inhibiting
cancer promoting proteins, Inhibiting formationof new blood vessels.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
DNA replication:
Semi-discontinuous synthesis-Okazaki fragments Replication origin and
replication fork Unit of replication, extra chromosomal replicon of bacterial
Ti plasmid Enzymes/proteins of replication- Primase, Replisomes, Helicase, DNA
polymerases, Single strand binding proteins, Topoisomerases and Ligase;
Fidelity of replication Replication of the ends of eukaryotic chromosome – role
of telomerase, Models of DNA replication – Rolling circle model and looped
rolling circle model, D-loop model, θ-model, Inhibitors of DNA replication – Methotrexate
and Flu rodeoxyuridylate Safe guard systems of DNA. Restriction enzymes:
significance, role and features of Type I, II & III restriction enzymes
Modification: enzymes and significance Repair: Major kinds of damage to DNA and
causes Repair mechanisms: Direct reversal, Mismatch repair, Excision repair,
Recombination repair, SOS response Transcription of mRNA in prokaryotes and
eukaryotes: Structural organisation and life span of mRNA; monocistronic and
polycistronic mRNA Transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, Promoter
(mention Pribnow, TATA, CAAT and GC box), enhancer and silencer sites,
Transcription factors; Transcription activators and repressors, Characteristic
features of RNA polymerases of phages, prokaryotes and eukaryotes and their functions,
Post transcriptional modification of RNA, Capping, Polyadenylation, Splicing,
RNA editing Genetic
code: Characteristics of genetic code, Start codons and stop codons, Degeneracy
of the code: Wobble hypothesis and isoacceptor tRNAs, Special features of the
genetic code in mitochondria, mitochondrial tRNA, Variations in the genetic
code in Mycoplasma and Tetrahyme Point mutations that alter genetic code
(missense, nonsense & frameshift) Ribosome: The site of protein synthesis:
Structure, Composition; Reconstitution experiments . Active centres Biogenesis
of ribosome in eukaryotes Translation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes:
Aminoacylation of
tRNA & initiation, elongation and termination of protein synthesis
Aminoacyl tRNA synthetases & initiation, elongation and termination factors
Translational proof-reading Differences in protein synthesis between
prokaryotes and eukaryotes Translational inhibitors in prokaryotes and
eukaryotes – role of tetracycline, streptomycin, neomycin, chloramphenicol,
erythromycin, puromycin and diphtheria toxin Post- translational modification
of proteins: protein folding (role of chaperones) and biochemical modifications
Control of gene expression at transcription and translation level::
Regulation of gene expression in Phages – alternate
patterns of gene expression for control of lytic and lysogenic cycle in λ phage
Regulation of gene expression in bacteria – basic features of tryptophan, lac,
arabinose and galactose operons Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes –
Role of chromatin in regulating gene expression Activation and repression of
transcription Regulation of translation by gene arrangement Regulation of
translation by alternate pathways of transcript splicing Antisense RNA
strategies for regulating gene expression si RNA and mi RNA in regulation
Eukaryotic genome: Special features of eukaryotic genome Features, components
and re-association kinetics of Unique, Moderately repetitive and High
repetitive DNA Junk DNA, Satellite DNA and Selfish DNA, Cot value and complexity
of genome, Organisation of human genome Interrupted genes:
Definition and explanation: Organisation and
special features of interrupted genes Interrupted genes in eukaryotes, exons
and introns-R loops, significance of introns. Genes-within-genes (overlapping
genes) Bacteriophage Ö X174., Evolution of interrupted genes Gene families:
Definition and concept, Classification with example, Simple multigene family -
organisation of rRNA gene in Xenopus. Complex multigene family - organisation
of histone genes in sea urchin and tRNA genes in Drosophila Developmentally
controlled complex multigene family e.g., globin gene Globin genes and its
products, Organisation of globin genes and its expression in Man, Evolution of
globin genes Concept of an evolutionary clock, Pseudogenes,
Transposable genetic
elements - Transposons: Definition, features and types Transposition and
mechanism, Transposons in bacteria IS elements, Tn family Mu phage as a
transposable element Transposons in eukaryotes. SINE, Alu family ;LINE,L1 P
elements in Drosophila, Transposons in Maize, Retroviruses and transposition
Molecular mechanisms involved in recombination of DNA : Genetic recombination –
Site specific recombination Non-homologous recombination Homologous
recombination: Molecular mechanism involved in homologous recombination of DNA
in eukaryotesHolliday model: Holliday intermediate, heteroduplex DNA, gene
conversion Role of Rec A protein in genetic recombination Microbial genetics:
Prokaryotic genome- Escherichia coli genome – basic feature Methods of genetic
transfers in bacteria– transformation (in Streptococcus pneumonia), conjugation
and sexduction, transduction. Mapping genes by interrupted mating (in bacteria)
Organelle genome: Chloroplast genome. Mitochondrial genome, Special features of
yeast and human mitocondrial genome.
BIOINFORMATICS
Primary databases -
Nucleotide sequence databases: GenBank, EMBL, DDBJ ; Protein sequence
databases: SWISSPROT, PIR; Structure databases: PDB, NDB; Secondary databases:
PROSITE, Pfam, CATH; Composite databases: OWL; Literature database: PubMed;
Database searching – Entrez;
Database sequence
submission – BankIt. Types of sequence alignment, methods of sequence
alignment, scoring schemes, gaps and gap penalties, construction of
phylogenetic trees. Structural genomics, functional genomics, comparative
genomics, data mining in proteomics – Microarrays, significance of proteomics
and drug design, Systems Biology, metabolomics, gene network, synthetic biology
MODULE VI DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY AND GENETICS DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
Basic concepts of
development Cell fate, potency, determination and differentiation. Commitment,
Specification - autonomous, conditional, syncytial . Genomic equivalence and
cytoplasmic determinants, Morphogenetic gradients, Genomic Imprinting, The stem
cell concept- Progenitor cells, Adult stem cells, Mesenchymal stem cells,
Multipotent adult stem cells, Pluripotent Embryonic stem cells, Induction,
Competence, Determination and Differentiation, Morphogenetic gradients, Cell
fate and cell lineages.Genomic equivalence and Cytoplasmic determinants.
Gametogenesis, fertilization and early development:
Production of
gametesSpermatogenesis and Oogenesis, Ultrastructure of gamates, Cell surface
molecules in sperm-egg recognition in animals (sea urchin and mammals) Zygote
formation-Encounter of sperm and egg, Capacitation, Acrosome reaction,
Activation of ovum, Amphimixis, Prevention of Polyspermy Cleavage and blastula
formation, Gastrulation and formation of germ layers in amphibia, Embryogenesis
and Organogenesis :
Axis formation in
amphibians - The phenomenon of the Organizer- Nieuwkoop center., primary
embryonic induction, mechanism of axis formation, Anterior-Posterior patterning
in Amphibians- Hox code hypothesis Anterior posterior patterning in Drosophila
– anterior forming genes (bicoid, hunchback), posterior forming genes (nanos,
caudal), terminal forming gene (torso), segmentation genes- gap genes, pair
rule genes, segmentation polarity genes, homeotic selector genes, realistor
genes Dorso-ventral patterning in Drosophila. –dorsal protein gradient Limb
development in chick- Formation of the Limb Bud, Generating the Proximal-Distal
Axis of the Limb, Specification of the Anterior-Posterior, Limb Axis,
Generation of the Dorsal-Ventral Axis.
Insect wings and legs
formation. Eye lens induction. Transcription factors induced in the organizer.
Neural induction, Regional specificity of induction, Genetic specificity of
induction (Paracrine factors - Hedgehog family, Wnt family, TGF, BMP). Surface
receptors and signal transduction pathway - RTK pathway, Smad pathway, Wnt
pathway, Hedgehog pathway and cell death pathway. Differential gene
transcription - exons and introns, promotors, silencers, enhancers,
transcription factors, DNA methylation, genomic imprinting, dosage
compensation, differential RNA processing; Control of gene expression:
translational and post translational control of gene expression. Metamorphosis
of Amphibians and Insects;
Hormonal control of
metamorphosis. Heterochrony- neoteny, progenesis; regeneration - different
types of regeneration; Histological processes during regeneration; Polarity and
Metaplasia in regeneration; Teratogenesis, Malformations and disruptions, Gene
– phene relationship, Autophene, Allophene and Pleiotrophy; Teratogenic agents
(Retinoic acid, pathogens, alcohol, drugs and chemicals, heavy metals);
Environmental oestrogens. Infertility-Test tube babies (In vitro fertilization
and embryo transfer). Cloning experiments- (Amphibians, Mammals and Human).
GENETICS
Principles of Genetic Transmission: Mendelian
Principles, Extension of Mendel’s principles: allelic variation and gene
function- incomplete dominance and co-dominance. Gene action- from genotype to
phenotype - penetrance and expressivity, gene interaction epistasis,
pleiotropy, genomic imprinting, phenocopy.
Molecular
Organization of Chromosomes. Sex determination, sex linkage, sex limited and
sex influenced characters in Man Genome size and C-value Paradox. Structure of
eukaryotic chromosome, nucleosome model. Chromosome condensation - euchromatin
and heterochromatin.
Repetitive nucleotide
sequences in eukaryotic genomes, kinetics of renaturation: Cot and Cot curve.
Unique and repetitive sequences. Mini and micro satellites. Molecular structure
of centromere and telomere. Polytene chromosomes and Lampbrush chromosomes.
Chromosome banding techniques. Gene Fine Structure: The definition of gene. The
standard genetic code, redundancy and Wobble.DNA Structure- alternate forms of
the Double Helix. Gene synthesis (in vitro synthesis) – works of Khorana and
Kornberg. Genetic Linkage, Chromosome Mapping.
Chromosome theory of
heredity, Linkage and recombination of genes in a chromosome, crossing over as
the physical basis of recombination, Gene conversion, Recombination mapping
with two-point and three –point test cross in Drosophila, Coincidence and
Interference. Genetic mapping by tetrad analysis in Neurospora. Mitotic
recombination.
Genetic recombination
in Phage, deletion mapping, conjugation mapping, mapping by interrupted mating,
mapping with molecular markers and mapping using somatic cell. Human Genetics:
Karyotype, pedigree analysis, Chromosome anomalies : autosomal and sex
chromosomal disorders. Lod score for linkage testing, genetic analysis of
complex traits - complex pattern of inheritance, quantitative traits, threshold
traits; human genome and mapping. Epigenetics: Epigenetics - from phenomenon to
field, a brief history of epigenetics - over view and concepts; chromatin
modifications and their mechanism of action, concept of ‘histone-code’
hypothesis, epigenetics in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, position effect
variegation, heterochromatin formation and gene silencing in Drosophila.
Quantitative and
Population Genetics: Polygenic inheritance, analysis of
quantitative traits, quantitative traits and natural selection, molecular
analysis of quantitative traits, phenotypic plasticity
MODULE VII ECOLOGY,
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ECOLOGY
Ecology and
Environment: Concepts of habitats, niche, niche
width and overlap, fundamental and realized niche, resource partitioning,
character displacement. Gaia hypothesis. Concept of limiting factors- Liebig’s
law, Shelford’s law. Ecological indicators. Ecosystem - Structure and Function.
Food chain, food web, trophic levels. Ecological efficiencies, Ecological
pyramids, Biogeochemical cycles- patterns and types (CNP).
Tropical versus
Temperate Ecology. Population Ecology: Population group properties, Natality
and mortality. Population age structure, Growth forms and concept of carrying
capacity. Population fluctuations, density dependent and density independent
controls. Life history strategies, r & k selection. Population structure,
aggregation, Allee’s principle, isolation, dispersal and territoriality,
survivalship curves, life tables, Population interactions- types, positive and
negative, interspecific and intraspecific interactions. Ecological and
evolutionary effects of competition, Lotka Volterra model,
Community Ecology:
Concept of community - community structure and attributes, ecotone and edge
effect. Ecological succession: types and mechanism, concept of climax. Species
diversity in community and it’s measurement Alpha diversity, Simpson’s
diversity index, Shannon index, Fisher’s alpha, rarefaction. Beta diversity
Sorensen’s similarity index, Whittaker’s index, Evenness, Gamma diversity,
Resource Ecology:
Natural Resources: Soil-soil formation, physical and chemical properties of
soil. significance of soil fertility. Mineral resources with reference to
India. Impact of mining on environment; Forest resources deforestation, forest
scenario of India. Aquatic resources - Freshwater and water scarcity, water
conservation measures - case studies from India; Wetlands and its importance,
international initiatives for wetland conservation - Ramsar sites. Sand mining
and its impacts. Wetland reclamation- causes and consequences. Ecosystem
monitoring- GIS, Physics of remote sensing, role of remote sensing in ecology,
GPS and its application; EIA- tools and techniques, Ecosystem Modelling.
Applied Ecology: Environmental Pollution-types, causes and consequences.
Concept of waste, types and sources of solid wastes including e-waste;
Environmental biotechnology and solid waste management- aerobic and anaerobic
systems.
Concept of bioreactors in waste management.
Liquid wastes and sewage. Bioremediation- need and scope of bioremediation in
cleaning up of environment. Phytoremediation, bio-augmentation, biofilms,
biofilters, bioscrubbers and trickling filters, Energy audit, Green technology and
sustainable development, ecological foot print, carbon foot print, carbon
credit, ecotaxes Deforestation- surface albedo- snow and ice- volcanic
activity-dust particles- Greenhouse gas concentrations -Atmosphere- ocean heat
exchange-Atmospheric carbon dioxide Variations- human influences:
Global climate changes – causes and
consequences. Physical evidence for climatic change – Historical and
archaeological evidence-Glaciers – Vegetation Ice cores – Dendron climatology-
Pollen analysis-Sea level change Toxicology- Principles, toxicants- types, dose
and effects, toxicity of heavy metals. BIODIVERSITY
CONSERVATION
Biogeography and
Conservation. Principles and major approaches to conservation and environmental
management. Role of UN- conventions, protocols; Climate change and the emerging
discussions mitigation and adaptation; Role of UNFCC and IPCC. Country specific
laws- mention major environmental/ conservation laws and rules in
India-Wildlife Protection Act 1972 amended 1991, Forest Conservation Act, 1980,
Air ( Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981, Water (Prevention and
Control of Pollution) Role of Intergovernmental and Non-governmental
organizations in conservation-IUCN, WCMC,WRI,WWF, CI and Green Peace. National
and Local NGOs.
MODULE VIII MICROBIOLOGY
AND BIOTECHNOLOGY MICROBIOLOGY
History and scope of
microbiology: Contributions of Louis Pasteur, Robert Koch, Alexander Flemming
and Edward Jenner. Microbial Taxonomy and Phylogeny, Major characteristics
(classic and molecular), Numerical taxonomy, Taxonomic ranks, Phylogenetic
studies, Phenetic classification, Bergey‟s
Manuel Bacterial cell structure and function, Plasma membrane and internal
system - Cytometrix, inclusions, ribosomes, nucleoid Bacterial cell wall
Peptidoglycan - structure- Gram positive and gram negative cell wallMechanism
of gram staining, Components external to cell wall; pili and fimbriae, capsule
and slime layers, Flagella and motility Microbial nutrition: Nutritional
requirements, Nutritional types (Auto, Hetero, Chemo, Phototrophs &
obligate parasites), Culture media and types of media. Mixed microbial
population and pure cultures.
Microbial growth:
Growth curve -synchronous growth, Continuous culture, Influence of
environmental factors on growth, Measurement of growth, Measurement of cell
numbersPetroff, Hassuer counting Chamber, Spread plate and pour plate
techniques Measurement of cell mass-Turbidity and microbial mass measurement
Utilization of energy: Biosynthetic process- peptidoglycan synthesis, amino
acid synthesis, Non synthetic processes -Bacterial motility and transport of
nutrients. Viruses: General structural properties, Types: DNA viruses, RNA
viruses, and enveloped viruses Microbial diseases : Human diseases caused by
viruses- AIDS, Rabies, Measles, Swine Flu, Bird flu, SARS, Fungal diseases-
Candidiasis, Human diseases caused by bacteriaTyphoid, Cholera, Tetanus,
Leprosy, Tuberculosis and Pneumonia. Control of microorganisms: Disinfectants-
physical- Heat, filtration and radiation Chemical agents
- Phenol and Phenolic
compounds, alcohols, halogens and aldehydes. Antibiotics- Penicillin ,
Cephalosporins, Chloramphenicol, Tetracyclines. Microbial drug resistance.
Microbial fermentation: Lactic acid fermentation-Homolactic and heterolactic
fermenters, Dairy products -cheese and yogurt . Alcoholic fermentation.
Environmental microbiology: Microbiological analysis of drinking water.
Microbial Bioremediation. Biogas plant.
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Historical aspects,
definitions and scope of Biotechnology. Biotechnology in India. Tools and
Techniques in Recombinant DNA Technology: Vectors: cloning and expression
vectors - Plasmids, Ti and Ri plasmids, cosmids, phasmids, phagemids,
bacteriophage, SV40, vectors with combination features; PUC19 and Bluescript
vectors, shuttle vectors, viral vectors, BAC and YAC vectors. Restriction
enzymes and DNA modifying enzymes. Polymerase chain Reaction- different types
and applications. Chromosome walking, chromosome jumping,
DNA foot printing.
Molecular Markers and Probes-SNP, VNTR, RAPD, RFLP, SSR, STMS, FISH and GISH.
DNA sequencing methods- Maxim and Gilberts chemical degradation method, Sanger
and Cousin method, Automated DNA sequencers. Site directed mutagenesis,
molecular chimeras. Cloning Methodologies - Gene isolation Shot gun method, Genome
libraries, cDNA libraries, Chemical synthesis. Splicing and integration of
isolated gene- cohesive end ligation, homopolymer tailing, extending linkers.
Methods of rDNA transfer to host cells- CaCl2 treatment, Virus delivery.
Selection and screening of the transformed cells, Blue-white screening, Colony
hybridization methods, Reporter genes, Fusion proteins. Southern, Northern,
Western, Dot Blot, DNA finger printing. Animal Biotechnology: Cell and Tissue
culture: Basic techniques of mammalian cell culture, disaggregation of tissue
and primary culture, maintenance of cell culture and cell separation.
Growth media: Physicochemical properties,
natural and artificial, Balanced salt solutions, Complete Media, Serum,
Serum-Free Media and protein free media and their applications. Biology and
characterization of cultured cells, measurement of viability and cytotoxicity.
Manipulation of cultured cell and tissues- scaling up of animal cell culture,
cell synchronization, cell transformation, organ and histotypic culture.
Tissue engineering:
strategies and developments in tissue engineering, Biomaterials. Contamination:
Source of contamination, Type of microbial contamination, Monitoring,
Eradication of contamination, Cross-Contamination. Cryopreservation - importance
and process of cryopreservation, cryopreservation of embryos, Cryogenics.
Transfection Methods:
CaPO4 precipitation, Short Gun, Electroporation, Lipofection, Microinjection,
Agrobacterium mediated gene transfer. Somatic cell nuclear transfer- reproductive
cloning and therapeutic cloning. Gene knockout and knockin technology.
Applications of transgenic animals. Stem cell culture : General and historical
aspects, properties and types of stem cells, advantages and disadvantages, stem
cell niche, application of stem cell technology in medicine. Biotechnology in
Healthcare: Disease prevention – DNA vaccines. Disease diagnosis - Probes,
Monoclonal antibodies, detection of genetic disorders. Disease treatment -
Therapeutic proteins, hormones and growth factors. RNAi, Drug targeting, Gene
therapy. Forensic medicine. Biosensors-different types, applications - medical
and non medical.
Biochips and their application. Biotechnology
in Industry and Agriculture: Metabolite production. Antibiotics, Organic acids,
Amino acids, Vitamins, Upstream processing, downstream processing. Microbial
enzymes and biotranformation- Microbial production of enzymes, fermentation,
Enzyme engineering and applications. Food industry- Single cell protein,
probiotics. Transgenic plants- Plants with resistance to Pests, plants with
increased shelf life. Biofertilizers and microbial inoculants, biotechnology of
nitrogen fixation, biocontrol agents, biopesticides, bioinsecticides,
Terminator gene
technology Environmental Biotechnology : Sewage treatment. Solid waste
management. Biodegradation of xenobiotic compounds. Bioremediation and
Biorestoration. Microbial leaching and mining. Biofuels. Transgenics and
environment. Intellectual Property Rights, Biosafety and Bioethics:
Introduction to Intellectual Property Rights, Types of IP: Patents, Trademarks,
Copyrights.
Basics of Patents
Types of patents; Indian Patent Act 1970; Recent Amendments, Protection of New
GMOs. IPs of relevance to Biotechnology and few Case Studies (Rice, Neem,
Curcumin). Introduction to History of GATT, WTO, WIPO and TRIPS. Biosafety
concepts and issues. General guidelines for recombinant DNA research activity.
Biosafety protocol 2000. Bioethics: Principles of bioethics: autonomy, human
rights, beneficence, privacy, justice, equity etc. Ethics in post genomic
era-genetic testing and genetic screening.
MODULE IX ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY, ENTOMOLOGY ,
FISHERIES , WILDLIFE BIOLOGY AND HUMAN GENETICS
Insect pests of agricultural crops, control measures, economically important insects, Common Aquaculture practices, culture fishes, classification of fish, ornamental fishes, chromosomal anomalies in human, inborn errors in metabolism, molecular diagnosis techniques, classification of mammals, endemic Indian birds,
MODULE X RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN ZOOLOGY
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