Maharashtra State Eligibility Test for Assistant

Professor
-
महाराष्ट्र राज्य सहायक प्राध्यापक पदासाठी राज्यस्तरीय पात्रता चाचणी (एम सेट) परीक्षा

Conducted by Savitribai Phule Pune University

( AS THE STATE AGENCY )

SYLLABUS

Subject Subject
Code No.
34 Life Sciences (As per CSIR UGC NET Syllabus)

SAVITRIBAI PHULE PUNE UNIVERSITY

Ganeshkhind, Pune-411007
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[34] : LIFE SCIENCES

SYLLABUS

PAPER II

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. 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. 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

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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,

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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 signalling

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 signalling
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 twocomponent 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 cellmediated 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 :

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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.

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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.

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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 regulation7

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.

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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.8

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.

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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.9

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:

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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. Biosensors10

13. METHODS IN BIOLOGY

A. Molecular Biology and Recombinant DNA methods:

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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.11

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 freezefracture 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 .

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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.

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