Life Science SYLLABUS
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
Human Resource Development Group
Examination Unit
CSIR- EXAM FOR AWARD OF JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP LIFE SCIENCES
EXAM SCHEME
TIME: 3 HOURS MAXIMUM MARKS: 200
From June, 2011 CSIR- Exam for Award of Junior Research
Fellowship shall be a Single Paper Test
having Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). The question paper is divided
in three parts
Part ‘A’
This part shall carry 20 questions pertaining to General Science,
Quantitative Reasoning The
candidates shall be required to answer any 15 questions. Each question
shall be of two marks. The total marks allocated to this section shall
be 30 out of 200.
Part ‘B’
This part shall contain 50 Multiple Choice Questions(MCQs) generally
covering the topics given in the syllabus. A candidate shall be
required to answer any 35 questions. Each question shall be of two
marks. The total marks allocated to this section shall be 70 out of 200.
Part ‘C’
This part shall contain 75 questions that are designed to test a
candidate’s knowledge of scientific concepts and/or application of the
scientific concepts. The questions shall be of analytical nature where a
candidate is expected to apply the scientific knowledge to arrive at
the solution to the given scientific problem. A candidate shall be
required to answer any 25 questions. Each question shall be of four
marks. The total marks allocated to this section shall be 100 out of
200.
� There will be negative marking @25% for each wrong answer. for CISR
� To enable the candidates to go through the questions, the question
paper booklet shall be distributed 15 minutes before the scheduled time
of the exam. The Answer sheet shall be distributed at the scheduled time
of the exam.
� On completion of the exam i.e. at the scheduled closing time of the
exam, the candidates shall be allowed to carry the Question Paper
Booklet. No candidate is allowed to carry the Question Paper Booklet in
case he/she chooses to leave the test before the scheduled closing time.
1. Molecules and their Interaction Relevant to Biology
2. Cellular Organization
3. Fundamental Processes
4. Cell Communication and Cell Signaling
5. Developmental Biology
6. System Physiology � Plant
7. System Physiology � Animal
8. Inheritance Biology
9. Diversity of Life Forms
10. Ecological Principles
11. Evolution and Behavior
12. Applied Biology
13. Methods in Biology
1. MOLECULES AND THEIR INTERACTION RELAVENT TO BIOLOGY
A. Structure of atoms, molecules and chemical bonds.
B Composition, structure and function of biomolecules (carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins, nucleic acids and vitamins).
C. Stablizing interactions (Van der Waals, electrostatic, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic
interaction, etc.).
D Principles of biophysical chemistry (pH, buffer, reaction kinetics, thermodynamics,
colligative properties).
E. Bioenergetics, glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, coupled reaction, group transfer, biological energy transducers.
F. Principles of catalysis, enzymes and enzyme kinetics, enzyme regulation, mechanism of
enzyme catalysis, isozymes
G. Conformation of proteins (Ramachandran plot, secondary structure, domains, motif
and folds).
H. Conformation of nucleic acids (helix (A, B, Z), t-RNA, micro-RNA).
I. Stability of proteins and nucleic acids.
J. Metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids nucleotides and vitamins.
2. CELLULAR ORGANIZATION
A) Membrane structure and function
(Structure of model membrane, lipid bilayer and membrane protein
diffusion, osmosis, ion channels, active transport, membrane pumps,
mechanism of sorting and regulation of intracellular
transport,electrical properties of membranes).
B) Structural organization and function of intracellular organelles
(Cell wall, nucleus, mitochondria, Golgi bodies, lysosomes, endoplasmic
reticulum, peroxisomes, plastids, vacuoles, chloroplast, structure &
function of cytoskeleton and its role in motility).
C) Organization of genes and chromosomes (Operon, unique and
repetitive DNA, interrupted genes, gene families, structure of chromatin
and chromosomes, heterochromatin, euchromatin, transposons).
D) Cell division and cell cycle (Mitosis and meiosis, their
regulation, steps in cell cycle, regulation and control of cell cycle).
E) Microbial Physiology (Growth yield and characteristics, strategies of cell division, stress response)
3. FUNDAMENTAL PROCESSES
A) DNA replication, repair and recombination (Unit of replication,
enzymes involved, replication origin and replication fork, fidelity of
replication, extrachromosomal replicons, DNA damage and repair
mechanisms, homologous and site-specific recombination).
B) RNA synthesis and processing (transcription factors and machinery,
formation of initiation complex, transcription activator and repressor,
RNA polymerases, capping,
elongation, and termination, RNA processing, RNA editing, splicing,
and polyadenylation, structure and function of different types of RNA,
RNA transport).
C) Protein synthesis and processing (Ribosome, formation of
initiation complex, initiation factors and their regulation, elongation
and elongation factors, termination, genetic code, aminoacylation of
tRNA, tRNA-identity, aminoacyl tRNA synthetase, and translational
proof-reading, translational inhibitors, Post- translational
modification of proteins).
D) Control of gene expression at transcription and translation level
(regulating the expression of phages, viruses, prokaryotic and
eukaryotic genes, role of chromatin in gene expression and gene
silencing).
4. Cell communication and cell signaling
A) Host parasite interaction Recognition and entry processes of
different pathogens like bacteria, viruses into animal and plant host
cells, alteration of host cell behavior by pathogens, virus-induced cell
transformation, pathogen-induced diseases in animals and plants,
cell-cell fusion in both normal and abnormal cells.
B) Cell signaling Hormones and their receptors, cell surface
receptor, signaling through G-protein coupled receptors, signal
transduction pathways, second messengers, regulation of signaling
pathways, bacterial and plant two-component systems, light signaling in
plants, bacterial chemotaxis and quorum sensing.
C) Cellular communication Regulation of hematopoiesis, general
principles of cell communication, cell adhesion and roles of different
adhesion molecules, gap junctions, extracellular matrix, integrins,
neurotransmission and its regulation.
D) Cancer
Genetic rearrangements in progenitor cells, oncogenes, tumor
suppressor genes, cancer and the cell cycle, virus-induced cancer,
metastasis, interaction of cancer cells with normal cells, apoptosis,
therapeutic interventions of uncontrolled cell growth.
E) Innate and adaptive immune system Cells and molecules involved in innate
and adaptive immunity, antigens, antigenicity and immunogenicity. B
and T cell epitopes, structure and function of antibody molecules.
generation of antibody diversity, monoclonal antibodies, antibody
engineering, antigen-antibody interactions, MHC molecules, antigen
processing and presentation, activation and differentiation of B and T
cells, B and T cell receptors, humoral and cell-mediated immune
responses, primary and secondary immune modulation, the complement
system, Toll-like receptors, cell-mediated effector functions,
inflammation, hypersensitivity and autoimmunity, immune response during
bacterial (tuberculosis), parasitic (malaria) and viral (HIV)
infections, congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies, vaccines.
5. DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
A) Basic concepts of development : Potency, commitment,
specification, induction, competence, determination and differentiation;
morphogenetic gradients; cell fate and cell lineages; stem cells;
genomic equivalence and the cytoplasmic determinants; imprinting;
mutants and transgenics in analysis of development
B) Gametogenesis, fertilization and early development: Production of
gametes, cell surface molecules in sperm-egg recognition in animals;
embryo sac development and double fertilization in plants; zygote
formation, cleavage, blastula formation, embryonic fields, gastrulation
and formation of germ layers in animals; embryogenesis, establishment of
symmetry in plants; seed formation and germination.
C) Morphogenesis and organogenesis in animals : Cell aggregation and differentiation in
Dictyostelium; axes and pattern formation in Drosophila, amphibia and
chick; organogenesis � vulva formation in Caenorhabditis elegans, eye
lens induction, limb development and regeneration in vertebrates;
differentiation of neurons, post embryonic development- larval
formation, metamorphosis; environmental regulation of normal
development; sex determination.
D) Morphogenesis and organogenesis in plants: Organization of shoot
and root apical meristem; shoot and root development; leaf development
and phyllotaxy; transition to flowering, floral meristems and floral
development in Arabidopsis and Antirrhinum
E) Programmed cell death, aging and senescence
6. SYSTEM PHYSIOLOGY – PLANT
A. Photosynthesis – Light harvesting complexes; mechanisms of
electron transport; photoprotective mechanisms; CO2 fixation-C3, C4 and
CAM pathways.
B. Respiration and photorespiration � Citric acid cycle; plant
mitochondrial electron transport and ATP synthesis; alternate oxidase;
photorespiratory pathway.
C. Nitrogen metabolism – Nitrate and ammonium assimilation; amino acid biosynthesis.
D. Plant hormones � Biosynthesis, storage, breakdown and transport; physiological effects and mechanisms of action.
E. Sensory photobiology – Structure, function and mechanisms of
action of phytochromes, cryptochromes and phototropins; stomatal
movement; photoperiodism and biological clocks.
F. Solute transport and photoassimilate translocation � uptake,
transport and translocation of water, ions, solutes and macromolecules
from soil, through cells, across membranes, through xylem and phloem;
transpiration; mechanisms of loading and unloading of photoassimilates.
G. Secondary metabolites – Biosynthesis of terpenes, phenols and nitrogenous compounds and their roles.
H. Stress physiology � Responses of plants to biotic (pathogen and insects) and abiotic (water, temperature and salt) stresses.
7. SYSTEM PHYSIOLOGY – ANIMAL
A. Blood and circulation – Blood corpuscles, haemopoiesis and formed
elements, plasma function, blood volume, blood volume regulation, blood
groups, haemoglobin, immunity, haemostasis.
B. Cardiovascular System: Comparative anatomy of heart structure,
myogenic heart, specialized tissue, ECG � its principle and
significance, cardiac cycle, heart as a pump, blood pressure, neural and
chemical regulation of all above.
C. Respiratory system – Comparison of respiration in different
species, anatomical considerations, transport of gases, exchange of
gases, waste elimination, neural and chemical regulation of respiration.
D. Nervous system – Neurons, action potential, gross neuroanatomy of
the brain and spinal cord, central and peripheral nervous system, neural
control of muscle tone and posture.
E. Sense organs – Vision, hearing and tactile response.
F. Excretory system – Comparative physiology of excretion, kidney,
urine formation, urine concentration, waste elimination, micturition,
regulation of water balance, blood volume, blood pressure, electrolyte
balance, acid-base balance.
G. Thermoregulation – Comfort zone, body temperature � physical, chemical, neural regulation, acclimatization.
H. Stress and adaptation
I. Digestive system – Digestion, absorption, energy balance, BMR.
J. Endocrinology and reproduction – Endocrine glands, basic mechanism
of hormone action, hormones and diseases; reproductive processes,
gametogenesis, ovulation, neuroendocrine regulation
8. INHERITANCE BIOLOGY
A) Mendelian principles : Dominance, segregation, independent assortment.
B) Concept of gene : Allele, multiple alleles, pseudoallele, complementation tests
C) Extensions of Mendelian principles : Codominance, incomplete
dominance, gene interactions, pleiotropy, genomic imprinting, penetrance
and expressivity, phenocopy, linkage and crossing over, sex linkage,
sex limited and sex influenced characters.
D) Gene mapping methods : Linkage maps, tetrad analysis, mapping with
molecular markers, mapping by using somatic cell hybrids, development
of mapping population in plants.
E) Extra chromosomal inheritance : Inheritance of Mitochondrial and chloroplast genes, maternal inheritance.
F) Microbial genetics : Methods of genetic transfers �
transformation, conjugation, transduction and sex-duction, mapping genes
by interrupted mating, fine structure analysis of genes.
G) Human genetics : Pedigree analysis, lod score for linkage testing, karyotypes, genetic disorders.
H) Quantitative genetics : Polygenic inheritance, heritability and its measurements, QTL mapping.
I) Mutation : Types, causes and detection, mutant types � lethal,
conditional, biochemical, loss of function, gain of function, germinal
verses somatic mutants, insertional mutagenesis.
J) Structural and numerical alterations of chromosomes : Deletion,
duplication, inversion, translocation, ploidy and their genetic
implications.
K) Recombination : Homologous and non-homologous recombination including transposition. 9. DIVERSITY OF LIFE FORMS:
A. Principles & methods of taxonomy:
Concepts of species and hierarchical taxa, biological nomenclature,
classical & quantititative methods of taxonomy of plants, animals
and microorganisms.
B. Levels of structural organization:
Unicellular, colonial and multicellular forms. Levels of organization
of tissues, organs & systems. Comparative anatomy, adaptive
radiation, adaptive modifications.
C. Outline classification of plants, animals & microorganisms:
Important criteria used for classification in each taxon.
Classification of plants, animals and microorganisms. Evolutionary
relationships among taxa.
D. Natural history of Indian subcontinent:
Major habitat types of the subcontinent, geographic origins and
migrations of species. Comman Indian mammals, birds. Seasonality and
phenology of the subcontinent.
E. Organisms of health & agricultural importance:
Common parasites and pathogens of humans, domestic animals and crops.
F. Organisms of conservation concern:
Rare, endangered species. Conservation strategies.
10. ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES
The Environment: Physical environment; biotic environment; biotic and abiotic interactions.
Habitat and Niche: Concept of habitat and niche; niche width and
overlap; fundamental and realized niche; resource partitioning;
character displacement.
Population Ecology: Characteristics of a population; population
growth curves; population regulation; life history strategies (r and K
selection); concept of metapopulation � demes and dispersal, interdemic
extinctions, age structured populations.
Species Interactions: Types of interactions, interspecific competition, herbivory, carnivory, pollination, symbiosis.
Community Ecology: Nature of communities; community structure and
attributes; levels of species diversity and its measurement; edges and
ecotones.
Ecological Succession: Types; mechanisms; changes involved in succession; concept of climax.
Ecosystem Ecology: Ecosystem structure; ecosystem function; energy
flow and mineral cycling (C,N,P); primary production and decomposition;
structure and function of some Indian ecosystems: terrestrial (forest,
grassland) and aquatic (fresh water, marine, eustarine).
Biogeography: Major terrestrial biomes; theory of island biogeography; biogeographical zones of India.
Applied Ecology: Environmental pollution; global environmental
change; biodiversity: status, monitoring and documentation; major
drivers of biodiversity change; biodiversity management approaches.
Conservation Biology: Principles of conservation, major approaches to
management, Indian case studies on conservation/management strategy
(Project Tiger, Biosphere reserves).
11. EVOLUTION AND BEHAVIOUR
A. Emergence of evolutionary thoughts
Lamarck; Darwin�concepts of variation, adaptation, struggle, fitness
and natural selection; Mendelism; Spontaneity of mutations; The
evolutionary synthesis.
B. Origin of cells and unicellular evolution:
Origin of basic biological molecules; Abiotic synthesis of organic
monomers and polymers; Concept of Oparin and Haldane; Experiement of
Miller (1953); The first cell; Evolution of prokaryotes; Origin of
eukaryotic cells; Evolution of unicellular eukaryotes; Anaerobic
metabolism, photosynthesis and aerobic metabolism.
C. Paleontology and Evolutionary History:
The evolutionary time scale; Eras, periods and epoch; Major events in the evolutionary
time scale; Origins of unicellular and multi cellular organisms;
Major groups of plants and animals; Stages in primate evolution
including Homo.
D. Molecular Evolution:
Concepts of neutral evolution, molecular divergence and molecular
clocks; Molecular tools in phylogeny, classification and identification;
Protein and nucleotide sequence analysis; origin of new genes and
proteins; Gene duplication and divergence.
E. The Mechanisms:
Population genetics � Populations, Gene pool, Gene frequency;
Hardy-Weinberg Law; concepts and rate of change in gene frequency
through natural selection, migration and random genetic drift; Adaptive
radiation; Isolating mechanisms; Speciation; Allopatricity and
Sympatricity; Convergent evolution; Sexual selection; Co-evolution.
F. Brain, Behavior and Evolution:
Approaches and methods in study of behavior; Proximate and ultimate
causation; Altruism and evolution-Group selection, Kin selection,
Reciprocal altruism; Neural basis
of learning, memory, cognition, sleep and arousal; Biological clocks; Development
of behavior; Social communication; Social dominance; Use of space and territoriality;
Mating systems, Parental investment and Reproductive success; Parental
care;Aggressive behavior; Habitat selection and optimality in foraging;
Migration, orientation and navigation; Domestication and behavioral
changes.
12. APPLIED BIOLOGY:
A. Microbial fermentation and production of small and macro molecules.
B. Application of immunological principles, vaccines, diagnostics. Tissue and cell culture methods for plants and animals.
C. Transgenic animals and plants, molecular approaches to diagnosis and strain identification.
D. Genomics and its application to health and agriculture, including gene therapy.
E. Bioresource and uses of biodiversity.
F. Breeding in plants and animals, including marker � assisted selection
G. Bioremediation and phytoremediation
H. Biosensors
13. METHODS IN BIOLOGY
A. Molecular Biology and Recombinant DNA methods: Isolation and
purification of RNA , DNA (genomic and plasmid) and proteins, different
separation methods. Analysis of RNA, DNA and proteins by one and two
dimensional gel electrophoresis, Isoelectric focusing gels. Molecular
cloning of DNA or RNA fragments in bacterial and eukaryotic systems.
Expression of recombinant proteins using bacterial, animal and plant
vectors. Isolation of specific nucleic acid sequences Generation of
genomic and cDNA libraries in plasmid, phage, cosmid, BAC and YAC
vectors. In vitro mutagenesis and deletion techniques, gene knock out in
bacterial and eukaryotic organisms. Protein sequencing methods,
detection of post translation modification of proteins. DNA sequencing
methods, strategies for genome sequencing.Methods for analysis of gene
expression at RNA and protein level, large scale expression, such as
micro array based techniques Isolation, separation and analysis of
carbohydrate and lipid molecules RFLP, RAPD and AFLP techniques
B. Histochemical and Immunotechniques
Antibody generation, Detection of molecules using ELISA, RIA, western blot,
immunoprecipitation, fluocytometry and immunofluorescence microscopy,
detection of molecules in living cells, in situ localization by techniques such as FISH
and GISH.
C Biophysical Method:
Molecular analysis using UV/visible, fluorescence, circular dichroism, NMR and ESR
spectroscopy Molecular structure determination using X-ray diffraction and NMR,
Molecular analysis using light scattering, different types of mass spectrometry and
surface plasma resonance methods.
D Statisitcal Methods:
Measures of central tendency and dispersal; probability distributions
(Binomial, Poisson and normal); Sampling distribution; Difference
between parametric and
non-parametric statistics; Confidence Interval; Errors; Levels of
significance; Regression and Correlation; t-test; Analysis of variance;
X2 test;; Basic introduction to Muetrovariate statistics, etc.
E. Radiolabeling techniques:
Detection and measurement of different types of radioisotopes
normally used in biology, incorporation of radioisotopes in biological
tissues and cells, molecular imaging of radioactive material, safety
guidelines.
F. Microscopic techniques:
Visulization of cells and subcellular components by light microscopy, resolving powers
of different microscopes, microscopy of living cells, scanning and transmission
microscopes, different fixation and staining techniques for EM, freeze-etch and freeze-
fracture methods for EM, image processing methods in microscopy.
G. Electrophysiological methods:
Single neuron recording, patch-clamp recording, ECG, Brain activity recording, lesion
and stimulation of brain, pharmacological testing, PET, MRI, fMRI, CAT .
H. Methods in field biology:
Methods of estimating population density of animals and plants, ranging patterns
through direct, indirect and remote observations, sampling methods in the study of
behavior, habitat characterization: ground and remote sensing methods.
