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AFMC / NEET-linked AFMC Admission Botany (NEET-UG Biology: Plant Sciences) Syllabus

The Botany (NEET-UG Biology: Plant Sciences) syllabus for AFMC / NEET-linked AFMC Admission in full: 5 chapters, 20 topics and 50 sub-topics, every one listed below, plus 51 Botany (NEET-UG Biology: Plant Sciences) flashcards with answers.

5Chapters
20Topics
50Sub-topics
51Flashcards

Botany (NEET-UG Biology: Plant Sciences) syllabus: all 5 chapters

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics.

  1. Diversity and Structural Organisation in Plants

     4 topics
    • Biological Classification
      • Five kingdom classification
      • Monera, Protista, Fungi
      • Viruses, viroids and lichens
    • Plant Kingdom
      • Algae, bryophytes and pteridophytes
      • Gymnosperms and angiosperms
      • Plant life cycles and alternation of generations
    • Morphology of Flowering Plants
      • Root, stem, leaf modifications
      • Inflorescence, flower, fruit and seed
      • Floral formula and families
    • Anatomy of Flowering Plants
      • Tissues and tissue systems
      • Primary and secondary growth
      • Anatomy of dicot and monocot

  2. Cell Biology and Genetics

     4 topics
    • Cell: The Unit of Life
      • Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
      • Cell organelles and their functions
      • Cell membrane and cell wall
    • Cell Cycle and Cell Division
      • Mitosis and its phases
      • Meiosis and significance
    • Principles of Inheritance and Variation
      • Mendelian inheritance and deviations
      • Linkage, recombination and chromosomal theory
      • Mutations and genetic disorders
    • Molecular Basis of Inheritance
      • DNA structure and replication
      • Transcription, translation and genetic code
      • Gene regulation (lac operon)

  3. Plant Physiology

     5 topics
    • Transport in Plants
      • Diffusion, osmosis and water potential
      • Transpiration and ascent of sap
      • Translocation of solutes
    • Mineral Nutrition
      • Essential elements and deficiency symptoms
      • Nitrogen metabolism and biological fixation
    • Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
      • Light and dark reactions
      • C3, C4 and CAM pathways
      • Photorespiration and factors affecting
    • Respiration in Plants
      • Glycolysis, Krebs cycle and ETC
      • Fermentation and respiratory quotient
    • Plant Growth and Development
      • Growth phases and plant growth regulators
      • Photoperiodism and vernalisation

  4. Reproduction in Plants

     3 topics
    • Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
      • Microsporogenesis and megasporogenesis
      • Pollination and double fertilisation
      • Embryo and seed development; apomixis
    • Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production
      • Plant breeding and tissue culture
      • Single cell protein and biofortification
    • Asexual and Vegetative Reproduction
      • Methods of asexual reproduction in plants
      • Natural and artificial vegetative propagation

  5. Ecology and Biotechnology in Plants

     4 topics
    • Organisms and Populations
      • Population attributes and growth models
      • Species interactions
    • Ecosystem
      • Energy flow and ecological pyramids
      • Nutrient cycling and ecological succession
    • Biodiversity and Conservation
      • Patterns and importance of biodiversity
      • In-situ and ex-situ conservation
    • Biotechnology Principles and Applications
      • Recombinant DNA technology and tools
      • Bt crops, RNAi and transgenic plants

AFMC / NEET-linked AFMC Admission Botany (NEET-UG Biology: Plant Sciences) flashcards — 51 questions with answers

  1. In the five-kingdom classification proposed by R.H. Whittaker (1969), what are the five kingdoms and the main criteria used?

    Kingdoms: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia. Criteria: cell structure (prokaryote/eukaryote), body organisation, mode of nutrition, reproduction and phylogenetic relationships.

  2. What are the three domains in the modern three-domain system, and which kingdom did it split?

    Domains: Archaea (Archaebacteria), Bacteria (Eubacteria), and Eukarya. It splits the kingdom Monera into Archaea and Bacteria.

  3. How are bacteria classified by shape, with the name for each form?

    Coccus (spherical), Bacillus (rod-shaped), Vibrio (comma-shaped), Spirillum (spiral).

  4. In dinoflagellates, what causes 'red tides' and what is the pigment basis of their colour?

    Rapid blooms of red dinoflagellates (e.g. Gonyaulax) cause red tides; their colour depends on the main pigments present (red, blue, green, yellow, brown), often due to red pigments.

  5. What are the three groups of slime moulds and saprophytic protists, and how do Myxomycetes feed?

    Slime moulds are saprophytic protists; under suitable conditions they form an aggregation called a plasmodium that engulfs organic matter and forms spore-bearing fruiting bodies under unfavourable conditions.

  6. Name the four classes of Kingdom Fungi and a distinctive feature of each.

    Phycomycetes (aseptate coenocytic hyphae), Ascomycetes (sac fungi, ascospores in asci), Basidiomycetes (club fungi, basidiospores on basidium), Deuteromycetes (Fungi Imperfecti, only asexual/vegetative phase known).

  7. What are lichens and what is the mutualistic relationship within them?

    Lichens are symbiotic associations between an alga (phycobiont, photosynthesises) and a fungus (mycobiont, provides shelter, absorbs water and minerals). They are good pollution indicators.

  8. What are the three main classes of algae and their stored food/pigments?

    Chlorophyceae (green; chlorophyll a,b; store starch), Phaeophyceae (brown; chlorophyll a,c, fucoxanthin; store laminarin/mannitol), Rhodophyceae (red; chlorophyll a,d, phycoerythrin; store floridean starch).

  9. What defines a bryophyte and which generation is dominant?

    Bryophytes (e.g. mosses, liverworts) are 'amphibians of the plant kingdom'; they lack vascular tissue and have a dominant, photosynthetic, free-living gametophyte; the sporophyte is dependent on it.

  10. What are the key features of pteridophytes including their dominant generation?

    Pteridophytes (e.g. ferns) are the first true vascular plants (xylem and phloem); the dominant generation is the diploid sporophyte; gametophyte is a small free-living prothallus requiring water for fertilisation.

  11. What is heterospory and in which plant groups does it occur?

    Heterospory is the production of two kinds of spores: microspores and megaspores. It occurs in some pteridophytes (e.g. Selaginella, Salvinia) and in all gymnosperms and angiosperms; it is a precursor to seed habit.

  12. How do gymnosperms differ from angiosperms in seed and ovule arrangement?

    Gymnosperms bear naked (uncovered) ovules/seeds not enclosed in an ovary; angiosperms have ovules enclosed within an ovary that matures into a fruit containing seeds.

  13. What is double fertilisation in angiosperms and what two products result?

    One male gamete fuses with the egg (syngamy) forming the diploid zygote; the second fuses with the two polar nuclei (triple fusion) forming the triploid primary endosperm nucleus. Products: zygote (2n) and endosperm (3n).

  14. Differentiate a taproot system from a fibrous root system with an example of each.

    Taproot: a primary root with lateral branches, found in dicots (e.g. mustard). Fibrous: a cluster of thin roots from the stem base, found in monocots (e.g. wheat).

  15. What are the three types of aestivation in flowers? Give the defining arrangement of each.

    Valvate (margins touch without overlap), Twisted/contorted (one margin overlaps the next regularly), Imbricate (margins overlap irregularly), and Vexillary (papilionaceous arrangement in pea).

  16. Define racemose vs cymose inflorescence by their growth pattern.

    Racemose: the main axis continues to grow and flowers are borne laterally in acropetal succession (oldest at base). Cymose: the main axis terminates in a flower, so growth is limited and flowers arise in basipetal order.

  17. What is parietal vs axile vs marginal placentation?

    Marginal: ovules along the ventral suture of a single locule (pea). Axile: placenta is axial, ovules attached in a multilocular ovary (china rose, tomato). Parietal: ovules on the inner ovary wall, ovary one-chambered (mustard).

  18. Write the floral formula symbols for actinomorphic, zygomorphic, bisexual, and superior ovary.

    Actinomorphic: ⊕ (radial symmetry); Zygomorphic: % (bilateral); Bisexual: ⚥; Superior ovary: G with a line beneath the gynoecium number (G̲).

  19. What are the three types of permanent tissues, and which simple tissues fall under ground tissue?

    Simple (parenchyma, collenchyma, sclerenchyma) and complex (xylem, phloem) tissues. Ground tissue includes parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma.

  20. Name the components of xylem and phloem.

    Xylem: tracheids, vessels, xylem fibres, xylem parenchyma. Phloem: sieve tube elements, companion cells, phloem fibres, phloem parenchyma.

Show the other 31 Botany (NEET-UG Biology: Plant Sciences) flashcards

  1. What is the function and location of the Casparian strip?

    The Casparian strip is a suberin band in the radial and tangential walls of the root endodermis; it blocks the apoplastic pathway, forcing water and minerals through the symplast and regulating their entry into the stele.

  2. How do you anatomically distinguish a monocot stem from a dicot stem?

    Monocot stem: scattered, closed (no cambium) vascular bundles, no secondary growth, ground tissue not differentiated. Dicot stem: vascular bundles in a ring, open (with cambium), capable of secondary growth, differentiated cortex and pith.

  3. State the cell theory and name its proposers.

    Cell theory (Schleiden and Schwann, modified by Virchow): all living organisms are composed of cells and their products; all cells arise from pre-existing cells (omnis cellula-e cellula).

  4. Differentiate prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells by nucleus, organelles and ribosomes.

    Prokaryotes: no membrane-bound nucleus or organelles, 70S ribosomes, DNA in a nucleoid. Eukaryotes: true membrane-bound nucleus and organelles, 80S ribosomes (70S in mitochondria/chloroplasts).

  5. What is the fluid mosaic model of the plasma membrane and who proposed it?

    Proposed by Singer and Nicolson (1972): the membrane is a fluid lipid bilayer in which proteins are embedded (integral) or attached at surfaces (peripheral), giving lateral fluidity and a mosaic of proteins.

  6. Compare rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum by structure and function.

    Rough ER (RER): bears ribosomes, site of protein synthesis. Smooth ER (SER): lacks ribosomes, site of lipid and steroid synthesis and detoxification.

  7. What is the endosymbiotic origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts, and what evidence supports it?

    They are thought to have originated from free-living prokaryotes engulfed by an ancestral eukaryote. Evidence: double membranes, own circular DNA, 70S ribosomes, and self-division.

  8. Name the four phases of the cell cycle and the key event of S phase.

    G1, S, G2 (collectively interphase) and M phase. In S phase, DNA replication occurs and the DNA content doubles (2C to 4C), but chromosome number stays the same.

  9. List the four stages of mitotic division (karyokinesis) in order.

    Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase (followed by cytokinesis).

  10. At which stage of meiosis does crossing over occur, and in which sub-stage of prophase I?

    Crossing over (exchange of segments between non-sister chromatids of homologous chromosomes) occurs in prophase I, specifically at the pachytene sub-stage, mediated by recombination nodules.

  11. List the five sub-stages of prophase I of meiosis in order.

    Leptotene, Zygotene (synapsis), Pachytene (crossing over), Diplotene (chiasmata visible), Diakinesis.

  12. State Mendel's Law of Segregation and Law of Independent Assortment.

    Law of Segregation: alleles of a gene pair separate during gamete formation, each gamete receiving only one allele. Law of Independent Assortment: alleles of different genes assort independently of one another during gamete formation.

  13. In a monohybrid cross, what are the F2 phenotypic and genotypic ratios?

    Phenotypic ratio 3:1 (dominant:recessive); genotypic ratio 1:2:1 (homozygous dominant : heterozygous : homozygous recessive).

  14. What is the dihybrid F2 phenotypic ratio, and what does it demonstrate?

    9:3:3:1, demonstrating Mendel's law of independent assortment for two pairs of contrasting traits on different chromosomes.

  15. Define incomplete dominance and codominance with an example each.

    Incomplete dominance: heterozygote shows an intermediate phenotype (e.g. pink flowers in Snapdragon/Mirabilis). Codominance: both alleles express fully in the heterozygote (e.g. AB blood group).

  16. How is the sex of offspring determined in humans (XY system)?

    Females are XX (homogametic), males are XY (heterogametic). The sperm carrying the X or Y chromosome determines the sex; an X-bearing sperm gives a girl, a Y-bearing sperm gives a boy.

  17. What were Griffith's transforming principle and the Avery-MacLeod-McCarty conclusion?

    Griffith showed heat-killed virulent S-bacteria could transform live non-virulent R-bacteria; Avery, MacLeod and McCarty identified the transforming principle as DNA, establishing DNA as the genetic material.

  18. State the base-pairing rules and Chargaff's rule for DNA.

    Adenine pairs with Thymine (2 H-bonds) and Guanine with Cytosine (3 H-bonds). Chargaff's rule: A = T and G = C, so purines = pyrimidines.

  19. What does 'semiconservative DNA replication' mean and who demonstrated it?

    Each daughter DNA has one parental (old) strand and one newly synthesised strand. Demonstrated by Meselson and Stahl (1958) using 15N labelling in E. coli.

  20. Define the central dogma of molecular biology.

    The flow of genetic information: DNA → RNA (transcription) → Protein (translation). (Reverse transcription, RNA→DNA, occurs in retroviruses.)

  21. What are the salient features of the genetic code?

    It is triplet (codons of 3 bases), nearly universal, degenerate (multiple codons per amino acid), non-overlapping, comma-less, unambiguous, and has start (AUG) and stop (UAA, UAG, UGA) codons.

  22. Describe the components of the lac operon and its mode of regulation.

    Lac operon: regulatory gene (i), promoter (p), operator (o), and structural genes z, y, a. Negatively regulated: in absence of lactose the repressor binds the operator (off); lactose (inducer) inactivates repressor, switching it on.

  23. Differentiate the apoplast and symplast pathways of water movement.

    Apoplast: water moves through cell walls and intercellular spaces without crossing membranes (fast). Symplast: water moves through the cytoplasm and plasmodesmata of connected cells (slower).

  24. Define water potential, and what are its two main components in a plant cell?

    Water potential (Ψw) is the potential energy of water; pure water = 0. Ψw = Ψs (solute/osmotic potential, negative) + Ψp (pressure potential). Water moves from higher to lower water potential.

  25. State the transpiration pull (cohesion-tension) theory of ascent of sap.

    Transpiration from leaf mesophyll creates negative pressure (tension); cohesion between water molecules and adhesion to xylem walls forms a continuous column pulled upward through the xylem from roots to leaves.

  26. Differentiate macronutrients and micronutrients and give two examples of each.

    Macronutrients are required in large amounts (e.g. N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, C, H, O); micronutrients are needed in trace amounts (e.g. Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, Cl).

  27. Write the overall balanced equation of photosynthesis.

    6CO2 + 12H2O → (in presence of light and chlorophyll) → C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O.

  28. Differentiate C3 and C4 plants by their primary CO2 acceptor, first stable product, and Kranz anatomy.

    C3: acceptor RuBP, first product 3-PGA (3-carbon), no Kranz anatomy. C4: acceptor PEP, first product oxaloacetate (4-carbon), have Kranz anatomy with bundle-sheath cells; C4 are more efficient and lack photorespiration.

  29. What are the products of glycolysis per glucose molecule?

    Glycolysis (in cytoplasm) yields 2 pyruvate, a net 2 ATP, and 2 NADH per glucose molecule.

  30. Define photorespiration and explain why it is wasteful.

    Photorespiration is the light-dependent uptake of O2 and release of CO2 when RuBisCO fixes O2 instead of CO2 in C3 plants; it produces no sugar, no ATP and no NADPH, reducing photosynthetic efficiency.

  31. Name the five major groups of plant growth regulators (phytohormones) and one role of each.

    Auxins (cell elongation, apical dominance), Gibberellins (stem elongation, bolting), Cytokinins (cell division), Ethylene (fruit ripening, gaseous), Abscisic acid (stress/stomatal closure, dormancy - the 'stress hormone').

AFMC / NEET-linked AFMC Admission Botany (NEET-UG Biology: Plant Sciences) FAQ

What is in the AFMC / NEET-linked AFMC Admission Botany (NEET-UG Biology: Plant Sciences) syllabus?

AFMC / NEET-linked AFMC Admission Botany (NEET-UG Biology: Plant Sciences) is split into 5 chapters: Diversity and Structural Organisation in Plants, Cell Biology and Genetics, Plant Physiology, Reproduction in Plants and Ecology and Biotechnology in Plants. Together they contain 20 topics and 50 sub-topics.

How many chapters are in AFMC / NEET-linked AFMC Admission Botany (NEET-UG Biology: Plant Sciences)?

5 chapters, containing 20 topics and 50 sub-topics. The largest chapter is Plant Physiology, with 5 topics.

Are there flashcards for AFMC / NEET-linked AFMC Admission Botany (NEET-UG Biology: Plant Sciences)?

Yes — a 51-card Botany (NEET-UG Biology: Plant Sciences) deck, printed in full in the flashcards section of this page and available in the Examius app with spaced repetition. The free plan covers one exam of your choice, including its flashcards; Examius Pro, a one-time purchase, unlocks every other exam and deck.