Syllabus of ICMR JRF Entrance Examination: Latest 2015

ICMRJRFENTRANCEEXAMINATIONINDIANCOUNCILOFMEDICALRESEARCH(ICMR),NEWDELHI

(FortheawardofJuniorResearchFellowship(JRF)inLifeScienceandSocialSciencefromICMR‐IndianCouncilofMedicalResearch,NewDelhi)

Syllabus*TIME:2HOURS MAXIMUMMARKS:125

SchemeofTestofICMRJRFEntranceExamination

The testwill consist of onepaperof2hoursduration.Thepaperwill consist of 2Sections. The Aptitude Section (Section A) will have 50 questions on (1). Scientificphenomenonineverydaylife,(2).Generalknowledgeinsciences,(3).Commonstatistics.

Allthesequestionswouldbecompulsorywitheachquestioncarrying1mark.ThesubjectSpecific Section (SectionB&C)wouldpertain to (B)LifeSciencesand (C)SocialScience. The candidate may attempt questions in either of the two areas. Each area ofsectionB&Cwouldhave100questionsandthecandidatemayattemptany75questionsinthepredesignedareaofSectionBorC.CandidatesarerequiredtoindicatetheoptionforSection B or C in the application form too. Each question carries one mark.Negativemarking@0.25willbemadeforeachofthewronganswer.ThequestionsinboththesectionswouldappearinEnglishonly.

Thefinalresultwillbebasedonaggregateof55%marksobtainedinboththesections for General category and OBC and 50% for SC/ST and physicallyhandicapped.

TheentrancetestofICMRJRFwillbeheldinthefollowingstreams:

a. Aptitudetest(commonforall)b. LifeSciencesc. SocialSciences.

SubjectscoveredunderLifeSciencesstreamofICMRJRFEntranceExamination:

Microbiology,Physiology,MolecularBiology,Genetics,Humannutrition,HumanBiology,Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Immunology, Pharmacology, Zoology,Environmentalsciences,Botany,Veterinaryscience,Bio‐informatics.www.ea

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SYLLABUSforICMRJRFEntranceExam:LifeSciences(*For ICMR JRFEntranceExamination,theyusestheSyllabusofCSIRUGCJRFNETLifeScienceExamination)

1. MoleculesandtheirInteractionRelevanttoBiology

2. CellularOrganization

3. FundamentalProcesses

4. CellCommunicationandCellSignaling

5. DevelopmentalBiology

6. SystemPhysiology–Plant

7. SystemPhysiology–Animal

8. InheritanceBiology

9. DiversityofLifeForms

10. EcologicalPrinciples

11. EvolutionandBehavior

12. AppliedBiology

13. MethodsinBiology

1. MOLECULESANDTHEIRINTERACTIONRELAVENTTOBIOLOGY

A. Structureofatoms,moleculesandchemicalbonds.

B. Composition, structure and function of biomolecules (carbohydrates, lipids,proteins,nucleicacidsandvitamins).

C. Stabilizing interactions (Van der Waals, electrostatic, hydrogen bonding,hydrophobicinteraction,etc.).

D. Principlesofbiophysicalchemistry(pH,buffer,reactionkinetics, thermodynamics,colligativeproperties).

E. Bioenergetics, glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, coupled reaction, grouptransfer,biologicalenergytransducers.

F. Principles of catalysis, enzymes and enzyme kinetics, enzyme regulation,mechanismofenzymecatalysis,isozymeswww.ea

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G. Conformationofproteins(Ramachandranplot,secondarystructure,domains,motifandfolds).

H. Conformationofnucleicacids(helix(A,B,Z),t‐RNA,micro‐RNA).

I. Stabilityofproteinsandnucleicacids.

J. Metabolismofcarbohydrates,lipids,aminoacidsnucleotidesandvitamins.

2. CELLULARORGANIZATION

A. Membrane structure and function: Structure of modelmembrane, lipid bilayerandmembraneproteindiffusion,osmosis,ionchannels,activetransport,membranepumps, mechanism of sorting and regulation of intracellular transport, electricalpropertiesofmembranes.

B. Structural organization and function of intracellular organelles: Cell wall,nucleus, mitochondria, Golgi bodies, lysosomes, endoplasmic reticulum,peroxisomes, plastids, vacuoles, chloroplast, structure & function of cytoskeletonanditsroleinmotility.

C. Organization of genes and chromosomes: Operon, unique and repetitive DNA,interrupted genes, gene families, structure of chromatin and chromosomes,heterochromatin,euchromatin,transposons.

D. Celldivisionandcellcycle:Mitosisandmeiosis,theirregulation,stepsincellcycle,regulationandcontrolofcellcycle.

E. MicrobialPhysiology:Growthyieldandcharacteristics,strategiesofcelldivision,stressresponse.

3. FUNDAMENTALPROCESSES

A. DNA replication, repair and recombination: Unit of replication, enzymesinvolved, replication origin and replication fork, fidelity of replication,extrachromosomalreplicons,DNAdamageandrepairmechanisms,homologousandsite‐specificrecombination.

B. RNAsynthesisandprocessing:transcriptionfactorsandmachinery,formationofinitiation complex, transcription activator and repressor, RNA polymerases,capping, elongation, and termination, RNA processing, RNA editing, splicing, andpolyadenylation,structureandfunctionofdifferenttypesofRNA,RNAtransport.www.ea

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C. Protein synthesis and processing: Ribosome, formation of initiation complex,initiation factors and their regulation, elongation and elongation factors,termination, genetic code, aminoacylationof tRNA, tRNA‐identity, aminoacyl tRNAsynthetase, and translational proof‐reading, translational inhibitors, Post‐translationalmodificationofproteins.

D. Controlofgeneexpressionattranscriptionandtranslationlevel:regulatingtheexpressionofphages,viruses,prokaryoticandeukaryoticgenes,roleofchromatiningeneexpressionandgenesilencing.

4. CELLCOMMUNICATIONANDCELLSIGNALING

A. Host parasite interaction Recognition and entry processes of different pathogenslikebacteria,virusesintoanimalandplanthostcells,alterationofhostcellbehaviorby pathogens, virus‐induced cell transformation, pathogen‐induced diseases inanimalsandplants,cell‐cellfusioninbothnormalandabnormalcells.

B. CellsignalingHormonesandtheirreceptors,cellsurfacereceptor,signalingthroughG‐protein coupled receptors, signal transduction pathways, second messengers,regulationofsignalingpathways,bacterialandplanttwo‐componentsystems,lightsignalinginplants,bacterialchemotaxisandquorumsensing.

C. Cellular communication Regulation of hematopoiesis, general principles of cellcommunication, cell adhesion and roles of different adhesion molecules, gapjunctions,extracellularmatrix,integrins,neurotransmissionanditsregulation.

D. Cancer: Genetic rearrangements in progenitor cells, oncogenes, tumor suppressorgenes, cancer and the cell cycle, virus‐induced cancer, metastasis, interaction ofcancercellswithnormalcells,apoptosis,therapeuticinterventionsofuncontrolledcellgrowth.

E. Innate and adaptive immune system Cells and molecules involved in innate andadaptive immunity, antigens, antigenicity and immunogenicity. B and T cellepitopes, structure and function of antibody molecules. generation of antibodydiversity, monoclonal antibodies, antibody engineering, antigen‐antibodyinteractions, MHCmolecules, antigen processing and presentation, activation anddifferentiationofBandT cells,BandT cell receptors,humoral andcell‐mediatedimmune responses, primary and secondary immunemodulation, the complementsystem, Toll‐like receptors, cell‐mediated effector functions, inflammation,hypersensitivity and autoimmunity, immune response during bacterial(tuberculosis), parasitic (malaria) and viral (HIV) infections, congenital andacquiredimmunodeficiencies,vaccines.

5. DEVELOPMENTALBIOLOGYwww.easy

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A. Basic concepts of development: Potency, commitment, specification, induction,competence, determination and differentiation;morphogenetic gradients; cell fateand cell lineages; stem cells; genomic equivalence and the cytoplasmicdeterminants;imprinting;mutantsandtransgenicsinanalysisofdevelopment

B. Gametogenesis,fertilizationandearlydevelopment:Productionofgametes,cellsurface molecules in sperm‐egg recognition in animals; embryo sac developmentand double fertilization in plants; zygote formation, cleavage, blastula formation,embryonic fields, gastrulation and formation of germ layers in animals;embryogenesis, establishment of symmetry in plants; seed formation andgermination.

C. Morphogenesis and organogenesis in animals: Cell aggregation anddifferentiationinDictyostelium;axesandpatternformationinDrosophila,amphibiaand chick; organogenesis – vulva formation in Caenorhabditis elegans, eye lensinduction, limb development and regeneration in vertebrates; differentiation ofneurons, post embryonic development‐ larval formation, metamorphosis;environmentalregulationofnormaldevelopment;sexdetermination.

D. Morphogenesis and organogenesis in plants: Organization of shoot and rootapical meristem; shoot and root development; leaf development and phyllotaxy;transitiontoflowering,floralmeristemsandfloraldevelopmentinArabidopsisandAntirrhinum

E. Programmedcelldeath,agingandsenescence

6. SYSTEMPHYSIOLOGY–PLANT

A. Photosynthesis: Light harvesting complexes; mechanisms of electron transport;photoprotectivemechanisms;CO2fixation‐C3,C4andCAMpathways.

B. Respirationandphotorespiration:Citricacidcycle;plantmitochondrialelectrontransportandATPsynthesis;alternateoxidase;photorespiratorypathway.

C. Nitrogen metabolism: Nitrate and ammonium assimilation; amino acidbiosynthesis.

D. Plant hormones: Biosynthesis, storage, breakdown and transport; physiologicaleffectsandmechanismsofaction.

E. Sensory photobiology: Structure, function and mechanisms of action ofphytochromes, cryptochromes and phototropins; stomatal movement;photoperiodismandbiologicalclocks.

F. Solute transport and photoassimilate translocation: uptake, transport andtranslocation ofwater, ions, solutes andmacromolecules from soil, through cells,www.ea

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across membranes, through xylem and phloem; transpiration; mechanisms ofloadingandunloadingofphotoassimilates.

G. Secondary metabolites: Biosynthesis of terpenes, phenols and nitrogenouscompoundsandtheirroles.

H. Stressphysiology:Responsesofplantstobiotic(pathogenandinsects)andabiotic(water,temperatureandsalt)stresses.

7. SYSTEMPHYSIOLOGY–ANIMAL

A. Blood and circulation: Blood corpuscles, haemopoiesis and formed elements,plasma function, blood volume, blood volume regulation, blood groups,haemoglobin,immunity,haemostasis.

B. CardiovascularSystem:Comparativeanatomyofheartstructure,myogenicheart,specialized tissue, ECG – its principle and significance, cardiac cycle, heart as apump,bloodpressure,neuralandchemicalregulationofallabove.

C. Respiratory system: Comparison of respiration in different species, anatomicalconsiderations,transportofgases,exchangeofgases,wasteelimination,neuralandchemicalregulationofrespiration.

D. Nervoussystem:Neurons, actionpotential, grossneuroanatomyof thebrain andspinal cord, central andperipheral nervous system,neural control ofmuscle toneandposture.

E. Senseorgans:Vision,hearingandtactileresponse.F. Excretory system: Comparative physiology of excretion, kidney, urine formation,

urine concentration, waste elimination, micturition, regulation of water balance,bloodvolume,bloodpressure,electrolytebalance,acid‐basebalance.

G. Thermoregulation: Comfort zone, body temperature – physical, chemical, neuralregulation,acclimatization.

H. StressandadaptationI. Digestivesystem‐Digestion,absorption,energybalance,BMR.J. Endocrinologyandreproduction:Endocrineglands,basicmechanismofhormone

action, hormones and diseases; reproductive processes, gametogenesis, ovulation,neuroendocrineregulation

8. INHERITANCEBIOLOGY

A. Mendelianprinciples:Dominance,segregation,independentassortment.

B. Conceptofgene:Allele,multiplealleles,pseudo‐allele,complementationtestswww.easy

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C. ExtensionsofMendelianprinciples:Co‐dominance, incompletedominance,geneinteractions, pleiotropy, genomic imprinting, penetrance and expressivity,phenocopy, linkage and crossing over, sex linkage, sex limited and sex influencedcharacters.

D. Genemappingmethods:Linkagemaps, tetrad analysis,mappingwithmolecularmarkers, mapping by using somatic cell hybrids, development of mappingpopulationinplants.

E. Extra chromosomal inheritance: Inheritance of Mitochondrial and chloroplastgenes,maternalinheritance.

F. Microbial genetics:Methods of genetic transfers – transformation, conjugation,transductionandsex‐duction,mappinggenesbyinterruptedmating,finestructureanalysisofgenes.

G. Human genetics: Pedigree analysis, lod score for linkage testing, karyotypes,geneticdisorders.

H. Quantitative genetics: Polygenic inheritance, heritability and its measurements,QTLmapping.

I. Mutation: Types, causes and detection, mutant types – lethal, conditional,biochemical, loss of function, gain of function, germinal verses somatic mutants,insertionalmutagenesis.

J. Structural and numerical alterations of chromosomes: Deletion, duplication,inversion,translocation,ploidyandtheirgeneticimplications.

K. Recombination: Homologous and non‐homologous recombination includingtransposition.

DIVERSITYOFLIFEFORMS

Principles & methods of taxonomy: Concepts of species and hierarchical taxa,biological nomenclature, classical & quantitative methods of taxonomy of plants,animalsandmicroorganisms.

Levelsofstructuralorganization:Unicellular,colonialandmulticellularforms.Levelsoforganizationoftissues,organs&systems.Comparativeanatomy,adaptiveradiation,adaptivemodifications.

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Outlineclassificationofplants,animals&microorganisms:Importantcriteriausedfor classification in each taxon. Classification of plants, animals andmicroorganisms.Evolutionaryrelationshipsamongtaxa.

Natural history of Indian subcontinent:Major habitat types of the subcontinent,geographic origins and migrations of species. Common Indian mammals, birds.Seasonalityandphenologyofthesubcontinent.

Organismsofhealth&agriculturalimportance:Commonparasitesandpathogensofhumans,domesticanimalsandcrops.

Organisms of conservation concern: Rare, endangered species. Conservationstrategies.

ECOLOGICALPRINCIPLES

The Environment: Physical environment; biotic environment; biotic and abioticinteractions.

Habitat and Niche: Concept of habitat and niche; niche width and overlap;fundamentalandrealizedniche;resourcepartitioning;characterdisplacement.

Population Ecology: Characteristics of a population; population growth curves;population regulation; life history strategies (r and K selection); concept ofmetapopulation – demes and dispersal, interdemic extinctions, age structuredpopulations.

Species Interactions: Types of interactions, interspecific competition, herbivory,carnivory,pollination,symbiosis.

Community Ecology: Nature of communities; community structure and attributes;levelsofspeciesdiversityanditsmeasurement;edgesandecotones.

EcologicalSuccession:Types;mechanisms;changesinvolvedinsuccession;conceptofclimax.

Ecosystem Ecology: Ecosystem structure; ecosystem function; energy flow andmineralcycling(C,N,P);primaryproductionanddecomposition;structureandfunctionof some Indian ecosystems: terrestrial (forest, grassland) and aquatic (fresh water,marine,estuarine).

Biogeography: Major terrestrial biomes; theory of island biogeography;biogeographicalzonesofIndia.www.ea

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AppliedEcology:Environmentalpollution;globalenvironmentalchange;biodiversity:status, monitoring and documentation; major drivers of biodiversity change;biodiversitymanagementapproaches.

ConservationBiology:Principlesofconservation,majorapproaches tomanagement,Indian case studies on conservation/management strategy (Project Tiger, Biospherereserves)

EVOLUTIONANDBEHAVIOUR

Emergence of evolutionary thoughts: Lamarck; Darwin–concepts of variation,adaptation, struggle, fitness and natural selection; Mendelism; Spontaneity ofmutations;theevolutionarysynthesis.

Origin of cells and unicellular evolution: Origin of basic biologicalmolecules; Abioticsynthesis of organic monomers and polymers; Concept of Oparin and Haldane;Experiment of Miller (1953); The first cell; Evolution of prokaryotes; Origin ofeukaryotic cells; Evolution of unicellular eukaryotes; Anaerobic metabolism,photosynthesisandaerobicmetabolism.

PaleontologyandEvolutionaryHistory:Theevolutionarytimescale;Eras,periodsandepoch; Major events in the evolutionary time scale; Origins of unicellular and multicellular organisms; Major groups of plants and animals; Stages in primate evolutionincludingHomo.

Molecular Evolution: Concepts of neutral evolution, molecular divergence andmolecularclocks;Moleculartoolsinphylogeny,classificationandidentification;Proteinandnucleotidesequenceanalysis;originofnewgenesandproteins;Geneduplicationanddivergence.

TheMechanisms:Populationgenetics–Populations,Genepool,Genefrequency;Hardy‐Weinberg Law; concepts and rate of change in gene frequency through naturalselection, migration and random genetic drift; Adaptive radiation; Isolatingmechanisms; Speciation;Allopatricity and Sympatricity; Convergent evolution; Sexualselection;Co‐evolution.

Brain, Behavior and Evolution: Approaches and methods in study of behavior;Proximate and ultimate causation; Altruism and evolution‐Group selection, Kinselection,Reciprocal altruism;Neural basis of learning,memory, cognition, sleep andarousal; Biological clocks; Development of behavior; Social communication; Socialdominance; Use of space and territoriality;Mating systems, Parental investment andReproductive success; Parental care; Aggressive behavior; Habitat selection andwww.ea

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optimality in foraging; Migration, orientation and navigation; Domestication andbehavioralchanges.

APPLIEDBIOLOGY:

Microbialfermentationandproductionofsmallandmacromolecules.

Applicationof immunological principles, vaccines, diagnostics. Tissue and cell culturemethodsforplantsandanimals.

Transgenic animals and plants, molecular approaches to diagnosis and strainidentification.

Genomicsanditsapplicationtohealthandagriculture,includinggenetherapy.

Bioresourceandusesofbiodiversity.

Breedinginplantsandanimals,includingmarker–assistedselection

Bioremediationandphytoremediation

Biosensors

METHODSINBIOLOGY

Molecular Biology and Recombinant DNAmethods: Isolation and purification ofRNA,DNA(genomicandplasmid)andproteins,differentseparationmethods.AnalysisofRNA,DNAandproteinsbyoneandtwodimensionalgelelectrophoresis,Isoelectricfocusinggels.MolecularcloningofDNAorRNAfragments inbacterialandeukaryoticsystems.Expressionofrecombinantproteinsusingbacterial,animalandplantvectors.IsolationofspecificnucleicacidsequencesGenerationofgenomicandcDNAlibrariesinplasmid, phage, cosmid, BAC and YAC vectors. In vitro mutagenesis and deletiontechniques,geneknockout inbacterialandeukaryoticorganisms.Proteinsequencingmethods, detection of post translation modification of proteins. DNA sequencingmethods,strategiesforgenomesequencing.MethodsforanalysisofgeneexpressionatRNA and protein level, large scale expression, such asmicro array based techniquesIsolation,separationandanalysisofcarbohydrateandlipidmoleculesRFLP,RAPDandAFLPtechniques

HistochemicalandImmunotechniques:Antibodygeneration,Detectionofmoleculesusing ELISA, RIA, western blot, immunoprecipitation, fluocytometry andimmunofluorescence microscopy, detection of molecules in living cells, in situlocalizationbytechniquessuchasFISHandGISH.

Biophysical Method: Molecular analysis using UV/visible, fluorescence, circulardichroism,NMRandESRspectroscopyMolecularstructuredeterminationusingX‐raywww.ea

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diffractionandNMR,Molecularanalysisusing lightscattering,different typesofmassspectrometryandsurfaceplasmaresonancemethods.

Statistical Methods: Measures of central tendency and dispersal; probabilitydistributions (Binomial, Poisson and normal); Sampling distribution; Differencebetweenparametricandnon‐parametricstatistics;ConfidenceInterval;Errors;Levelsofsignificance;RegressionandCorrelation;t‐test;Analysisofvariance;X2test;;BasicintroductiontoMuetrovariatestatistics,etc.

Radiolabeling techniques: Detection and measurement of different types ofradioisotopes normally used in biology, incorporation of radioisotopes in biologicaltissuesandcells,molecularimagingofradioactivematerial,safetyguidelines.

Microscopic techniques: Visualization of cells and subcellular components by lightmicroscopy, resolving powers of different microscopes, microscopy of living cells,scanningand transmissionmicroscopes,different fixationandstaining techniques forEM, freeze‐etch and freeze‐ fracture methods for EM, image processing methods inmicroscopy.

Electrophysiologicalmethods:Singleneuronrecording,patch‐clamprecording,ECG,Brainactivityrecording, lesionandstimulationofbrain,pharmacologicaltesting,PET,MRI,fMRI,CAT.

Methods in fieldbiology:Methods of estimating population density of animals andplants, ranging patterns through direct, indirect and remote observations, samplingmethodsinthestudyofbehavior,habitatcharacterization:groundandremotesensingmethods.

*ForICMRJRFEntranceExamination,theyusetheSyllabusofCSIRUGCJRFNETLifeScienceExamination

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