CSS Syllabus Zoology – 100 Marks
I. Animal Diversity-Invertebrates
· Architectural pattern of an animal, Taxonomy and phylogeny, Major subdivisions of animal kingdom.
· Animal-Like Protists: The Protozoa: evolutionary perspective, locomotion and reproduction, Protozoa of veterinary and medical importance.
· Porifera: Body wall, skeleton and water currents system. Coelenterates: Reproduction plan and alteration of generation (Polymorphism), Coral reefs.
· Platyhelminthes and Nematodes: Parasitic adaptations and medical importance.
Annelids: Metamerism and ecological importance.
· Molluscs: Modification of foot, Feeding and their role in the shell fishery.
· Arthropods: Modification in their mouth parts, Role of arthropods as vectors in the transmission in microbial infection. Arthropods and their ecological importance.
· Echinoderms: Characteristics, Evolutionary perspective, Relationships to other animals; echinoderm characteristics.
II. Animal Diversity-Chordata
· Hemichordates and Invertebrate Chordates: Evolutionary Perspective: Phylogenetic
Relationships and considerations.
· Fishes: Structural and functional adaptations of fishes.
· Amphibian: Movement onto land and early evolution of terrestrial vertebrates.
· Reptiles: Characteristics of reptiles, adaptations in reptilians.
· Birds: Migration and navigation, adaptations.
· Mammal: Structural and functional adaptations of mammals. III. Principles of Animal Life
· The chemical basis of animal life: Brief introduction to bio-molecules; carbohydrates,
lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.
· Cell concept and cell theory, Organization of cellular organelle (their structure and functions), Central dogma of cell biology (Transcription and Translation), Meiosis and Mitosis
· Protozoa: Reproduction pattern on in protozoan, Parasitism in protozoan
· Mesozoza and Parazoa: Porifera: Cells types, body wall and skeleton and water currents system, Coelenterata: Reproduction plan and alteration of generation (Polymorphism)
· Tissues Types: epithelial, connective, muscle and nervous tissue; organs and organ systems.
· Enzymes function and factors affecting their activity, cofactors and coenzymes.
Energy Harvesting: Aerobic and anaerobic respiration the major source of ATP.
· Mendel’s law of inheritance, Chromosomal basis of inheritance, Multiple alleles, Eukaryotic chromosomes: Mutations and chromosomal aberrations.
· Ecological Concepts: Interactions, Concepts and components of ecosystem, Food chain, Food web, Biogeochemical cycles, Forest, Biomes, Wildlife conservation and management, Environmental pollution, Green house effect, Acid rain, Global warming.
· Evolution: Darwinian evolutionary theory based on natural selection and the evidence, Microevolution: Genetic variation and change within species, Macroevolution: Species and speciation (Allopatric, Parapatric and Sympatric speciation)
IV. Animal Form and Function
· Protection, Support and Movement: Integumentary system of invertebrates and vertebrates; Animal muscles: the muscular system of invertebrates and vertebrates.
· Digestion and Nutrition: Feeding mechanism, Digestion, Organization and regional function of alimentary canals, Regulation of food intake, Nutritional requirements
· Internal Fluids and Respiration: Internal fluid environment, Composition of blood, Circulation and respiration mechanisms
· Homeostasis: Excretion, Vertebrate kidney mechanisms, Temperature regulation
· Nervous Coordination: Nervous system and Sense: Functional units of nervous systems, Synapses junctions between nerves.
· Chemical Coordination: Endocrine System; Vertebrate endocrine glands and types of hormones, Mechanism of hormones action,
· Animal behavior: Learning, Habituation, Insight learning, latent learning, classical learning: Control of Behavior; social behavior
SUGGESTED READINGS
S.No. | Title | Author |
1. | Integrated Principles of Zoology. | Hickman, Jr. C.P., Keen, S. L, Larson, and Eisenhour, D.J. |
2. | Zoology | Miller, S. A. and Harley, J. B. |
3. | Biology | Campbell, N.A. |
4. | Evolution. 2nd Edition | Douglas Futuyma |
5. | Animal behavior: An Evolutionary Approach., (9th Edition) | John Alcock |