IAT 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 IAT, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Diversity in Living World

   3 topics

   • What is Living?
   • Biodiversity
   • Taxonomy and Systematics
2. 2

   Structural Organisation in Animals and Plants

   4 topics

   • Tissues
   • Morphology of Flowering Plants
   • Anatomy of Flowering Plants
   • Structural Organisation in Animals
3. 3

   Cell Structure and Function

   4 topics

   • Cell Theory
   • Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
   • Cell Organelles
   • Cell Cycle and Cell Division
4. 4

   Plant Physiology

   5 topics

   • Transport in Plants
   • Mineral Nutrition
   • Photosynthesis
   • Respiration in Plants
   • Plant Growth and Development
5. 5

   Human Physiology

   7 topics

   • Digestion and Absorption
   • Breathing and Exchange of Gases
   • Body Fluids and Circulation
   • Excretory Products and Their Elimination
   • Locomotion and Movement
   • Neural Control and Coordination
   • Chemical Coordination and Integration
6. 6

   Reproduction

   4 topics

   • Reproduction in Organisms
   • Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
   • Human Reproduction
   • Reproductive Health
7. 7

   Genetics and Evolution

   3 topics

   • Principles of Inheritance and Variation
   • Molecular Basis of Inheritance
   • Evolution
8. 8

   Biology and Human Welfare

   3 topics

   • Human Health and Disease
   • Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production
   • Microbes in Human Welfare
9. 9

   Biotechnology and Its Applications

   2 topics

   • Biotechnology - Principles and Processes
   • Biotechnology and Its Applications
10. 10

    Ecology and Environment

    4 topics

    • Organisms and Populations
    • Ecosystem
    • Biodiversity and Conservation
    • Environmental Issues

Biology flashcards for IAT

22 of 70 cards from the Biology deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What are the defining characteristics (properties) that distinguish living organisms from non-living things?

   Metabolism, growth, reproduction, cellular organization, consciousness/response to stimuli, and self-replication. Of these, metabolism and self-consciousness are considered defining; reproduction and growth are not foolproof (e.g., mules can't reproduce).

2. In binomial nomenclature, what are the rules for writing a scientific name (e.g., Mangifera indica)?

   Two Latinized words: genus name (capitalized) followed by species name (lowercase); the whole name is italicized (or underlined when handwritten); the author's name may follow the species name in abbreviated form.

3. List the taxonomic hierarchy from broadest to most specific.

   Kingdom > Phylum (Division in plants) > Class > Order > Family > Genus > Species.

4. What are the five kingdoms in Whittaker's classification, and on what basis were they created?

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

5. What is a taxon, and what is the difference between taxonomy and systematics?

   A taxon is any unit/group of classification at any rank (e.g., a species, genus, family). Taxonomy is the science of identification, nomenclature, and classification; systematics also studies evolutionary (phylogenetic) relationships among organisms.

6. Name the four basic types of animal tissue and their primary functions.

   Epithelial (protection/secretion/absorption, covers surfaces), Connective (binds and supports, e.g., bone, blood), Muscular (contraction/movement), and Nervous (conducts impulses).

7. What are the three tissue systems of flowering plants?

   Epidermal tissue system (epidermis, stomata, trichomes), Ground tissue system (parenchyma, collenchyma, sclerenchyma), and Vascular tissue system (xylem and phloem).

8. What distinguishes a monocot leaf from a dicot leaf in terms of venation?

   Monocot leaves show parallel venation; dicot leaves show reticulate (net-like) venation.

9. What is the function of xylem and phloem in plants?

   Xylem conducts water and minerals upward from roots to leaves (and provides mechanical support); phloem translocates food (sugars) from leaves (source) to other parts (sink), bidirectionally.

10. Define aestivation and name its main types in a flower.

    Aestivation is the arrangement of sepals or petals in a floral bud. Types: valvate, twisted, imbricate, and vexillary.

11. What are the three postulates of the Cell Theory, and who proposed/extended it?

    (1) All living organisms are composed of cells, (2) the cell is the basic unit of life (Schleiden & Schwann), and (3) all cells arise from pre-existing cells (Rudolf Virchow, 'Omnis cellula-e cellula').

12. List four key differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

    Prokaryotes: no true membrane-bound nucleus, no membrane-bound organelles, 70S ribosomes, single circular DNA. Eukaryotes: true nucleus, membrane-bound organelles, 80S ribosomes (70S in mitochondria/chloroplast), linear DNA with histones.

13. Why are mitochondria and chloroplasts called semi-autonomous organelles?

    They have their own circular DNA and 70S ribosomes, can synthesize some of their own proteins, and divide independently (supporting the endosymbiotic theory).

14. What is the function of the Golgi apparatus?

    It packages, modifies (e.g., glycosylation), sorts, and dispatches proteins and lipids received from the ER; it also forms lysosomes and is involved in cell-plate (cell wall) formation in plants.

15. Why is the mitochondrion called the 'powerhouse of the cell'?

    It is the site of aerobic respiration (Krebs cycle in matrix, electron transport chain on inner membrane/cristae), producing most of the cell's ATP.

16. Name the phases of the cell cycle and the phase where DNA replication occurs.

    Interphase (G1, S, G2) and M phase (mitosis). DNA replication occurs in the S (synthesis) phase.

17. How many daughter cells are produced by mitosis vs meiosis, and what is their ploidy relative to the parent?

    Mitosis: 2 diploid daughter cells, genetically identical to the parent. Meiosis: 4 haploid daughter cells, genetically variable (due to crossing over and independent assortment).

18. During which stage of meiosis does crossing over occur?

    During the pachytene stage of Prophase I, where homologous chromosomes exchange segments at chiasmata via recombination.

19. What is the difference between diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and active transport in plants?

    Diffusion: passive movement down a gradient, no carrier/energy. Facilitated diffusion: passive but uses membrane proteins/carriers. Active transport: moves solutes against the gradient using carrier proteins and ATP energy.

20. What is the cohesion-tension theory of water transport (transpiration pull)?

    Transpiration from leaves creates negative pressure (tension); water molecules, held together by cohesion (H-bonds) and adhesion to xylem walls, are pulled up as a continuous column from roots to leaves.

21. What is the difference between a macronutrient and a micronutrient in plants? Give two examples of each.

    Macronutrients are needed in large amounts (>10 mmol/kg dry matter), e.g., N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S. Micronutrients are needed in trace amounts, e.g., Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, Cl.

22. Write the overall balanced equation for photosynthesis.

    6CO2 + 12H2O --(light, chlorophyll)--> C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O.

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