The UPSC offers Zoology as one of the 48 optional subjects for candidates appearing in their examinations. This specialized subject’s syllabus encompasses a wide range of topics, including classification, ecology, cytology, and genetics, both in theoretical and applied contexts.
The Zoology optional consists of two papers, each carrying 250 marks, thereby making a total of 500 marks for this subject. These papers are an integral part of the UPSC Mains Examination, which comes after the IAS Preliminary exam. Despite not being a popular choice among candidates for the IAS Mains exam, those who have graduated with Zoology as their subject of expertise can still opt for it as their optional subject.
Zoology Optional Syllabus: Paper-1
1.Non-chordata and Chordata:
- Classification and relationship of various phyla up to subclasses: Acoelomate and Coelomate, Protostomes and Deuterostomes, Bilateria and Radiata; Status of Protista, Parazoa, Onychophora and Hemichordata; Symmetry.
- Protozoa: Locomotion, nutrition, reproduction, sex; General features and life history of Paramaecium, Monocystis, Plasmodium, and Leishmania.
- Porifera: Skeleton, canal system, and reproduction.
- Cnidaria: Polymorphism, defensive structures and their mechanism; coral reefs and their formation; metagenesis; general features and life history of Obelia and Aurelia.
- Platyhelminthes: Parasitic adaptation; general features and life history of Fasciola and Taenia and their pathogenic symptoms.
- Nemathelminthes: General features, life history, parasitic adaptation of Ascaris and Wuchereria.
- Annelida: Coelom and metamerism; modes of life in polychaetes; general features and life history of Nereis, earthworm and leech.
- Arthropoda: Larval forms and parasitism in Crustacea; vision and respiration in arthropods (Prawn, cockroach and scorpion); modification of mouth parts in insects (cockroach, mosquito, housefly, honey bee and butterfly); metamorphosis in insect and its hormonal regulation, the social behavior of Apis and termites.
- Mollusca: Feeding, respiration, locomotion, general features and life history of Lamellidens, Pila and Sepia, torsion and detorsion in gastropods.
- Echinodermata: Feeding, respiration, locomotion, larval forms, general features and life history of Asterias.
- Protochordata: Origin of chordates; general features and life history of Branchiostoma and Herdmania.
- Pisces: Respiration, locomotion and migration.
- Amphibia: Origin of tetrapods, parental care, paedomorphosis.
- Reptilia; Origin of reptiles, skull types, status of Sphenodon and crocodiles.
- Aves: Origin of birds, flight adaptation, migration.
- Mammalia: Origin of mammals, dentition, general features of egg-laying mammals, pouched-mammals, aquatic mammals and primates, endocrine glands (pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, gonads) and their interrelationships.
- Comparative functional anatomy of various systems of vertebrates (integument and its derivatives, endoskeleton, locomotory organs, digestive system, respiratory system, circulatory system including heart and aortic arches, urinogenital system, brain and sense organs (eye and ear).
2. Ecology:
- Biosphere: Concept of biosphere; biomes, Biogeochemical cycles, Human induced changes in atmosphere including greenhouse effect, ecological succession, biomes and ecotones, community ecology.
- Concept of ecosystem; structure and function of ecosystem, types of ecosystem, ecological succession, ecological adaptation.
- Population; characteristics, population dynamics, population stabilization.(d) Biodiversity and diversity conservation of natural resources.
- Wildlife of India.
- Remote sensing for sustainable development.
- Environmental biodegradation, pollution and its impact on biosphere and its prevention.
3. Ethology:
- Behavior: Sensory filtering, responsiveness, sign stimuli, learning and memory, instinct, habituation, conditioning, imprinting.
- Role of hormones in drive; role of pheromones in alarm spreading; crypsis, predator detection, predator tactics, social hierarchies in primates, social organization in insects.
- Orientation, navigation, homing, biological rhythms, biological clock, tidal, seasonal and circadian rhythms.
- Methods of studying animal behavior including sexual conflict, selfishness, kinship, and altruism.
4. Economic Zoology:
- Apiculture, sericulture, lac culture, carp culture, pearl culture, prawn culture, vermiculture.
- Major infectious and communicable diseases (malaria, filaria, tuberculosis, cholera, and AIDS) their vectors, pathogens and prevention.
- Cattle and livestock diseases, their pathogen (helminths) and vectors (ticks, mites, Tabanus, Stomoxys).
- Pests of sugar cane (Pyrilla perpusiella) oil seed (Achaea janata) and rice (Sitophilus oryzae).
- Transgenic animals.
- Medical biotechnology, human genetic disease and genetic counseling, gene therapy.
- Forensic biotechnology.
5. Biostatistics:
- Designing of experiments; null hypothesis; correlation, regression, distribution, and measure of central tendency, chi-square, student-test, F-test (one-way & two-way F-test).
6. Instrumentation Methods:
- Spectrophotometer, phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy, radioactive tracer, ultra centrifuge, gel electrophoresis, PCR, ELISA, FISH and chromosome painting.
- Electron microscopy (TEM, SEM).
Zoology Optional Syllabus: Paper-2
1. Cell Biology:
- Structure and function of the cell and its organelles (nucleus, plasma membrane, mitochondria, Golgi bodies, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, and lysosomes), cell division (mitosis and meiosis), mitotic spindle and mitotic apparatus, chromosome movements, chromosome type polytene and lambrush, organization of chromatin, heterochromatin, Cell cycle regulation.
- Nucleic acid topology, DNA motif, DNA replication, transcription, RNA processing, translation, protein foldings and transport.
2. Genetics:
- Modern concept of gene, split gene, genetic regulation, genetic code.
- Sex chromosomes and their evolution, sex determination in Drosophila and man.
- Mendel’s laws of inheritance, recombination, linkage, multiple alleles, genetics of blood groups, pedigree analysis, and hereditary diseases in man.
- Mutations and mutagenesis.
- Recombinant DNA technology; plasmid, cosmid, artificial chromosomes as vectors, transgenic, DNA cloning and whole animal cloning (principles and methods).
- Gene regulation and expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
- Signal molecules, cell death, defects in signaling pathway and consequences.
- RFLP, RAPD, and AFLP and application of RFLP in DNA fingerprinting, ribozyme technologies, human genome project, genomics and proteomics.
3. Evolution:
- Theories of origin of life.
- Theories of evolution; Natural selection, role of mutations in evolution, evolutionary patterns, molecular drive, mimicry, variation, isolation, and speciation.
- Evolution of horse, elephant, and man using fossil data.
- Hardy-Weinberg Law.
- Continental drift and distribution of animals.
4. Systematics:
- Zoological nomenclature, international code, cladistics, molecular taxonomy, and biodiversity.
5. Biochemistry:
- Structure and role of carbohydrates, fats, fatty acids and cholesterol, proteins and amino acids, nucleic acids. Bioenergetics.
- Glycolysis and Kreb cycle, oxidation and reduction, oxidative phosphorylation, energy conservation and release, ATP cycle, cyclic AMP – its structure and role.
- Hormone classification (steroid and peptide hormones), biosynthesis and functions.
- Enzymes: types and mechanisms of action.
- Vitamins and co-enzymes
- Immunoglobulin and immunity.
6. Physiology (with special reference to mammals):
- Composition and constituents of blood; blood groups and Rh factor in man, factors and mechanism of coagulation, iron metabolism, acid-base balance, thermo-regulation, anticoagulants.
- Haemoglobin: Composition, types and role in transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
- Digestion and absorption: Role of salivary glands, liver, pancreas and intestinal glands.
- Excretion: nephron and regulation of urine formation; osmoregulation and excretory product
- Muscles: Types, mechanism of contraction of skeletal muscles, effects of exercise on muscles.
- Neuron: nerve impulse – its conduction and synaptic transmission, neurotransmitters.
- Vision, hearing and olfaction in man.
- Physiology of reproduction, puberty and menopause in human.
7. Developmental Biology:
- Gametogenesis; spermatogenesis, the composition of semen, in vitro and in vivo capacitation of mammalian sperm, Oogenesis, totipotency; fertilization, morphogenesis and morphogen, blastogenesis, establishment of body axes formation, fate map, gastrulation in frog and chick; genes in development in chick, homeotic genes, development of eye and heart, placenta in mammals.
- Cell lineage, cell-to-cell interaction, Genetic and induced teratogenesis, role of thyroxine in control of metamorphosis in amphibia, paedogenesis and neoteny, cell death, aging.
- Developmental genes in man, in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, cloning.
- Stem cells: Sources, types and their use in human welfare.
- Biogenetic law.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
FAQ: What are the main topics covered in the UPSC Zoology optional syllabus?
Answer: The UPSC Zoology optional syllabus typically covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:
- Non-Chordata and Chordata diversity
- Ecology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
- Evolution
- Physiology of animals
- Comparative Anatomy
- Ethology
- Economic Zoology
FAQ: How should I prepare for the Zoology optional in UPSC exams?
Answer: Effective preparation for the Zoology optional in UPSC exams involves a combination of in-depth understanding, regular revision, and practice. Some tips include:
- Thoroughly go through the recommended textbooks and reference materials mentioned in the syllabus.
- Practice solving previous years’ question papers to understand the exam pattern and question trends.
- Make concise notes for quick revision.
- Focus on diagram-based questions and practice sketching relevant diagrams.
- Stay updated on current developments and research in the field of Zoology.
FAQ: Are there any recent changes in the UPSC Zoology optional syllabus?
Answer: As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, there were no significant recent changes in the UPSC Zoology optional syllabus. However, it’s essential to regularly check the official UPSC website or contact UPSC authorities for the latest updates and notifications regarding any changes in the syllabus or exam pattern.
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