35. ZOOLOGY DETAILS OF SYLLABUS

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1 35. ZOOLOGY DETAILS OF SYLLABUS SECTION A UNIT 1 - TAXONOMY AND ANIMAL DIVERSITY Taxonomy 1.1 Classical taxonomy; Modern trends in taxonomy (numerical taxonomy, cladistic taxonomy, molecular taxonomy); phylogenetic tree. 1.2 Scientific classification of organisms (five kingdom and three-domain systems); biological nomenclature; ICZN. 1.3 Concepts of species and hierarchical taxa. Animal Diversity 1.4 Broad classification of animal kingdom: Mesozoa, Parazoa and Eumetazoa (Radiata, Bilateria); Protostomia (Acoelomata, Pseudocoelomata and Eucoelomata), Deuterostomia. 1.5 Levels of organization (cellular, tissue and organ levels); Modes of coelom formation. 1.6 Salient features of the phyla: Mesozoa, Porifera, Cnidaria, Ctenophora, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Nematomorpha, Rotifera, Annelida, Echiurida, Mollusca, Onychophora, Arthropoda, Echinodermata, Chaetognatha, Phoronida, Hemichordata. UNIT 2 - GENETICS 2.1 Mendelian principles: critical evaluation 2.2 Interaction of genes: Allelic interactions: incomplete dominance, codominance Non-allelic interactions: complementary gene action, epistasis, duplicate gene action. 2.3 Multiple alleles: coat colour in rabbits, Rh blood group inheritance 2.4 Polygenic inheritance (Quantitative inheritance) - Johansen s pure lines, skin colour in man. 2.5 Linkage and crossing over Linkage groups, complete and partial linkage Crossing over and recombination - mechanism of crossing over, kinds of crossing over. 2.6 Extrachromosomal inheritance: Characteristics; maternal inheritance of cytoplasm, plastid genome, mitochondrial genome Kappa particles in Paramecium Maternal effects. 2.7 Sex linked inheritance: characteristics, examples: hemophilia, colour blindness; holandric genes.

2 2.8 Sex determination: Chromosomal basis and genic balance theory Types of chromosomal mechanism Dosage compensation, Barr bodies, Lyon hypothesis. 2.9 Human genetics: Genetic disorders in man Chromosomal anomalies (autosomal and sex chromosomal) Single gene disorders (autosomal and sex linked, inborn errors in metabolism) 2.10 Human genome project: objectives, major outcomes. SECTION B UNIT 3 - CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 3.1 Cell membranes Membrane structure: Organization based on fluid mosaic model Membrane transport - diffusion, active transport, ion pumps, bulk transport Differentitation of cell membrane: microvilli, tight junctions, belt and spot desmosomes, gap junctions. 3.2 Cell organelles: Nucleus - nuclear envelope, nuclear pore complex, chromatin organization Mitochondria - structure, mitochondrial oxidation (chemiosmotic theory, respiratory chain) Golgi apparatus - structure and functions Lysosomes - structure (polymorphisms), functions Endoplasmic reticulum: Structure and functions Peroxisomes: Structure and functions Cytoskeleton: Microtubules, microfilaments and intermediate filaments; molecular motors. 3.3 Cell cycle and regulation of cell cycle. 3.4 Chromosomal aberrations: Structural aberrations Numerical aberrations 3.5. Gene mutations: Types of mutation Molecular basis of gene mutations Radiation and mutagenesis. 3.6 Nucleic acids: DNA - structure Conformations of DNA DNA replication DNA repair RNA - Types of RNA

3 3.6.6 Genetic code. 3.7 Genomes: Organization of viral genome Organization of prokaryotic genome Organization of eukaryotic genomes; split genes; selfish genes; pseudogenes; gene clusters and gene families; antibody diversity. 3.8 Transcription: Transcription factors Mechanism of transcription in prokaryotes and eukaryotes Posttranscriptional processing in eukaryotes. 3.9 Protein synthesis: Mechanism (formation of initiation complex, elongation and termination) Post-translational modification of proteins Regulation of gene activity: In viruses (cascade mode of expression of early, middle and late genes) In prokaryotes (Lac operon, Trp operon) In eukaryotes Transposable elements: Bacterial transposons and mechanism of transposition Eukaryotic transposons Retroviruses and their transposition UNIT 4 - TECHNIQUES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 4.1 Microscopy: Light microsope Transmission electron microscope (TEM) Scanning electron microscope (SEM) 4.2 Electrophoresis 4.3 Chromatography 4.4 Gene amplification - vector-mediated (gene cloning) and vectorless (PCR) 4.5 Recombinant DNA technology: Vectors (plasmids, phagees, cosmids, BAC, YAC and shuttle vectors) Steps in gene cloning Tools used in recombinant DNA technology 4.6 Genomic and cdna libraries 4.7 Probes and molecular markers: RFLP, AFLP, STRs, VNTRs; DNA fingerprinting. 4.8 Gene transfer in animals - different methods 4.9 DNA sequencing (Maxam-Gilbert, Sanger and automated methods) 4.10 Radioimmunoassay (RIA); ELISA.

4 4.11 Blotting techniques (Southern, Northern, Western) 4.12 Genetic engineering and its applications. SECTION C UNIT 5 - BIOCHEMISTRY 5.1 Energy rich compounds and their biological significance. 5.2 Metabolism of carbohydrates Glycolysis, energetics Krebs cycle, energetics Pentose phosphate pathway, biological significance 5.3 Metabolism of lipids Beta-oxidation of fatty acids Biosynthesis of fatty acids. 5.4 Protein metabolism Urea cycle, regulation of urea cycle Deamination Transamination Decarboxylation. 5.5 Vitamins Classification Physiological functions and deficiency disorders of fat soluble vitamins Physiological functions and deficiency disorders of water soluble vitamins. 5.6 Enzymes Classification Mode of action of enzymes Regulation of enzyme activity Enzyme inhibition. UNIT 6 - PHYSIOLOGY 6.1 Nutrition Types of nutrition Digestion: mechanical and chemical Absorption of sugars, amino acids and fats 6.2 Respiration Respiratory pigments Transport of O 2 and CO 2, Bohr effect, chloride shift. 6.3 Body fluids and Circulation Types of heart Composition of blood Phyiology of blood clotting

5 6.3.4 Electrical and mechanical properties of heart muscles Control of cardiac activity. 6.4 Excretion Patterns of nitrogen excretion Structure of kidney, ultrastructure of nephron, Mechanism of urine formation Countercurrent exchanger system. 6.5 Muscle physiology Types of muscles Ultrastructure of skeletal muscle cell Muscle contraction. 6.6 Neurophysiology Structure of neurons Generation and transmission of nerve impulse Synapse and synaptic transmission Neurotransmitters. 6.7 Endocrine glands Classification of hormones Endocrine glands and hormones in man Neurosecretion Mode of action of hormones. 6.8 Sense organs Physiology of vision in man - ultrastructure of rods and cones, Photopigments, pigment cycle Physiology of hearing and balancing. 6.9 Human reproductive system Male reproductive physiology: Anatomy and histology of adult testis Male accessory organs Female reproductive physiology: Menstrual cycle (ovarian and uterine cycles) Menarche, menopause Pregancy, parturition Lactation, hormonal control of lactation. UNIT 7 - IMMUNOLOGY 7.1 Types of immunity: Innate and acquired immunity Humoral and cell-mediated immunity. 7.2 Cells and organs of immune system: Primary and secondary lymphoid organs. 7.3 Antigens and antibodies Structure of antibodies Antigen-antibody interactions. 7.4 MHC molecules: general organization and inheritance of MHC. 7.5 Antigen processing and presentation.

6 7.6 Hypersensitivity: elementary description and classification. 7.7 Immunodeficiency: Congenital and acquired 7.8 Autoimmunity. SECTION D UNIT 8 - DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 8.1 Types of egg; Influence of yolk on development. 8.2 Fertilization: Pre-fertilization events: sperm-egg encounter, cell surface molecules in sperm- egg recognition, acrosome reaction, sperm penetration Post-fertilization events: response of egg to sperm penetration, cortical reaction, metabolic activation, fusion of pronuclei. 8.3 Parthenogenesis: Natural parthenogenesis (haploid and diploid) Artificial parthenogenesis and the factors inducing parthenogenesis. 8.4 Cleavage Types of cleavage Cleavage patterns Blastulation: types of blastula, midblastula transition. 8.5 Gastrulation: Fate map Cell movements during gastrulation. 8.6 Basic concepts of development: Potency of embryonic cells Competence, determination and differentiation Genomic equivalence Cytoplasmic control of nuclear activity Primary embryonic induction; Nieukoop centre and mesodermal polarity. 8.7 Organogenesis of brain and heart of frog. 8.8 Placenta - different types. 8.9 Experimental embryology: Constriction experiments Experiments on embryonic induction and competence Cloning experiments in animals In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer Prenatal diagnosis. UNIT 9 - ECOLOGY, BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION, EVOLUTION AND ETHOLOGY 9.1 Population ecology: characteristics, population growth curves; 9.2 Community ecology: Community structure and attributes

7 9.2.2 Edges and ecotones. 9.3 Ecosystem: Characteristics of ecosystem Structure of ecosystem Stability of ecosystem. 9.4 Food chain and food web. 9.5 Energy flow; Ecological pyramids. 9.6 Biogeochemical cycles: Gaseous cycles and sedimentary cycles. 9.7 Ecological succession: Types, changes involved in succession, concept of climax. 9.8 Animal associations: Types of interactions (Positive, negative and neutral) Lotka Volterra hypothesis. 9.9 Pollution Water pollution Air pollution Waste disposal Biomagnification: definition, mechanism, examples, effects on ecosystem Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Values of biodiversity Causes of biodiversity depletion Concept, aim and principles of conservation Conservation strategies (in-situ and ex-situ conservation) Biosphere reserves, Wild life sanctuaries and National parks Forest conservation and wildlife management Evolution Origin and evolution of life Theories of evolution: Classical and synthetic theories of evolution Mechanism of evolution; forces of evolution Neoteny; genetic drift; Bottle-neck phenomenon; Punctuated equilibrium Species and speciation 9.12 Ethology Unlearned behaviour (reflex and instinct) Learned behaviour (imprinting, habituation, conditioned learning, trial and error, insight learning). UNIT 10 - ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY 10.1 Insect pests: Pests of crops (coconut, paddy, rubber, sugar cane) Pests of stored food grains Pest control - chemical, biological and other methods Silkworms and sericulture

8 Species of silkworms Composition of silk Sericulture: Silkworm rearing methods Honey bees and apiculture Species of honey bees Apiculture Beekeeping methods Useful products from honey bees and the importance of apiculture Fisheries and aquaculture Fish breeding techniques Fish culture Aquarium fishes and their economic importance Fishing crafts and gears Pearl culture.