CSIR life science syllabus

The Joint CSIR-UGC JRF/LS (NET) Examination shall comprise 2 papers: PAPER I: duration: 2 1/2 hours and maximum of 200 marks. 2 marks each question. (252752) Part -A: 40 General Science questions, attempt any 25 questions. Part -B: 100 questions, attempt any 75 questions. PAPER II: 2 1/2 hours duration and shall have a maximum of 200 marks (2011512)
This Paper shall consist of 39-45 short answer type questions requiring descriptive answers. Answer each question, on one page. There shall be one compulsory question of twenty Marks. In addition to the compulsory question, the candidate is required to answer a maximum of 15 questions of twelve marks each. SYLLABUS FOR PAPER I AND II 1. MOLECULES & THEIR INTERACTION RELAVENT TO BIOLOGY

A. B.

Structure of atoms, molecules and chemical bonds. Composition, structure & function of biomolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, N.Acids and vitamins). C. Stabilizing interactions (Van der Waals, electrostatic, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interaction, etc.). 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. G. Conformation of proteins (Ramachandran plot, 20, 30 & 40 structures; domains; motif and folds). H. Conformation of nucleic acids (A-, B-, Z-, DNA), t-RNA, micro-RNA). I. Stability of protein and nucleic acid structures. 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, ion pumps, mechanism of sorting & regulation of intracellular transport, electrical properties of membranes. B. Structural organization and function of intracellular organelles: Cell wall, nucleus, mitochondria, Golgi bodies, lysosomes, ER , peroxisomes, plastids, vacuoles, chloroplast, structure & function of cytoskeleton and its role in motility. C. Organization of genes and chromosomes: Operon, interrupted genes, gene families, structure of chromatin and chromosomes, unique and repetitive DNA, heterochromatin, euchromatin, transposons.

D. Cell division & cell cycle:

Mitosis and meiosis, their regulation, steps in cell cycle,

and control of cell cycle.

E. Microbial Physiology:

Growth, yield & 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, and DNA damage and repair mechanisms. B. RNA synthesis and processing: Transcription factors and machinery, formation of initiation complex, transcription activators and repressors, RNA polymerases, capping, elongation & termination, RNA processing,RNA editing, splicing, 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, tRNA-identity, aminoacyl tRNA synthetase, translational proof-reading, translational inhibitors, post- translational modification of proteins. D. Control of gene expression at transcription and translation level: Regulation of phages, viruses, prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene expression, role of chromatin in regulating gene expression and gene silencing.
4. CELL COMMUNICATION & CELL SIGNALING

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 signaling: 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 two-component signaling systems, bacterial chemotaxis and quorum sensing. C. Cellular communication: Regulation of hema topoiesis, 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 & molecules involved in innate and adaptive immunity, antigens, antigenicity and immunogenicity. B and T cell epitopes, structure & function of antibody molecules, generation of antibody diversity, monoclonal antibodies, antibody engineering, antigen-antibody interactions, MHCmolecules, antigen processing & presentation, activation and differentiation of B & T cells, B and T cell receptors, humoral & cell-mediated immune responses, primary & secondary immune modulation, the complement system, Toll-like receptors, cell-mediated effector functions, inflammation, hypersensitivity & autoimmunity, immune response during

bacterial (tuberculosis), parasitic (malaria) & viral (HIV) infections, congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies, vaccines.
5. DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY

A. Basic concepts of development:

Potency, commitment, specification, induction, competence, determination & differentiation; morphogenetic gradients; cell fate & cell lineages; stem cells; genomic equivalence and the cytoplasmic determinants; imprinting; mutants & 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 & double fertilization in plants; zygote formation, cleavage, blastula formation, embryonic fields, gastrulation & formation of germ layers in animals; embryogenesis, establishment of symmetry in plants; seed formation & germination. C. Morphogenesis & organogenesis in animals: Cell aggregation & differentiation in Dictyostelium; axes and pattern formation in Drosophila, amphibia and chick; organogenesis vulva formation in Caenorhabditis elegans; eye lens induction, limb development & 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:

LH complexes; mechanisms of ETC; photoprotective mechanisms; fixation- , CAM pathways. B. Respiration & photorespiration: TCA cycle; plant mitochondrial ET & ATP synthesis; alternate oxidase; photorespiration. C. Nitrogen metabolism: Nitrate and ammonium assimilation; amino acid biosynthesis. D. Plant hormones: Biosynthesis, storage, breakdown and transport; physiological effects and mechanisms of action. E. Sensory photobiology: Structure, function & mechanisms of action of phytochromes, cryptochromes & phototropins; stomatal movement; photoperiodism and biological clocks. F. Solute transport & photoassimilate translocation: Uptake, transport & translocation of water, ions, solutes & macromolecules from soil, through cells, across membranes, through xylem & phloem; transpiration; mechanisms of loading & 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; mechanisms of resistance to biotic stress and tolerance to abiotic stress

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.
H. Stress and adaptation I. Digestive system: Digestion,

absorption, energy balance, BMR.

CSIR JRF Life Sciences - Study Books

CSIR JRF Life Sciences - Study Books Here is the list of CSIR books you need to get CSIR JRF. Will be updating regularly.

Biochemistry Books Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry by Nelson and Cox Biochemistry by Lubert Stryer, J.M., Berg and J.L. Tymoczko Principles and Techniques by Keith Wilson and John Walker

Microbiology Books Microbiology: Fundamental and Application, by Ronald M. Atlas, Microbiology by L.M. Prescott, J.P. Harley and D.A. Klein,

Genetics Books

Genetics: BD Singh Genetics: A Molecular Approach by T.A. Brown Principle of Genetics by E.J. Gardner, M.J. Simmons and D.P. Snustad

Cell and Molecular Biology Books Cell and Molecular Biology: Concepts and Experiments by G Karp Molecular Cell Biology - Lodish

Immunology

Immunology by Janis Kuby

Recombinant DNA Technology Books Gene Cloning and DNA analysis by T.A. Brown Plant Tissue Culture by M.K. Razdan Biotechnology by B.D.Singh

Human Physiology Books

Essentials of Animal Physiology by Rastogi Review of Medical Physiology by William F. Ganong

Plant Physiology

Plant Physiology by Salisbury and Ross

Ecology and Evolution Books Text Book of Biology: NCERT XI and XII Basic Ecology by E.P. Odum Ecology and Environment by PD Sharma Ecology unit from Dinesh's Objective Biology Organic evolution from Veer Bala Rastogi

BIOLOGY Books General Biology (10 +2 level) Biological Science by N.P.O Green, G.W. Stout and D.J. Taylor Text Book of Biology: NCERT XI and XII

PHYSICS

Concepts of Physics (Part 1 and 2) by H C Verma Text Book of Physics: NCERT XI and XII

CHEMISTRY

Text Book of Chemistry: NCERT XI and XII Organic Chemistry by Morrison and Boyd Physical Chemistry by Atkins

You also need books for statistics, Computer, Maths etc.

Scheme of Examination
The test will consist of a single paper of MCQs of 3 hours duration. The test paper will carry a maximum of 200 marks. The question paper shall be divided into three parts: Part A shall be common to all subjects. This part shall be a test containing 20 questions of General Science, Quantitative Reasoning & Analysis, Logical Reasoning, Graphical Analysis, Analytical & Numerical Ability, Series formation etc. The candidate shall be required to answer any 15 questions of two marks each. The total marks allocated to this section shall be 30 out of 200. There will be negative marking @ 25% for each wrong answer.

Part B shall contain subject-related conventional Multiple Choice Questions. The total marks allocated to this section generally will be 70 - 75 out of 200. There will be negative marking @ 25% for each wrong answer in Chemical Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences and Physical Sciences Part C shall contain questions that may test the candidates knowledge of scientific concepts and/ or application of the scientific concepts. The questions shall be of analytical natural where a candidate is expected to apply the scientific knowledge to arrive at the solution to the given scientific problem. The total marks allocated to this section shall be 95 100 out of 200.

There will be negative marking @ 25% for each wrong answer in Chemical Sciences, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences.