NEST Biology Syllabus 2024 (Released): List of Chapters, Topic, PDF

Cell Biology 

• Cell theory and cells as units of life.
• Basic concepts of biomolecules – Proteins, Carbohydrates, Lipids, Nucleic acids. 
• Tools and techniques of cell studies – use of microscope and calibration (microscopy), elements of microscope. 
• Biomembranes – transport mechanism, cellular respiration.
• Cell organelles – structure and functions. 
• Discovery and structure of DNA, processes of replication, transcription, genetic code and translation. 
• Principles of the basic techniques in molecular biology. 
• Enzymes– catalysis, kinetics, activation energy, competitive and non– competitive inhibition.

Genetics and Evolution

• Fundamentals of genetics and evolution. 
• Evidence and theories of organic evolution. 
• Organization of the hereditary material in chromosomes. 
• Equational division. 
• Reduction division.
• Mitosis and meiosis compared and contrasted. 
• Significance of meiosis. 
• Mendel's laws of inheritance. 
• Discovery of linkage, sex–linked inheritance. 
• Crossing– over, stage at which crossing– over occurs.
• Neurospora genetics.
• Mutation – discovery, types of Mutation and Mutations in diploids. 
• Role of mutations in evolution.
• Elaboration of Mendel's laws of inheritance. 
• Monohybrid or Dihybrid crosses. 
• Human genetics – human chromosomes, sex–determination, sex–linked inheritance.

Ecology

• Physical and biological factors in influencing organisms. 
• Food chains, pyramids of numbers and biomass. 
• Biological equilibrium. 
• Interspecific associations. 
• Bio–diversity. 
• Flora and fauna.
• Basics of microbial systems, Ecosystems.

Humans and Environment

• Soil, rainfall and temperature with reference to natural resources. 
• Our natural resources – their uses and abuses. 
• Environmental pollution and preventive measures.
• Biodiversity and conservation.

Biotechnology

• Principles of recombinant DNA technology. 
• Applications of biotechnology.

Biology of Animal systems

• Modes of nutrition. 
• Different vitamin compounds and their deficiencies. 
• Structure of alimentary canal and associated glands, digestive enzymes and gastrointestinal hormones. 
• Absorption of products of digestion, peristalsis, balanced diet. 
• Respiratory System – Gaseous exchange in animals.
• Structure of respiratory organs, mechanism of breathing, gaseous transport, tissue respiration. 

• Open and closed systems. 
• Functions of blood and lymph. 
• Microscopic structure of blood and blood vessels. 
• Structures and working of the heart. 
• Distribution of arteries and veins. 
• Circulation of blood coagulation. 
• Blood groups.

• Elimination of nitrogenous waste. 
• Osmoconformers and osmoregulators. 
• Structure and function of kidney tubules. Arrangement of excretory organs. 

• General account of brain, spinal cord and nerves. 
• Re-ex actions (simple and conditioned). Sense organs (eye and ear).

• Sexual and asexual reproduction. 
• General arrangement and functions of reproductive organs. 

• Basic features of development in animals. 
• Types of eggs, fertilization, cleavage, blastula.
• Stem cells– definition, types, uses, advantages and disadvantages, induced pluripotent stem cells.
• Different hormones and their roles.
• Diversity of Animal Life — Principles of classification, binomial nomenclature.
• General classification of animal phyla up to classes (invertebrates) and up to sub-classes/order (vertebrates).
• General characters of fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Immunology

• Basics of immune mechanisms and diseases– active and passive immunity, T and B-cell responses, antigen presentation, principles of vaccination, monoclonal antibodies and their uses, immunology of AIDS.

Biology of Plant Systems

• Anatomy and Physiology of Plants – Meristems. 
• Plant growth and development. 
• Internal and external regulators of growth and development in plants.
• Plant reproduction. 
• Internal structure of root, stem, secondary growth and leaves.
• Xylem and Phloem – their cell elements and functions. 
• Internal structure of dicot and monocot leaves. 
• Photosynthesis – history, importance, factors and mechanism, stomatal mechanism, transpiration and respiration. Comparative study of dicot and monocot anatomy. 
• Absorption and cell–water relations, transport of water and minerals, tropic and turgor movements. 
• Significance of life–cycles with special reference to alternation of generations as exemplified in Funaria, Selaginella and Pinus (no structural details). 
• Plant hormones. 

Systematics 

• Principles of classical and new systematics. 
• Binomial nomenclature. 
• Familiarity with taxa. 
• Plant breeding and tissue culture.