BITSAT Biology Syllabus

Biology syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Biology in BITSAT, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Diversity in Living World

   5 topics

   • Biology – its meaning and relevance to mankind
   • What is living
     • Taxonomic categories and aids
     • Systematics and Binomial system of nomenclature
   • Introductory classification of living organisms
     • Two-kingdom system
     • Five-kingdom system
   • Plant kingdom
     • Salient features of major groups (Algae to Angiosperms)
   • Animal kingdom
     • Salient features of Nonchordates up to phylum
     • Chordates up to class level
2. 2

   Cell: The Unit of Life; Structure and Function

   5 topics

   • Cell wall; Cell membrane; Endomembrane system
     • ER, Golgi apparatus/Dictyosome, Lysosomes, Vacuoles
   • 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
3. 3

   Genetics and Evolution

   5 topics

   • 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
     • Organization and replication
     • Transcription and Translation
   • Gene expression and regulation
     • DNA fingerprinting
   • Theories and evidences of evolution, including modern Darwinism
4. 4

   Structure and Function – Plants

   5 topics

   • Morphology of a flowering plant
     • Tissues and tissue systems in plants
     • Anatomy and function of root, stem, leaf, inflorescence, flower, fruit and seed
   • Absorption and movement of water
     • Diffusion, osmosis and water relations of cell
     • 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
5. 5

   Structure and Function - Animals

   1 topic

   • Human Physiology
     • Digestive system
     • Respiratory system
     • Body fluids and circulation
     • Excretion system
     • Locomotion and movement
     • Control and co-ordination
6. 6

   Reproduction, Growth and Movement in Plants

   3 topics

   • Asexual methods of reproduction
   • Sexual Reproduction
     • Development of male and female gametophytes
     • Pollination
     • Fertilization
     • Development of embryo, endosperm, seed and fruit
   • Growth and Movement
     • Growth phases
     • Types of growth regulators and their role in seed dormancy, germination and movement
7. 7

   Reproduction and Development in Humans

   4 topics

   • Male and female reproductive systems
     • Menstrual cycle
     • Gamete production
     • Fertilisation
     • Implantation
   • Embryo development
   • Pregnancy and parturition
   • Birth control and contraception
8. 8

   Ecology and Environment

   7 topics

   • Meaning of ecology, environment, habitat and niche
   • Ecological levels of organization
     • 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 and Environmental Issues
     • Conservation strategies
     • Air and Water Pollution
     • Global warming and Climate change
     • Ozone depletion
     • Noise pollution
     • Radioactive pollution
     • Methods of pollution control
     • Deforestation
     • Extinction of species (Hot Spots)
9. 9

   Biology and Human Welfare

   6 topics

   • Animal husbandry
     • Livestock, Poultry, Fisheries
     • Major animal diseases and their control
   • Pathogens of major communicable diseases of humans
     • Fungi, Bacteria, Viruses, Protozoans and Helminthes
     • Control
   • Cancer; AIDS
   • Adolescence and drug/alcohol abuse
   • Basic concepts of immunology
   • Plant Breeding and Tissue Culture in crop improvement
10. 10

    Biotechnology and its Applications

    5 topics

    • Microbes as ideal system for biotechnology
    • Microbial technology
      • Food processing
      • Industrial production
      • Sewage treatment
      • Energy generation
    • Steps in recombinant DNA technology
      • Restriction enzymes
      • NA insertion by vectors and other methods
      • Regeneration of recombinants
    • Applications of R-DNA technology in human health
      • Production of Insulin, Vaccines and Growth hormones
      • Organ transplant
      • Gene therapy
    • Applications in Industry and Agriculture
      • Production of expensive enzymes
      • Strain improvement to scale up bioprocesses
      • GM crops by transfer of genes for nitrogen fixation, herbicide-resistance and pest-resistance including Bt crops

Biology flashcards for BITSAT

22 of 51 cards from the Biology deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the two key defining characteristics that distinguish all living organisms from non-living things?

   Metabolism (sum of all chemical reactions) and the ability to self-replicate/reproduce. Other shared features include growth, responsiveness to stimuli, organization (cellular structure), and homeostasis.

2. What are the three domains of life in modern classification?

   Archaea, Bacteria (Eubacteria), and Eukarya. These are based largely on rRNA sequence and cell structure differences.

3. List the five kingdoms of Whittaker's classification and the basis for the scheme.

   Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia. Basis: cell structure (prokaryotic/eukaryotic), body organization, mode of nutrition, reproduction, and phylogenetic relationships.

4. How do prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells differ in their genetic material?

   Prokaryotes have a single circular DNA molecule (nucleoid) with no nuclear membrane and lack histones (in bacteria); eukaryotes have multiple linear chromosomes enclosed in a true membrane-bound nucleus, wrapped around histone proteins.

5. Name three structural features present in a plant cell but absent in an animal cell.

   Cellulose cell wall, large central vacuole, and plastids (e.g., chloroplasts). Animal cells uniquely have centrioles (in most) and lack these three.

6. What is the chemical composition of the cell wall in plants, fungi, and bacteria?

   Plants: cellulose; Fungi: chitin; Bacteria: peptidoglycan (murein).

7. What does the fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane (Singer & Nicolson) describe?

   A phospholipid bilayer in which proteins are embedded (integral) or attached (peripheral), with both lipids and proteins able to move laterally, giving the membrane fluidity and a mosaic appearance.

8. Which organelles constitute the endomembrane system?

   Endoplasmic reticulum (rough and smooth), Golgi apparatus, lysosomes, and vacuoles. (Mitochondria, chloroplasts, and peroxisomes are excluded.)

9. What are the four phases of the eukaryotic cell cycle, and which is the longest?

   G1, S (DNA synthesis), G2, and M (mitosis). Interphase (G1+S+G2) is the longest phase; G1 is typically the most variable in duration.

10. What happens during the S phase of the cell cycle?

    DNA replication occurs, doubling the DNA content (each chromosome becomes two sister chromatids). Histone proteins are also synthesized. Chromosome number stays the same.

11. Distinguish mitosis from meiosis in terms of products and chromosome number.

    Mitosis: one division yielding 2 genetically identical diploid daughter cells. Meiosis: two divisions yielding 4 genetically variable haploid cells (gametes); halves the chromosome number.

12. Name the four major classes of biomolecules and their monomer units.

    Carbohydrates (monosaccharides), proteins (amino acids), lipids (fatty acids + glycerol, not true polymers), and nucleic acids (nucleotides).

13. What are enzymes and how do they speed up reactions?

    Enzymes are biological catalysts (mostly proteins) that lower the activation energy of a reaction by binding substrate at the active site, without being consumed; they are highly specific.

14. State the lock-and-key and induced-fit models of enzyme action.

    Lock-and-key: the substrate fits the rigid, complementary active site exactly. Induced-fit (Koshland): the active site changes shape to mould around the substrate upon binding.

15. What is the difference between competitive and non-competitive enzyme inhibition?

    Competitive inhibitor resembles the substrate and binds the active site (overcome by raising substrate concentration). Non-competitive inhibitor binds elsewhere (allosteric site), altering enzyme shape, and is not overcome by more substrate.

16. State Mendel's Law of Segregation.

    The two alleles of a gene separate (segregate) during gamete formation, so each gamete carries only one allele of each gene; alleles unite randomly at fertilization.

17. State Mendel's Law of Independent Assortment.

    Alleles of different genes assort independently of one another during gamete formation (applies to genes on different chromosomes or far apart).

18. In a monohybrid and dihybrid cross of heterozygotes, what are the classic F2 phenotypic ratios?

    Monohybrid F2: 3:1. Dihybrid F2: 9:3:3:1.

19. What is genetic linkage and how does it relate to crossing over?

    Linkage is the tendency of genes located close together on the same chromosome to be inherited together. Crossing over (exchange of segments between homologous chromosomes during meiosis I) separates linked genes, producing recombinants; closer genes cross over less often.

20. How is recombination frequency used to map genes, and what is 1 map unit?

    Recombination frequency (% of recombinant offspring) is proportional to the distance between genes. 1 map unit (centimorgan) = 1% recombination frequency.

21. State the base-pairing rules in DNA and the type of bonds involved.

    Adenine pairs with Thymine (2 hydrogen bonds); Guanine pairs with Cytosine (3 hydrogen bonds). A=T and G≡C (complementary base pairing).

22. What is the structure of DNA according to Watson and Crick?

    A right-handed antiparallel double helix; two sugar-phosphate backbones outside, nitrogen base pairs inside; ~10 base pairs per turn, pitch 3.4 nm, 0.34 nm between adjacent bases.

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