NEET Biology Syllabus 2024

Unit No.

Chapter Name

I

Diversity in Living World

II

Structural Organisation in Animals and Plants

III

Cell Structure and Function

IV

Plant Physiology

V

Human Physiology

Unit No.

Chapter Name

I

Reproduction

II

Genetics and Evolution

III

Biology and Human Welfare

IV

Biotechnology and Its Applications

V

Ecology and environment

Sl. No

Biology Chapters In the NEET 2024 Syllabus

Topic Details

1

Diversity In the Living World

• What is living?; Biodiversity; Need for classification;; 

• Taxonomy and Systematics; Concept of species and taxonomical hierarchy; Binomial nomenclature.

• Five kingdom classifications; salient features and classification of Monera; Protista and Fungi into major groups; Lichens, Viruses and Viroids.

• Salient features and classification of plants into major groups-Algae, Bryophytes,Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms (Three to fivr salient and distinguishing features and at least 2 examples of each category)

• Salient features and classification of animals-nonchordate up to phyla level and chordate up to classes level (3-5 salient features and at least 2 examples)

2

Structural Organisation In Animals and Plants

• Morphology and modifications; Tissues; Anatomy and functions of different parts of flowering plants: Root, Stem, Leaf, inflorescence- cymose and recemose, flower, fruit and seed (To be dealt along with the relevant practical of the Practical Syllabus) 

• Family (malvaceae, Cruciferae, leguminosae, compositae, gramineae.)

3

Cell Structure and Function

• Cell theory and cell as the basic unit of life;

•  Structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell; 

• Plant cell and animal cell; 

• Cell envelope, cell membrane, cell wall; 

• Cell organelles-structure and function.

• Endomembrane system-endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies,lysosomes, vacuoles; Mitochondria, ribosomes, plastids, micro bodies; 

• Cytoskeleton, cilia, flagella, centrioles (ultra structure and function);

• Nucleus-nuclear membrane, chromatin, nucleolus.

• Chemical constituents of living cells: Biomolecules-structure and function of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids; 

• Enzymes-types, properties, enzyme action, classification and nomenclature of enzymes.

• B Cell division: Cell cycle, mitosis, and their significance.

4

Plant Physiology

• Photosynthesis as a means of Autotrophic nutrition; 

• Site of photosynthesis take place; pigment involved in photosynthesis (Elementary idea);

• Photochemical and biosynthetic phases of photosynthesis; Cyclic and non cyclic and photophosphorylation;

• Chemiosmotic hypothesis;

• Photorespiration C3 and C4 pathways; Factors affecting photosynthesis.

• Respiration: Exchange gasses; 

• Cellular respiration-glycolysis, fermentation(anaerobic),

• TCA cycle and electron transport system (aerobic);

• Energy relations-Number of ATP molecules generated; 

• Amphibolic pathways;

• Respiratory quotient.

• Plant growth and development: Seed germination;

• Phases of plant growth and plant growth rate;

• Conditions of growth;

• Differentiation, dedifferentiation and redifferentiation;

• Sequence of development process in a plant cell;

• Growth regulators- auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, ethylene, ABA

5

Human Physiology

• Breathing and respiratory organs in animals (recall only); 

• Respiratory system in humans; 

• Mechanism of breathing and its regulation in human-exchange of gasses, transport of gasses and regulation of respiration  

• Respiratory volumes; Disorders related to respiratory-Asthma, Emphysema, Occupational respiratory disorders.

• Body fluids and circulation: Composition of blood, blood groups, coagulation of blood

• Composition of lymph and its function;

• Human circulatory system-Structure of human heart and blood vessels;

• Cardiac cycle, cardiac output, ECG, Double circulation;

• Regulation of cardiac activity

• Disorders of circulatory system-Hypertension, Coronary artery disease, Angina pectoris, Heart failure.

• Excretory products and their elimination: Modes of excretion- Ammonotelism, ureotelism, uricotelism; 

• Human excretory system-structure and function;

• Urine formation, Osmoregulation;

• Regulation of kidney function-Renin-angiotensin, Atrial Natriuretic Factor, ADH and Diabetes insipidus;

• Role of other organs in excretion;

• Disorders- Uraemia, Renal failure, Renal calculi, Nephritis;

• Dialysis and artificial kidney.

• Locomotion and Movement: Types of movement- ciliary, flagellar, muscular;

• Skeletal muscle- contractile proteins and muscle contraction;

• Skeletal system and its functions (To be dealt with the relevant practical of Practice syllabus);

• Joints

• Disorders of muscular and skeletal system-Myasthenia gravis, Tetany, Muscular dystrophy, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Gout.

• Neural control and coordination: Neuron and nerves;

• Nervous system in humans central nervous system, peripheral nervous system and visceral nervous system;

• Peripheral nervous system and visceral nervous system;

• Generation and conduction of nerve impulse;

• Chemical coordination and regulation: Endocrine glands and hormones: Human endocrine system-Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Pineal, Thyroid, Parathyroid, Adrenal, Pancreas, Gonads;

• Mechanism of hormone action (Elementary idea);

• Role of hormones as messengers and regulators, Hypo- and Hyperactivity and related disorders (common disorders e.g. Dwarfism, Acromegaly, Cretinism, Goiter, Exophthalmic goiter,diabetes, Addison’s disease.)

*Disease and disorders mentioned above to be dealt in brief*

6

Reproduction

• Sexual reproduction in flowering plants: Flower structure;

• Development of male and female gametophytes; Pollination-types, agencies and examples; 

• Outbreeding devices;

• Pollen-pistil interaction;

• Double fertilization;

• Post fertilization event- development of endosperm and embryo, Development of seed and formation of fruit;

• Special modes- apomixis, parthenocarpy, polyembryony;

• Significance of seed and fruit formation.

• Human reproduction: Male and female reproductive systems;

• Microscopic anatomy of testis and ovary;

• Gametogenesis-spermatogenesis and oogenesis;

• Menstrual cycle;

• Fertilization, embryo development up to blastocyst formation, implantation; 

• Pregnancy and placenta formation (Elementary idea);

• Parturition (Elementary idea);

• Lactation (Elementary idea)

• Reproductive health: Need for reproductive health and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STD);

• Birth control-Need ad Methods, Contraception and Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP);

• Aminocentesis; Infertility and assisted reproductive technologies- IVF, ZIFT, GIFT (Elementary idea for general awareness).

7

Genetics and Evolution

• Heredity and variation: Mendelian inheritance; Deviations from Mendelism- incomplete dominance, Multiple alleles and inheritance of blood groups, Pleiotropy;

• Elementary idea of polygenic inheritance;

• Chromosome theory of inheritance;

• Chromosome and genes;

• Sex determination-in humans, birds, honey bee;

• Linkage and crossing over; Sex linked inheritance-Haemophilia, Colour blindness;

• Mendelian disorders in human-Thalassemia; 

• Chromosomal disorders in human;

• Down’s syndrome, Turner’s and Klinefelter’s syndromes.

• Molecular basis of inheritance: Search for genetic material and DNA as genetic material:

• Structure of DNA and RNA;

• Packaging;

• DNA replication;

• Central dogma;

• Transcription, genetic code, translation; 

• Gene expression and regulation- Lac Operon;

• Genome and human genome project; DNA fingerprinting, protein biosynthesis. 

• Evolution: Origin of life: Biological evolution and evidence for biological evolution from Paleontology, comparative anatomy, embryology and molecular evidence);

• Darwin’s contribution, Modern Synthetic theory of Evolution;

• Mechanism of evolution-Variation 9/Mutation and Recombination) and Natural selection with examples, types of natural selection;

• Gene flow and genetic drift;

• Hardy-Weinberg’s principle;

• Adaptive Radiation;

• Human evolution.

8

Biology and Human Welfare

• Health and Diseases;

• Pathogens;

• Parasites causing human diseases (Malaria, Filariasis,Ascariasis. Typhoid, Pneumonia, common cold, amoebiasis, ringworm, dengue, chikungunya);

• Basic concepts of immunology-vaccines;

• Cancer, HIV and AIDS;

• Adolescence, drug and alcohol abuse. Tobacco abuse

• Microbes in human welfare: In household food processing, industrial production, sewage treatment, energy generation and as biocontrol agents and biofertilizers.

9

Biotechnology and Its Applications

• Principles and process of Biotechnology: Genetic engineering (recombinant DNA technology)

• Application of biotechnology in health and agriculture: Human insulin and vaccine production, gene therapy;

• Genetically modified organisms-Bt crops;

• Transgenic Animals;

• Biosafety issues-Biopiracy and patents.

10

Ecology and Environment

• Organisms and environment population interactions-mutualism, competition, predation, parasitism;

• Population attributes-growth, birth rate and death rate, age distribution.

• Ecosystem: 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, Nation parks and sanctuaries, Sacred Groves.

Class

Biology Important Chapters for NEET 2024

Weightage

XI

Human Physiology

20%

XI

Diversity of the Living World

14%

XI

Structural Organisation in Animals and Plants

9%

XI

Plant Physiology

6%

XI

Cell Structure and Function

5%

XII

Genetics and Evolution

18%

XII

Ecology and Environment 

12%

XII

Reproduction

9%

XII

Biology in Human Welfare

4%

XII

Biotechnology and Its Applications

3%