AIPMT Biology Syllabus

Unit 1 :- Diversity in Living World

Biology – its meaning and relevance to mankind

What is living; Taxonomic Categories and aids ( Botanical gardens, herbaria, museums, zoological parks ); Systematics and Binomial system of nomenclature.

Introductory classification of living organisms ( Two – kingdom system, Five – kingdom  system ); Major groups of each kingdom alongwith their salient features ( Monera, including Archaebacteria and Cyanobacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia ); Viruses; Lichens

Plant Kingdom – Salient features of major groups ( Algae to Angiosperms );

Animal kingdom – Salient features of Non – chordates up to phylum, and Chordates up to class level.

Unit 2 :- Cell : The Unit of Life ; Structure and Function

Cell Wall; Cell Membrane; Endomembrane System ( ER, Golgi apparatus / Dictyosome, Lysosomes, Vacuoles ); Mitochondria; Plastids; Ribosomes; Cytoskeleton; Cilia and Flagella; Centrosome and Centriole; Nucleus; Microbodies.

Structural differences between Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic,  and between plant and animal cells. Cell Cycle ( various phases ); Mitosis; Meiosis.

Biomolecules – Structure and function of Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, and Nucleic acids.

Enzymes – Chemical nature, types, properties and mechanism of action. 

Unit 3 :- Genetics and Evolution

Mendelian inheritance; Chromosome theory of inheritance; Gene interaction; Incomplete dominance; Co – dominance; Complementary genes; Multiple alleles;

Linkage and Crossing over; Inheritance patterns of hemophilia and blood groups in humans.

DNA – its organization and replication; Transcription and Translation; Gene expression and regulation; DNA fingerprinting.

Theories and evidences of evolution, including modern Darwinism.

Unit 4 :- Structure and Function – Plants

Morphology of a flowering plant; Tissues and tissue systems in plants;

Anatomy and function of root, stem ( including modifications ), leaf, inflorescence, flower ( including position and arrangement of different whorls, placentation ), fruit and seed; Types of fruit; Secondary growth;

Absorption and movement of water ( including diffusion, osmosis and water relations of cell ) and of nutrients; Translocation of food; Transpiration and gaseous exchange;  Mechanism of stomatal movement.

Mineral nutrition – Macro – and micro – nutrients in plants including deficiency disorders; Biological nitrogen fixation mechanism.

Photosynthesis – Light reaction, cyclic and non – cyclic photophosphorylation; Various pathways of carbon dioxide fixation; Photorespiration; Limiting factors .

Respiration – Anaerobic, Fermentation, Aerobic; Glycolysis, TCA cycle; Electron transport system; Energy relations.

Unit 5 :- Structure and Function – Animals

Tissues;

Elementary knowledge of morphology, anatomy and functions of different systems of earthworm, cockroach and frog.

Human Physiology – Digestive system – organs, digestion and absorption; Respiratory system – organs, breathing and exchange and transport of gases. Body fluids and circulation – Blood, lymph, double circulation, regulation of cardiac activity; Hypertension, Coronary artery diseases.

Excretion System – Urine formation, regulation of kidney function

Locomotion and movement – Skeletal system, joints, muscles, types of movement.

Control and co-ordination – Central and peripheral nervous systems, structure and function of neuron, reflex action and sensory reception; Role of various types of endocrine glands; Mechanism of hormone action.

Unit 6 :- Reproduction, Growth and Movement in Plants

Asexual methods of reproduction; Sexual Reproduction – Development of male and female gametophytes; Pollination ( Types and agents ); Fertilization; Development of embryo, endosperm, seed and fruit ( including parthenocarpy and apomixis ).

Growth and Movement – Growth phases; Types of growth regulators and their role in seed dormancy, germination and movement; Apical dominance; Senescence; Abscission; Photo – periodism; Vernalisation; Various types of movements.

Unit 7 :-  Reproduction and Development in Humans

Male and female reproductive systems; Menstrual cycle; Gamete production; Fertilisation; Implantation; Embryo development; Pregnancy and parturition; Birth control and contraception.

Unit 8  :- Ecology and Environment

Meaning of ecology, environment, habitat and niche.

Ecological levels of organization ( organism to biosphere ); Characteristics of Species, Population, Biotic Community and Ecosystem; Succession and Climax.

Ecosystem – Biotic and abiotic components; Ecological pyramids; Food chain and Food web; Energy flow; Major types of ecosystems including agroecosystem.

Ecological adaptations – Structural and physiological features in plants and animals of aquatic and desert habitats.

Biodiversity – Meaning, types and conservation strategies ( Biosphere reserves, National parks and Sanctuaries )

Environmental Issues – Air and Water Pollution ( sources and major pollutants ); Global warming and Climate change; Ozonedepletion; Noise pollution; Radioactive pollution; Methods of pollution control ( including an idea of bioremediation ); Deforestation; Extinction of species ( Hot Spots ).

Unit 9 :- Biology and Human Welfare

Animal husbandry – Livestock, Poultry, Fisheries; Major animal diseases and their control.  Pathogens of  major communicable diseases of humans caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, protozoans and helminths, and their control.

Cancer; AIDS.

Adolescence and drug / alcohol abuse;

Basic concepts of immunology.

Plant Breeding and Tissue Culture in crop improvement.

Biofertilisers ( green manure, symbiotic and free – living nitrogen – fixing microbes, mycorrhizae );

Biopesticides ( micro – organisms as biocontrol agents for pests and pathogens ); Bioherbicides;

Microorganisms as pathogens of plant diseases with special reference to rust and smut of wheat, bacterial leaf blight of rice, late blight of potato, bean mosaic, and root – knot of vegetables.

Bioenergy – Hydrocarbon – rich plants as substitute of fossil fuels.

Unit 10  :- Biotechnology and its Applications

Microbes as ideal system for biotechnology;

Microbial technology in food processing, industrial production ( alcohol, acids, enzymes, antibiotics ), sewage treatment and energy generation.

Steps in recombinant DNA technology – restriction enzymes, DNA insertion by vectors and other methods, regeneration of recombinants