M.Sc.
Bioresources
Note: The syllabus
prescribed for the entrance test has been divided into fifteen units. Each unit
carries a Weightage of four marks. Paper setters are required to set four multiple
choice type questions with only one correct or most appropriate answer separately
for each unit, giving uniform representation to the whole syllabus contained
therein.
Unit
1. The chemistry of life from
inorganic perspective: Atoms, molecules and chemical bonding. Chemical
reactions and the concept of equilibrium, the laws of thermodynamics, free
energy, enthalpy, entropy, principles of bioenergetics, redox reactions , redox
potential, ATP as a biological currency.Importance of water to plant and animal
life, physical properties of water (structure of water, water as a solvent, the
hydrophobic effect, osmosis, imbibition, diffusion). Chemical properties of
water (ionization of water, acid base chemistry, buffers).
2. Discovery and nomenclature of
enzymes, characteristics of enzymes, concept of holozymes, apoenzymes,
coenzymes and cofactors, mechanism of enzyme action.Levels of structure in
protein architecture (primary, secondary, tertiary and quarternary).
Denaturation and renaturation of proteins. Classification of proteins based on
solubility, shape and functions. Amino acid structure (general properties, peptide
bonds, classification, acid base properties, and stereochemistry).
3. Nomenclature, structure and
properties of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Structure and biological
functions of triacyglycerols, biosynthesis and degradation of saturated fatty
acids (β-oxidation). Structure, Occurrence and biological importance of monosaccharides,
oligosaccharides, polysaccharides and glycoproteins (glucose, sucrose, starch,
glycogen, chitin, proteoglycans, peptidoglycans).Configuration and conformation
of monosaccharides (elementary idea).
4. Structure and functions of
cell wall, plasma membrane, golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplast,
mitochondria, ribosomes, and central vacuole, Fluid mosaic model of plasma
membrane, ultrastructure of nuclear membrane.Morphology of chromosomes,
centromere and telomere; secondary constriction and satellite chromosomes,
nucleolus, organization of chromosomes with special reference to nucleosome
model; mitosis and meiosis; chromosome alterations, origin, meiotic behaviour
and genetic consequences of deletions, duplications inversions and translocations,
transposable elements(maize and Drosophila).
5. Mendel’s laws of inheritance,
allelic and non-allelic interactions; dominance, incomplete dominance,
codominance, independent assortment; epistasis (13:3, 12:3:1), duplicate (15:1)
and complementary (9:7) genes with suitable examples. Structure and functions
of nucleotides and nucleic acids, structure and forms of DNA (A, B and Z), Satellite
and repetitive DNA; structure and functions of mitochondrial and plastid DNA;
structure and functions of plasmids. DNA damage and repair.
6. Mechanism of DNA replication,
major enzymes involved in replication and their roles. Concept and structure of
genes, gene expression and is regulation, lac operon (operon model),
transcription and its mechanism, role of enzymatic machinary involved in transcription.
Translation- concept of genetic code, structure and functions of rRNA, tRNA,
mRNA in translation and activation of amino acids, mechanism of translation (initiation,
elongation and termination); tools and techniques of recombinant DNA technology.
7. General concept of viruses,
lytic and lysogenic cycles in viruses, infectious particles tinier than viruses
(viriods, prions). Characteristics of bacteria, bacterial classification, growth
and reproduction, archaebacteria and eubacteria, bacterial genome, bacteria as a
source of antibiotics.
8. Principles and applications of
paper, thin layer and gas liquid chromatography, gel electrophoresis and
ultracentrifugation. Use of spectroscopy and radioisotopy in biology
(elementary idea).Photosynthetic pigments, absorption and action spectra, phosphorescence,
fluorescence, enhancement effect, concept of two photosystems, Zscheme, photophosphorylation,
C3, C4 and CAM
pathways. Aerobic and anaerobic respiration, glycolysis, Krebs cycle, electron transport
system, oxidative phosphorylation (chemi-osmotic mechanism).
9. Homeostasis and control
systems, negative and positive feedback, regulation of temperature; biological
clocks and their effects. Physiological effects of auxins, gibberellins,
cytokinins, abscisic acid and ethylene. Sources and effects of vertebrate hormones
(pituitary glands, adrenal glands, pancreatic islets, thyroid glands, parathyroid
glands, pineal gland, thymus gland, gonads).
10. Plant and animal tissues, types
of plant tissues (meristems, simple and complex tissues), types of animal
tissues (epithelial, connective, muscle and nervous tissues). Growth,
differentiation and morphogenesis; phases of growth, physiology of dormancy,
photomorphogenesis, discovery and role of phytochrome and cryptochrome.
11. Morphological, anatomical and
physiological adaptation of plants and animals to water temperature and light.
Population ecology, primary and secondary characters of population, regulation
, inter and intra population interaction. Ecosystem structure, biotic and
abiotic components, food chains , food webs, ecological pyramids, energy flow,
biogeochemical cycles of carbon and nitrogen.
12. Biological classification
(artificial, natural and phylogenetic approaches), taxonomic categories,
species concept, binomial nomenclature, taxonomic keys. Theories of evolution
(Lamarckism and Darwinism); variation (concept and types);microevolution (mutations,
genetic drift, and inbreeding); natural selection and adaptation; speciation (allopatric
and sympatric); process of fossilization and the origin of various life forms; biogeography
and continental drift.
13. Identification of edible and
poisonous mushrooms, scope and future of mushroom industry in J&K state.
Requirements for artificial mushroom cultivation, raw material and equipment
for mushroom farming, morphology ,economic importance, nutritional value and
life cycle of Agaricus bisporus and Pleorotus spp. Methods of
fruit and vegetable preservation. Economic importance of insects (medicinal and
agriculture), economic importance of molluscs; Aquaculture (carp and trout
culture; Sericulture (rearing and diseases; Apiculture (Bee keeping methods and
diseases).
14. Biodiversity and
Conservation: Concept of biodiversity, (components and levels); values of
biodiversity; loss of biodiversity; conservation strategies (in-situ and
exsitu); concept of sustainable development. Morphology, cultivation and
economic importance of Rice, Wheat and Maize; rosaceous fruits of Kashmir
(apple, cherry, almond); extraction and processing of mustard; distribution
status, cultivation, part used and medicinal importance of Podophyllum,
Atropa and Artemisia.
15. Human impact on Biosphere:
causes and consequences of air, water and land pollution, global warming, green
house effect, ozone depletion, deforestation, non renewable energy resources (
fossil fuels, coal and petroleum). alternate energy sources.