Zoology Syllabus 2024: Subjects, Semester-wise Syllabus PDF, Top Colleges, Books

Non – Chordates (Protista to Pseudocoelomate) Theory

There are both theory and lab classes for this subject, including studying and identifying organisms. The topics included are as follows:

• Basics of Animal Classification

• Protista and Metazoans

• Porifera, Cnidaria, and Ctenophora

• Platyhelminthes and Nematoda

Molecular Biology

There are both theory and lab classes for this subject focusing on studying molecular structures of living organisms. The topics included are as follows:

• Nucleic Acids and DNA replication

• Transcription and Translation

• Post Transcriptional Modifications and Processing of Eukaryotic RNA

• Gene Regulation

• DNA Repair Mechanisms

• Molecular Techniques

Cell Biology

There are both theory and lab classes for this subject focusing on studying the biology of cells in living organisms. The topics included are as follows:

• Plasma membranes

• Cytoplasmic organelles

• Cytoskeleton

• Nucleus

• Cell cycle

• Cell signalling

Systematics

This subject is included in both general B.SC. Course and B.Sc. Honours course. The topics included are as follows:

• Taxonomy and its levels

• Place and Contribution of Systematics in Biology

• Classification (Phenetic and Cladistics)

• Concept of dendrogram and cladogram

• Concept of biological species

• Isolation and its role in speciation

• Modes of speciation and Type concept

• The basic principle and use of DNA barcoding in species identification

Animal Behaviour

This subject is included in both general B.SC. Course and B.Sc. Honours course focuses on studying the behaviour of animals. The topics included are as follows:

• Instinctive and learning behaviour

• Fixed action pattern

• Communication in honey bees

• Altruism, kinship and selfishness

• Echolocation in bat

• Cost and benefit analysis of parental investment

• Parent-offspring conflict

• Migration in birds

Ecology

This subject is included in both general B.SC. Course and B.Sc. Honours course focusing on studying the ecology of living organisms. The topics included are as follows:

• Concept of Ecosystem

• Wetland as an ecosystem service provider

• Population attributes

• Population growth models

• Life history analysis, r and k strategies

• Population interactions

• Animal’s space and resource use

• Community and ecosystem

• Ecological succession

• A brief idea on El Nino, La Nina and their consequences

Applied Zoology

This subject focuses on the cultivation (or culture) of certain species for mass usage items or farming. The topics included are as follows:

• Sericulture (silkworm cultivation, also known as silk farming)

• Aquaculture

• Apiculture (honey bee cultivation, also known as bee farming)

• Aquaculture (exotic fish cultivation)

• Poultry farming

• Pest and Management

Evolutionary Biology

This subject focuses on the study of evolution among living organisms. The topics included are as follows:

• Definition of systematics & taxonomy

• Species as a unit of evolution Chemical basis of the origin of life

• Anatomical and Physiological adaptations (aquatic, desert, volant)

• Zoogeographical realms (Wallace scheme) with characteristic mammalian fauna

Biosystematics, Structure and Function of Invertebrates

This subject focuses on the study of biological systems in living organisms and invertebrates. There are both theoretical and lab topics for this subject. The topics included are as follows:

• Biosystematics and Applications

• Nutrition & Respiration

• Excretory and Nervous systems

• Minor phyla and invertebrate larvae

Biochemistry

This subject focuses on studying biological and chemical substances and systems in living organisms. There are both theoretical and lab topics for this subject. The topics included are as follows:

• Biomolecules

• Enzymes

• Bioenergetics

• Metabolism

Parasitology

This subject focuses on studying the biology of insects (specifical parasites) and insect theory. It is a theoretical as well as a practical subject.

Reproductive Biology

This subject focuses on the study of the biology of reproduction in living organisms.

Animal and Animal Cell Biotechnology

This subject focuses on studying the biology of animals and the biotechnology that can be derived from them.

Entomology

This subject focuses on the study of insects and their behaviours. It is a specialisation-type course.

Fisheries and Aquaculture

This subject focuses on studying aquatic animals (specifical fishes) and their behaviours.

1

Core

Non – Chordates (Protista to Pseudocoelomate)

This is a core subject for B.Sc. (general) and B.Sc. (Hons.) in Zoology. There are both theory and lab classes for this subject, including study and identification of organisms and functional anatomy of non-chordates.

1

Core

Cell Biology

This is a core subject for B.Sc. (general) as well as B.Sc. (Hons.) in Zoology. There are both theory and lab classes for this subject focusing on studying the biology of cells in living organisms.

1

Core

Molecular Biology

This is a core subject for B.Sc. (general) as well as B.Sc. (Hons.) in Zoology. There are both theory and lab classes for this subject focusing on studying molecular structures of living organisms.

1

Core

Biosystematics, Structure and Function of Invertebrates

This is a core subject for M.Sc. in Zoology, focusing on the study of biological systems in living organisms and invertebrates. There are both theoretical and lab topics for this subject.

2

Core

Ecology

This is a core subject for B.SC. in Zoology, included in both general B.SC. Course and B.Sc. Honours course focusing on studying the ecology of living organisms.

5 (B.Sc.) & 3 (M.Sc.)

Elective

Parasitology

This is an elective subject in the B.Sc. (Hons.) and M.Sc. for a Zoology course. It focuses on studying the biology of insects (specifical parasites) and insect theory. It is a theoretical as well as a practical subject.

6 (B.Sc.) & 4 (M.Sc.)

Elective

Animal and Animal cell Biotechnology

This is an elective subject in the B.Sc. (Hons.) and M.Sc. for a Zoology course. It focuses on the study of the biology of animals and the biotechnology that can be derived from them.

3 (B.Sc.) & 2 (M.Sc.)

Core

Biochemistry

This is a core subject for M.Sc. in Zoology, focusing on the study of biological and chemical substances and systems in living organisms. There are both theoretical and lab topics for this subject.

6

Core

Evolutionary Biology

This is a core subject for B.SC. and B.Sc. (Hons.) in Zoology focusing on the study of evolution among living organisms.

4

Core

Vertebrates

This is a core subject for B.SC. and B.Sc. (Hons.) in Zoology focusing on the study of comparative anatomy of vertebrates.

Entomology and Parasitology

Applied Zoology, Parasitology, and Entomology

Entomology is a specialisation subject focusing on the study of insects, their behaviours, anatomy and cultivation.

Parasitology specialises in the study of parasites.

Evolution Biology

Evolutionary Biology and Ecology

This subject offers specialisation on the study of evolution among living organisms, the influence of ecosystem and habitat on evolution, and the biology behind the evolution of species and organisms.

Marine Biology

Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Ichthyology

This subject offers specialisation on aquaculture, fisheries, Ichthyology, marine life and ecosystem, and marine life organisms. This specialisation is included in the M.Sc. degree for Zoology.

Ecology

Concept of Ecosystem, Community, and Ecological succession.

This is a core subject for B.SC. in Zoology, included in both general B.SC. course and B.Sc. Honours course focusing on studying the ecology of living organisms. One can pursue an M.Sc. degree for specialisation.

Non – Chordates (Protista to Pseudocoelomate)

Invertebrate Zoology

Ruppert and Barnes, R.D.

This is one of the best-selling books on Non – Chordates focusing on the biology of invertebrates. It is regarded highly among students for its strong research base and accuracy. It provides information on the morphology, physiology, as well as anatomy of animals.

Ecology

Fundamentals of Ecology

Eugene P. Odum

This book covers the applications of ecological principles in the real world. It provides methods to solve related fields such as restoration ecology, conservation biology, ecosystem health, resource management, ecological toxicology, and landscape ecology.

Animal Physiology: Controlling and Coordinating Systems

Textbook of Medical Physiology

Guyton, A.C. & Hall, J.E.

This book offers a clinically oriented perspective, bridging basic physiology with pathophysiology. It focuses on the core material and how the body maintains homeostasis to remain healthy, emphasizing the important principles that aid clinical decision-making.

Genetics

Genetics

Monroe W. Strickberger

This book provides the basic theoretical information on genetics, the study of heredity, and details some of the experiments and reasoning which yield this information.

Evolution

Evolution

Monroe W. Strickberger

This book consists of a comprehensive overview of the theory of evolution. The work is made accessible to any reader through the wide use of graphics to illustrate key concepts.

Biochemistry

Principles of biochemistry

Lehninger

This book covers all the concepts of various fields of biology like mol bio, cell bio, etc. It covers the comprehensive details of all the mechanisms and pathways.

Biosystematics and Taxonomy

The Biology of Biodiversity

M. Kato

This book presents a broad review of current biological research on biodiversity. It synthesises modern approaches, the current status of research, and future perspectives of biodiversity science to better understand the origin, changes, and maintenance of biodiversity.

University / College / Institution

Links

Indian Institute of Science (IIS), Bengaluru.

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University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad

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University of Delhi (DU), Delhi

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University of Lucknow, Lucknow

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Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi

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Forest Research Institute, Dehradun

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Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh

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JNCASR, Bengaluru

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Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu

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Punjabi University, Patiala

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