Class 12 Biology Syllabus

1. Reproduction

• Sexual reproduction in flowering plants
  • Flower structure; development of male and female gametophytes; pollination; outbreeding devices; pollen-pistil interaction; artificial hybridisation, double fertilization; post fertilization events; special modes.
• Human Reproduction
  • Male and female reproductive systems; gametogenesis; menstrual cycle; fertilisation, embryo development, implantation; pregnancy and placenta formation; parturition; lactation.
• Reproductive Health
  • Need for reproductive health and prevention of STDs; birth control; medical termination of pregnancy (MTP); amniocentesis; infertility and assisted reproductive technologies.

2. Genetics and Evolution

• Principles of inheritance and variation
  • Heredity and variation: Mendelian inheritance; deviations from Mendelism; chromosomal theory of inheritance; sex determination; linkage and crossing over; mutation; sex linked inheritance; Mendelian disorders in humans; chromosomal disorders in humans.
• Molecular basis of Inheritance
  • Search for genetic material; structure of DNA and RNA; DNA packaging; DNA replication; central dogma; transcription, genetic code, translation; regulation of gene expression; human genome project; DNA fingerprinting.
• Evolution
  • Origin of life; biological evolution and evidences for biological evolution; Darwin's contribution, modern synthetic theory of evolution; mechanism of evolution; Hardy - Weinberg's principle; adaptive radiation; human evolution.

3. Biology and Human Welfare

• Human Health and Diseases
  • Pathogens; parasites causing human diseases; Basic concepts of immunology; cancer, HIV and AIDS; Adolescence - drug and alcohol abuse.
• Microbes in Human Welfare
  • In household food processing, industrial production, sewage treatment, energy generation and microbes as biocontrol agents and biofertilisers. Antibiotics.

4. Biotechnology and its Applications

• Biotechnology - Principles and processes
  • Genetic Engineering (recombinant DNA technology).
• Biotechnology and its applications
  • Applications of biotechnology in health and agriculture: human insulin and vaccine production, stem cell technology, gene therapy; genetically modified organisms; biosafety issues, biopiracy and biopatents.

5. Ecology and Environment

• Organisms and Populations
  • Population; population interactions; population attributes.
• Ecosystem
  • Ecosystems: patterns, components; productivity and decomposition; energy flow; pyramids of number, biomass, energy.
• Biodiversity and its Conservation
  • Concept of biodiversity; patterns of biodiversity; importance of biodiversity; loss of biodiversity; biodiversity conservation; hotspots, endangered organisms, extinction, Red Data Book, biosphere reserves, national parks, sanctuaries and Ramsar sites