LECTURER IN ZOOLOGY : Detailed Syllabus

LECTURER IN ZOOLOGY 

COLLEGIATE EDUCATION 

(CATEGORY NO. 588/2012) 

PART I: SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY 

1. SYSTEMATICS 

• Basic concepts , Importance and applications 

• Trends -Chemotaxonomy, Cytotaxonomy, Molecular taxonomy, Cladistics, Numerical 

taxonomy 

• Dimensions of speciation, Species concept, Theories of biological classification, Hierarchy 

of categories. 

• Procedural keys- Taxonomic procedures- Collection, Preservation, Curating, Identification. 

• Taxonomic keys- Merits and demerits; ICZN, Formation of scientific names of various taxa. 

2. EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY 

An outline of evolutionary theories: Darwinism, Lamarckism, Modern synthesis (not in 

detail). 

Origin of higher categories- Punctuated equilibrium- Macroevolution- Microevolution- 

Coevolution-Founder principle- C-value paradox-Concept of molecular clock- 

Cytochrome C- Haemoglobin-Histone. 

PART II: PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY. 

I. PHYSIOLOGY 

1. Nutrition and Digestion 

• Types of nutrition 

• Mechanism of Digestion , Absorption 

• Gastro intestinal hormones 

• Deficiency diseases of nutrients. 

2. Circulatory Physiology 

• Physiology of cardiac muscles 

• cardiac cycle 

• Electrical properties 

• 

• conducting system of heart 

• Blood pressure 

• Blood volume 

• pressure control - integrated system. 

 3. Nerve Physiology 

• Nerve action potential 

• conduction of nerve impulse 

• Synapse 

• Synaptic transmission 

• Neurotransmitters. 

4. Excretory physiology 

5. Respiratory physiology 

6. Muscle physiology 

7. Endocrinology 

• Major Endocrine glands and their hormones and functions 

• Mechanism of hormone action. 

II. BIOCHEMISTRY 

Biomolecules 

• Carbohydrates: Classification, Structure, Properties, Functions. 

• Proteins: Classification, Structure, Properties, Functions. 

• Lipids: Classification, Structure, Properties, functions. 

Enzymes: Mechanism of enzyme action. Factors affecting enzyme action, Enzyme kinetics, Menton- 

Michaelis kinetics, Substrate concentration, Enzyme inhibition and regulation, Isozyme, Coenzyme, 

Ribozymes. 

Metabolism of carbohydrate: Glycolysis, TCA cycle, Pentose phosphate pathway, Glycogenesis, 

Glucogenesis, Gluconeogenesis, Regulation of carbohydrate metabolism. 

Metabolism of protein: Deamination, Transamination, 

Metabolism of Lipids: B oxidation, Synthesis of Fatty acid, Biosynthesis of 

cholesterol. 

Energy metabolism: Oxidative metabolism, Oxidative phosphorylation, 

Chemiosmotic theory . 

PART III: MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY 

I. MICROBIOLOGY 

• Classification of Microorganisms- Berg's manual. 

• Salient features of Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, Protozoa, Algae. 

• Bacterial Cell- Structure and function 

• Bacterial Cell wall- Peptidoglycan, Gram's positive and Gram's negative, Mechanism of Gram's 

staining. 

• Bacterial culture media 

• Growth curves 

2. Industrial Microbiology: Fermentation.  

II: IMMUNOLOGY 

• Types of immunity - Innate, Acquired, Passive, Active, Cell mediated. 

• Cells of primary and secondary lymphoid organs. 

• Cells and organs of immune system. 

III. Immunogens [ Antigen] 

• General properties- Structure and function, Variability and Diversity. 

• Factors affecting antigenicity 

• Epitopes and haptens 

• Adjuvants. 

IV. Immunoglobulins [Antibodies] 

• General properties- Structure and function 

• Different classes- Ig A, IgD, IgE, IgM 

• Variability and Diversity 

• Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies 

V. Antigen Antibody interaction 

 Complement system- Classical pathway, Alternate, cell mediated and humoral reactions. 

VI. Transplantation 

MHC genes, Auto-immune diseases. 

PART IV 

CELL, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 

 CELL 

Cell membrane- Structure and function. 

Cell organelles with special reference to Mitochondria and Ribosomes 

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 

• Organization of eukaryotic genome, gene content and genomic size complexity of eukaryotic 

genome, conserved exons and recombination 

• DNA replication , Repair and Recombination 

• Prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA replication. Enzyme involved in replication. DNA damage and 

repair. 

• Transcription and RNA processing 

• Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic transcription, Binding of transcription 

complexes, Post -transcriptional processing . 

• Translation- prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene expression, Translational machinery, mechanism of 

initiation, elongation and termination, Post-translational modification of protein. 

• Gene regulation mechanism in Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes 

• Transcriptional signals-TATA, CAAT box, Enhancers. 

A. BIOTECHNOLOGY 

• Gene closing 

• Major steps in cloning, Isolation and purification of genes. • Vectors- properties of an ideal vector, different types [ plasmids, Ti plasmid, bacteriophages, cosmids, 

phagemids, artificial chromosomes]. 

• Enzymes in gene cloning. 

• Probes and molecular markers [RFLP, RAPD, AFLP]. 

• Homoploymer tailing, linkers and adapters. 

B. Genetic engineering techniques. 

1. Polymerase Chain reaction, DNA finger printing, Blotting techniques [Northern, 

Southern, Western blottings, Dot blot, Slot blot]. 

2. DNA sequencing - Maxam-Gilbert method, Sanger-Coulson method. Chromosome 

jumping, Genomic library and cDNA library, Site specific mutagenesis and gene targeting, 

Human genome project, Human gene therapy, and other genome projects. 

 3. Transgenic animals. 

PART V: GENETICS AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 

I. GENETICS. 

• Mendelian principles of genetics- Laws , Linkage, Crossing over, Mutation, DNA, 

Types of DNA, RNA, Types of RNA. 

• Lyon hypothesis. 

• Syndromes- Klinefelter, Down, Turner. 

• Genetic code. 

II. DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 

• Gametogenesis, Fertilization and early development - Cleavage, Blastulation, 

gastrulation, Organogeny. 

• Experimental Embryology. 

• Embryonic induction. 

PART VI: ECOLOGY, ETHOLOGY , BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND 

BIOSTATISTICS 

1. ECOLOGY: 

Definitions- Habit and habitat, Ecological niche, Ecosystem, Population ecology, Community ecology, 

Ecological succession, Pollution, Global warming. 

2.ETHOLOGY 

Learning behaviour, Communication behaviour, Motivation. 

3.BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION 

Biodiversity concept, status in India, Value, Loss and causes of loss. 

Indices, Hot spots of Biodiversity. 

In situ and Ex-situ conservation. 

4.BIOSTATISTICS 

Mean, Median, Mode, Standard deviation; Graphical representation of data. 

 PART – VII RECENT TRENDS 

BIOPHYSICS, BIOINFORMATICS AND COMPUTER APPLICATION 

1. INSTRUMENTATION 

• Scanning electron microscope, Transmission electron microscope 

• Electrophoresis- Gel, PAGE, Agarose, 2D- Immunoelectrophoresis, Fluorescent 

• HPLC, Flow cytometry 

• NMR spectroscopy- Mass, Plasma , Atomic 

• X-ray diffraction 

• ELISA 

2. BIOINFORMATICS 

Proteomics, Genomics, Data bases - Primary and Secondary, Search engines. 

Transgenic animals, Stem cell research, IPR, Carbon trading, Ecological foot printing, Treaties and protocols 

related to climate change. 

PART VIII Research Methodology/Teaching Aptitude 

I. TEACHING APTITUDE 

• Teaching: Nature, objectives, characteristics and basic requirements; 

• Learner's characteristics; 

• Factors affecting teaching; 

• Methods of teaching; 

• Teaching aids; 

• Evaluation systems. 

II. RESEARCH APTITUDE 

• Research: Meaning, Characteristics and types; 

• Steps of research; 

• Methods of research; 

• Research Ethics; 

• Paper, article, workshop, seminar, conference and symposium; 

• Thesis writing: its characteristics and format. 

PART IX(a) Salient Features of Indian Constitution 

Salient features of the Constitution - Preamble- Its significance and its place in the 

interpretation of the Constitution. 

Fundamental Rights - Directive Principles of State Policy - Relation between Fundamental 

Rights and Directive Principles - Fundamental Duties. 

Executive - Legislature - Judiciary - Both at Union and State Level. - Other Constitutional 

Authorities. 

Centre-State Relations - Legislative - Administrative and Financial. 

Services under the Union and the States. Emergency Provisions. 

Amendment Provisions of the Constitution. 

 PART IX(b) Social Welfare Legislations and Programmes 

Social Service Legislations like Right to Information Act, Prevention of atrocities against 

Women & Children, Food Security Act, Environmental Acts etc. and Social Welfare 

Programmes like Employment Guarantee Programme, Organ and Blood Donation etc. 

PART X(a) Renaissance in Kerala 

TOWARDS A NEW SOCIETY 

Introduction to English education - various missionary organisations and their functioning- founding 

of educational institutions, factories.printing press etc. 

EFFORTS TO REFORM THE SOCIETY 

(A) Socio-Religious reform Movements 

SNDP Yogam, Nair Service Society, Yogakshema Sabha, Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham, Vaala 

Samudaya Parishkarani Sabha, Samathwa Samajam, Islam Dharma Paripalana Sangham, Prathyaksha 

Raksha Daiva Sabha, Sahodara Prasthanam etc. 

(B) Struggles and Social Revolts 

Upper cloth revolts.Channar agitation, Vaikom Sathyagraha, Guruvayoor Sathyagraha, Paliyam 

Sathyagraha. Kuttamkulam Sathyagraha, Temple Entry Proclamation, Temple Entry Act .Malyalee 

Memorial, Ezhava Memorial etc. 

Malabar riots, Civil Disobedience Movement, Abstention ovement etc. 

ROLE OF PRESS IN RENAISSANCE 

Malayalee, Swadeshabhimani, Vivekodayam, Mithavadi, Swaraj, Malayala Manorama, Bhashaposhini, 

Mathnubhoomi, Kerala Kaumudi, Samadarsi, Kesari, AI-Ameen, Prabhatham, Yukthivadi, etc 

AWAKENING THROUGH LITERATURE 

Novel, Drama, Poetry, Purogamana Sahithya Prasthanam, Nataka Prashtanam, Library movement etc 

WOMEN AND SOCIAL CHANGE 

Parvathi Nenmenimangalam, Arya Pallam, A V Kuttimalu Amma, Lalitha Prabhu.Akkamma 

Cheriyan, Anna Chandi, Lalithambika Antharjanam and others 

LEADERS OF RENAISSANCE 

Thycaud Ayya Vaikundar, Sree Narayana Guru, Ayyan Kali.Chattampi Swamikal, Brahmananda 

Sivayogi, Vagbhadananda, Poikayil Yohannan(Kumara Guru) Dr Palpu, Palakkunnath Abraham 

Malpan, Mampuram Thangal, Sahodaran Ayyappan, Pandit K P Karuppan, Pampadi John Joseph, 

Mannathu Padmanabhan, V T Bhattathirippad, Vakkom Abdul Khadar Maulavi, Makthi Thangal, 

Blessed Elias Kuriakose Chaavra, Barrister G P Pillai, TK Madhavan, Moorkoth Kumaran, C. 

Krishnan, K P Kesava Menon, Dr.Ayyathan Gopalan, C V Kunjuraman, Kuroor Neelakantan 

Namboothiripad, Velukkutty Arayan, K P Vellon, P K Chathan Master, K Kelappan, P. Krishna Pillai, 

A K Gopalan, T R Krishnaswami Iyer, C Kesavan. Swami Ananda Theerthan , M C Joseph, 

Kuttippuzha Krishnapillai and others 

 LITERARY FIGURES 

Kodungallur Kunhikkuttan Thampuran, KeralaVarma Valiyakoyi Thampuran, Kandathil Varghesc 

Mappila. Kumaran Asan, Vallathol Narayana Menon, Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer, G Sankara Kurup, 

Changampuzha Krishna Pillai, Chandu Menon, Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. Kesav Dev, Thakazhi 

Sivasankara Pillai, Ponkunnam Varky, S K Pottakkad and others 

PART X(b) General Knowledge and Current Affairs 

 General Knowledge and Current Affairs 

NOTE: - It may be noted that apart from the topics detailed above, questions from 

other topics prescribed for the educational qualification of the post may also 

appear in the question paper. There is no undertaking that all the topics above 

may be covered in the question paper.