BIOLOGY - FOR MDCAT

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According To PMDC Syllabus 2023 - 2024
Content List for Biology

1. BIODIVERSITY (ACELLULAR LIFE/ VARIETY OF LIFE)
SUBTOPICS

• Classification of viruses
• Discovery of viruses
• Structure of viruses
• Viral disease (for example AIDS)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Trace the discovery of virus
2. Classify viruses on basis of their structure/ number of strands/ diseases/ host etc.
3. Identify symptoms, mode of transmission and cause of viral disease (AIDS)

2. BIOENERGETICS
SUBTOPICS

• Anaerobic respiration (respiration without oxygen)
• Electron transport chain
• Glycolysis/glycolytic pathway/aerobic respiration
• Light dependent and light independent phases/reactions
• Oxidative phosphorylation /cyclic and non- cyclic phosphorylation
• Photosynthesis
• Production of ATP
• Role of light, water, CO₂, /factors affecting photosynthesis

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Explain the process of photosynthesis.
2. Explain the role of factors (light, water, CO₂) affecting photosynthesis.
3. Explain light dependent and independent phases/reaction.
4. Differentiate among Electron transport chain, phosphorylation, glycolysis, aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

3. BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES
SUBTOPICS

• Introduction to biological molecules
• Water
• Carbohydrates
• Proteins
• Lipids
• Conjugated molecules (glycolipids, glycoproteins)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Define and classify biological molecules.
2. Discuss the importance of biological molecules
3. Describe biologically important properties of water (polarity, hydrolysis, specific heat, water as solvent and reagent, density, cohesion/ionization)
4. Discuss carbohydrates: monosaccharides (glucose), oligosaccharides (cane sugar, sucrose, lactose), polysaccharides (starches, cellulose, glycogen)
5. Describe proteins: amino acids, structure of proteins
6. Describe lipids: phospholipids, triglycerides, alcohol and esters (acylglycerol)
7. Give an account of RNA
8. Discuss conjugated molecules (glycol lipids, glycol proteins)

4. CELL STRUCTURE FUNCTION
SUBTOPICS

• Cell wall
• Cytoplasm and cell organelles
  * Nucleus
  * Endoplasmic reticulum
  * Mitochondria
  * Golgi apparatus/ golgi complex / golgi bodies
  * Lysosomes
  * Plastids/chloroplasts
  * Vacuoles
• Prokaryote and eukaryote
• Fluid mosaic model

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Compare the structure of typical animal and plant cell.
2. Compare and contrast the structure of prokaryotic cells with eukaryotic cells.
3. Outline the structure and function of the following organelles: nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus, mitochondria.
4. Discuss fluid mosaic model of cell membrane.

5. COORDINATION & CONTROL/ NERVOUS & CHEMICAL COORDINATION
SUBTOPICS

• Nervous system
  * Nerve impulse
  * Steps involved in nervous coordination
  * Neurons (Structure and Types)
• Transmission of action potential between cells–synapse
  * Electrical synapses
  * Chemical synapses
  * Transmission of nerve impulse across synapse
• Hormones
• Endocrine glands
• Feedback mechanism
  * Positive feedback mechanism
  * Negative feedback mechanism
• Reflexes and reflex arc
• Levels of the spinal cord and its main functions
• Parts of the brain with their main functions

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Recognize receptors as transducers sensitive to various stimuli
2. Define neurons
3. Explain the structure of a typical neuron (cell body, dendrites, axon and myelin sheath and schwann cells)
4. Define nerve impulse
5. List the levels of the spinal cord
6. List the functions of the spinal cord
7. Classify reflexes
8. Briefly explain the functions of components of a reflex arc
9. List the main parts of the brain (e.g., components of brainstem, midbrain, cerebellum, cerebrum)
10. Describe the functions of each part

6. DIVERSITY AMONG ANIMALS (THE KINGDOM ANIMALIA)
SUBTOPICS

• Characteristics and diversity among the animals (animal phyla, characteristics)

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Describe general characteristic of animals

7. ENZYMES
SUBTOPICS

• Introduction/characteristics of enzymes
• Mechanism of action of enzymes
• Factors effecting rate of enzyme action
• Enzyme inhibition

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Describe the distinguishing characteristics of enzymes
2. Explain mechanism of action of enzymes
3. Describe effects of factor on enzyme action (temperature, pH, concentration)
4. Describe enzyme inhibitors

8. EVOLUTION
SUBTOPICS

• Concepts of evolution
• Inheritance of acquired characteristics
• Darwinism‟
• Darwin's theory evolution
• Neo-Darwinism‟s
• Evidence of evolution

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Explain origin of life according to concept of evolution.
2. Describe the theory of inheritance of acquired characters, as proposed by Lamarck.
3. Explain the theory of natural selection as proposed by Darwin

9. LIFE PROCESSES IN ANIMALS & PLANTS (NUTRITION/ GASEOUS EXCHANGE/ TRANSPORT)
SUBTOPICS

• Carnivorous plants/parasitic nutrition (pitcher plant, venus fly trap, sundew)
• Water and mineral uptake by roots, xylem and phloem
• Osmotic pressure/potential
• Cardiovascular system (including human heart structure, blood vessels)
• Respiratory system
• Digestive system
• Immune & system
• Lymphatic system

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Discuss the examples of carnivorous plants (pitcher plant, venus fly trap, sundew)
2. Describe osmotic pressure and its importance in life processes in animals and plants
3. Describe water and minerals uptake by roots, xylem and phloem
4. List general structure of human heart
5. Define the phases of a cardiac cycle
6. List the differences and functions of capillaries, arteries and veins
7. Describe lymphatic system (organs, nodules, vessels)
8. Define and discuss the functions and importance of main components of immune system
9. Discuss the functions of main part of respiratory system
10. Discuss the role of surfactant in gas exchange
11. Discuss the process of gas exchange in human lungs
12. List the parts of human digestive system
13. Explain the functions of the main parts of the digestive system including associated structures and glands

10. PROKARYOTES (KINGDOM MONERA)
SUBTOPICS

• Cellular Structure of bacteria
• Shape and size of bacteria
• Importance and control of bacteria

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Describe cellular structures of bacteria
2. Explain diversity in shape and size in bacteria
3. Highlight the importance of bacteria and control of harmful bacteria

11. REPRODUCTION
SUBTOPICS

• Male reproductive system
• Female reproductive system (including menstrual cycle)
• Sexually transmitted diseases

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Describe the functions of various parts of the male & female reproductive systems and the hormones that regulate those functions
2. Describe the menstrual cycle (female reproductive cycle) emphasizing the role of hormones
3. List the common sexually transmitted diseases along with their causative agents and main symptoms.

12. SUPPORT & MOVEMENT
SUBTOPICS

• Cartilage
• Types of muscles
  * Skeletal muscles
  * Cardiac muscles
  * Smooth muscles
• Structure of skeletal muscles
• Mechanism of skeletal muscle contraction
• Types of joints
• Arthritis

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Define cartilage, muscle and bone
2. Explain the main characteristics of cartilage and bone along with functions of both
3. Compare characteristics of smooth muscles, cardiac muscles and skeletal muscles
4. Explain the ultrastructure of skeletal muscles
5. Describe in brief the process of skeletal muscle contraction
6. Classify joints
7. Define arthritis

13. VARIATION & GENETICS/ INHERITANCE
SUBTOPICS

• Mendel's law of inheritance
• Gregor John Mendel and his work
• Mendel's experiment
• Inheritance of single trait
• Mendel's principles of inheritance
• Inheritance of two traits
• Law of independent assortment
• Scope of independent assortment in variation
• Statistics and probability relevant to genetics
• Multiple alleles
• Gene linkages and crossing over
• Sex linkages in drosophila
• Sex linkage in human
• Genetics of hemophilia

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Associate inheritance with the laws of Mendel.
2. Explain the law of independent assortment,using a suitable example.
3. Describe the terms gene linkage and crossing over
4. Explain how gene linkage counters independent assortment and crossing-over modifies the progeny
5. Describe the concept of sex-linkage.
6. Briefly describe Inheritance of sex–linked traits
7. Analyze the inheritance of hemophilia