The Biotechnology (BT) test paper comprises of Biology (44% weightage), Chemistry (20% weightage), Mathematics (18% weightage) and Physics (18% weightage).

there will be three section of Questions and in each section are of different types as given below :

• Section – A contains a total of 30 Multiple Choice Questions ( MCQ ) carrying one or two marks each. Each MCQ type question has four choices out of which only one choice is the correct answer. Candidates can mark the answer by clicking the choice.

• Section – B contains a total of 10 Multiple Select Questions ( MSQ ) carrying two marks each. Each MSQ type question is similar to MCQ but with a difference that there may be one or more than one choice(s) that are correct out of the four given choices. The candidate gets full credit if he / she selects all the correct answers only and no wrong answers. Candidates can mark the answer(s) by clicking the choice(s).

• Section – C contains a total of 20 Numerical Answer Type ( NAT ) questions carrying one or two marks each. For these NAT type questions, the answer is a signed real number which needs to be entered using the virtual keyboard on the monitor. No choices will be shown for these type of questions. Candidates have to enter the answer by using a virtual numeric keypad.

• In all sections, questions not attempted will result in zero mark.

In Section – A ( MCQ ), wrong answer will result in negative marks.

For all 1 mark questions, 1/3 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer.

For all 2 marks questions, 2/3 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer.

In Section – B ( MSQ ), there is no negative and no partial marking provisions.

There is no negative marking in Section – C ( NAT ) as well.

• There is provision of using Online Virtual Calculator and hence, the candidates should not bring any calculator with them.

• Mobile phones or any other electronic devices are strictly prohibited inside examination hall. Charts, Graph Sheets, Tables are also NOT allowed inside the examination hall.

• A scribble pad will be provided for rough works and this has to be returned back at the end of the examination.

• The candidates are required to select the answer for MCQ and MSQ type questions, and to enter the answer for NAT questions using only a mouse on virtual numeric keypad ( the keyboard of the computer will be disabled ). At the end of the 3 – hours the computer will automatically close the examination.

Syllabus

 BIOTECHNOLOGY (BT)  The Biotechnology (BT) Test Paper comprises  Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.

 BIOLOGY  (10+2+3 level)  

Cell Biology:  Structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; Membrane structure and function; Organelles and  internal organization of the eukaryotic cell Protein trafficking in a eukaryotic cell; Cell communication  –  signalling  pathways: endocrine and paracrine signalling; Extracellular matrix and apoptosis; Cell cycle  –  stages of mitosis  and meiosis, and control of cell division cycle.  

Biochemistry:  Structure and function of biological macromolecules; Allostery; Enzymes  –  basic mechanisms of  enzyme catalysis, Michaelis - Menten kinetics, enzyme inhibition, vitamins as coenzymes, and regulation;  Bioenergetics  –  free - energy change, high - energy compounds, biological oxidation - reduction reactions and  reduction potential; Metabolism  –  glycolysis, TCA cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, photosynthesis, nitrogen  fixation, urea cycle, and regulation of glycolysis and TCA cycle.  

Genetics:  Mendel’s laws; Inheritance patterns of polygenic traits; Mendelian inheritance patterns of human  disorders; Pedigree analysis; Chromosomal basis  of inheritance; Genetic recombination; Mapping genes on  chromosomes based on linkage analysis; Plant breeding.  

Molecular Biology:  Landmark experiments that established DNA is the genetic material; DNA replication; Proof - reading and repair of DNA; DNA recombination; Transcription; RNA processing; Translation; Regulation of gene  expression including operons bacteria and differential gene expression in multicellular eukaryotes.  

Evolution:  Darwinian view  –  natural selection, fossil record and descent with modification; Population genetics  –  sources of genetic variation, gene pools and allele frequencies, Hardy Weinberg equation, genetic drift, gene  flow and adaptive evolution; Different types of speciation; Phylogenetic classification; Origin of life  –  abiotic  synthesis of biological macromolecules, protocell, dating fossils and origin of multicellularity.

 Microbiology:  Isolation; Cultivation; Structural features of viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa; Pathogenic  microorganisms; Nutrition - based classification  of microbes; Microbial metabolism; Growth kinetics; Submerged  fermentation techniques; Microbial genetics.  

Plant Biology:  Types of tissues and organs; Primary and secondary growth; Morphogenesis; Transport in  vascular plants; Plant nutrition; Development of flowering plants  –  gametophytic and sporophytic generations,  different developmental phases, genetic control of flowering, gametogenesis, incompatibility, embryogenesis,  dormancy, germination and environmental influence; Plant hormones; Photobiology; Plant response to biotic  and abiotic stresses  

Animal Biology:  Digestive, circulatory, respiratory, excretory, nervous, reproductive and endocrine systems;  Basics of immunology  –  Innate and adaptive immunity, Immune cells and Immunoglobulins; Animal development  –  Fertilization, embryonic pattern formation, cleavage, gastrulation, cellular differentiation and morphogenesis.

 Ecology:  Climate patterns; Terrestrial and aquatic biomes; Environmental constraints on species distribution;  Factors affecting population density; Interactions among communities; Ecosystems; Ecological remediation.  

Biotechnology:  Plant tissue culture; Cloning of animals through somatic cell nuclear transfer; Applications of  recombinant DNA technology in medicine, agriculture and forensic science.  

Methods in Biology:  Cell  Biology:  Microscopy (light microscopy and electron microscopy); Staining proteins with  antibodies;  Visualizations using the GFP reporter.  Biochemical techniques:  UV spectrophotometry; Biomolecular chromatography; cell fractionation by  centrifugation; Electrophoresis; and Western blotting.  Molecular biology techniques:  DNA cloning  –  plasmid vectors, and restriction enzymes; Polymerase Chain  Reaction; Expression of cloned eukaryotic genes in bacteria; Hybridization techniques; DNA sequencing.

 

CHEMISTRY (10+2+3 level)

Structure and properties of Atoms: Bohr's theory; Periodicity in properties.

Bonding in molecules: Chemical bonding; Complex formation; Physical and chemical basis of molecular interactions.

Chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium: Chemical equilibrium; Chemical thermodynamics (first and second law); and Chemical kinetics (zero and first order reactions).

Physical and chemical properties of compounds: Chemical catalysis; Acid-base concepts; Concepts of pH and buffer; Conjugative effects and resonance; Inductive effects; Electromeric effects; Photochemistry; and Electrochemistry.

Chemistry of organic compounds: Hydrocarbons; Alkyl halides; Alcohols; Aldehydes; Ketones; Carboxylic acids; Amines and their derivatives; Aromatic hydrocarbons, halides, nitro and amino compounds, phenols, diazonium salts, carboxylic and sulphonic acids; Soaps and detergents; Stereochemistry of carbon compounds.

Instrumental techniques - Spectroscopy: fundamentals of molecular spectroscopy, emission and absorption spectroscopy, UV-Vis, IR and 1-D proton NMR spectroscopy, basics of mass spectrometry; Basics of calorimetry; Basic concepts of crystallography.

 

MATHEMATICS (10+2 level)

Sets; Relations and Functions; Mathematical Induction; Logarithms; Complex numbers; Linear and Quadratic equations; Sequences and Series; Trigonometry; Cartesian System of Rectangular Coordinates; Straight lines and Family; Three Dimensional Geometry; Permutations and Combinations; Binomial Theorem; Vectors; Matrices and Determinants; Boolean Algebra; Functions; Limits and Continuity; Differentiation; Ordinary Differential Equations; Application of Derivatives; Integration as inverse process of differentiation; Definite and indefinite integrals; Methods of Integration; Integration by parts.

Statistics: Measures of dispersion; Mean Deviation for grouped and ungrouped data; Variance and Standard Deviation; and Analysis of Frequency Distribution.

Probability: Random Experiments; Event; Axiomatic Approach to Probability; Conditional Probability and its properties; Multiplication Theorem on Probability; Independent Events; Bayes’ Theorem; Random Variables and its Probability Distributions; Bernoulli Trails and Binomial Distributions.

 

PHYSICS (10+2 level)

Units and measurements; Motion in one and two dimensions; Laws of motion; Work and kinetic energy; Conservation of energy; System of particles and rotational motion; Mechanical properties of solids and fluids; Thermal properties of matter; Heat and laws of thermodynamics; Kinetic theory of gases; Electric charge and field; Electric potential and capacitance; Current, resistance and simple circuits; Moving charges and magnetic field; Magnetism and matter; Electromagnetic induction; Electromagnetic waves; Alternating currents; Optics: Geometrical Optics – Reflection by spherical mirrors, Refraction at spherical surfaces and lenses, Total internal reflection and Optical instruments; Wave optics – Reflection and refraction of plane waves, Interference, Diffraction, Polarization, and Young’s experiment: Dual nature of radiation and matter; Atoms, nuclei and nuclear physics; Semiconductor materials, devices and simple circuits.