Most important topics for TSSET LIFE SCIENCES-2023

Introduction

Unlocking success in the TSSET Life Sciences exam of 2023 requires more than just preparation; it demands a strategic approach. As the competition intensifies, and the stakes soar higher, aspiring candidates must focus their efforts on the crucial touchstones that will set them apart. This is not just a blog; it’s your ticket to mastering the game-changing topics that will define your victory. Join us as we unveil the powerhouse subjects that hold the key to not only passing the TSSET exam but dominating it. Dare to embrace the challenge, empower your knowledge, and seize the spotlight in the realm of Life Sciences. This is your journey to excellence – let’s embark on it together!

Unit 1: Molecules and their Interaction Relevant to Biology

The stabilizing interactions (Hydrogen bonding, Electrostatic interactions, Vander wall forces & Hydrophobic interactions)
Classification of Amino Acids, their structure especially based on R group, Numerical on isoelectric point & Pka values
Ramachandran plot for different amino acids
Protein folding thermodynamics, denaturation, and biological function
Enzyme kinetics (Must study topic) especially focus on graphs, inhibition processes, Michaelis Menten equation.
Cellular respiration (Without this concept there will be no CSIR LS paper) (Repeated more than 10 times). Mainly focus on Glycolysis, Krebs cycle, ETC & Oxidative phosphorylation, exclusively focus on enzymes regulating glycolysis and Krebs Cycle & Inhibitors of cellular respiration
Chemistry of nucleic acids i.e., types of DNA (A, B& Z), Skeletal structure of Purines and pyrimidines (must study)
β-oxidation of fatty acids, different types of lipids and bonds involved
Numerical problems on Thermodynamics (Must study)

Unit 2: Cellular Organization

Cell Membrane: Structure, composition & function. Types of Lipids, Proteins & carbohydrates embedded in plasma membrane and their functions.
Functions of intracellular organelles like Golgi complex, Mitochondria, Peroxisomes, Lysosomes, Enzymatic contents of above organelles and diseases caused by deficiency of enzymes.
Structure of Heterochromatin, Euchromatin and Transposons
Cell cycle regulation (CDK’s and CDC’s involved in G1, S, G2 and M phase) (Must study concept)
Numerical and graphical based questions will be asked from microbial physiology

UNIT 3: Fundamental Processes

Enzymes involved in initiation, elongation and termination of DNA Replication, Transcription and Translation.
Antibiotics that block Replication, Transcription and Translation (Repeatedly questions asked from antibiotics blocking translation)
Enzymes involved in DNA Replication of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes (Types of DNA polymerases, DNA topoisomerase, SSBP and Ligase and their functions
Name of the enzymes, their functions and their mechanism of action which are involved in MMR, NER, BER, DBR and Homologous recombination
Enzymes involved in transcription (RNA polymerase) and their functions.
RNA Processing (Capping, Polyadenylation & Splicing (Simple splicing, Spliceosome mediated splicing and trans splicing)
Three different types of RNA, structure, function, and their site of synthesis
Types of translation factors involved in initiation, elongation and Termination of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes.
Special Emphasis on Post Translational modification.

UNIT 4: Cell Communication and Cell Signaling

Name of the pathogen, mode of transmission, disease caused by it and pathophysiology (Must study, simple and scoring concept and often asked for 4 marks mostly matching questions)
Cell signaling pathways (little difficult concept but must study to score)
Molecular mechanisms involved in GPCR, MAP KINASE, JACK-STAT, Insulin pathway, Hedgehog pathway, Wnt Signaling, Notch Delta, β- catenin pathways.
List of all Secondary messenger (Cyclic AMP, Cyclic GMP, Calcium, IP3, NO) and their functions
Cell communication: Various types of CAM molecules (Cadherin, Selectin, Integrin and Immunoglobulins like), their detailed structure, Functions and Calcium dependent or independent.
Cell matrix interactions: Structure, Functions of Collagen, Keratin, Fibroin, Nidogen and Chondroitin – Sulphate. (mostly matching questions)
Cancer: One of the most promising concepts of CSIR paper (Must study)
Definitions of Benign Tumor, malignant tumor, proto-oncogene, oncogene and tumor suppressor gene.
Mechanism of angiogenesis and metastasis
Special Emphasis on Genes like (P53, P21, P16 & PRB and their functions)
Special note on anticancer drugs
Immunology: (Huge syllabus to study but mainly focus on following topics)
Differences between innate and adaptive immunity
Through knowledge of all WBC cells and their function
Receptors of B cell and T cell (Toll like, Soluble receptor)
MHC molecules, types, and differences.
Structure and function of 5 types of antibodies.
Preparation of Monoclonal antibodies.

UNIT 5: Developmental Biology

Students should have thorough knowledge on basic concepts like potency, commitment, specification (autonomous, conditional and regulative), induction, competence, determination and differentiation.
Fertilization in model organisms like amphibians, Sea urchin and mammals.
Special emphasis on capacitation.
Cleavage patterns, different types of Eggs in insects, Birds, Amphibians and Mammals.
Vulva formation in Sea Elegance.
Access formation in Sea Urchin.
Special Emphasis on genes involved in gastrulation (Hunch back, Caudal, Noggin, β-catenin, Pair rule genes, Homeotic genes, maternal genes and Zygotic genes.
Eye lens induction in vertebrates.
Plant ABC model in Arabidopsis thaliana

UNIT 6: System Physiology – Plant

PHOTOSYNTHESIS: Different type of pigments, inhibitors of ETC, CO2 compensation point of C3 and C4 plants, Differences between cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation
Mineral nutrition (The topic is repeating from last 2 years) Name of the nutrient, Function (Co-factors) and their deficiency diseases
Solute Transport: Mechanism of Cohesion- Tension theory, Bulk flow mechanism (Munch hypothesis), Detailed structure and function of Xylem and phloem.
Plant Hormones: Site of synthesis precursors, Biosynthetic pathway, and specific functions (Give importance to auxins, gibberellic and ABA)
Special emphasis on signaling pathways of above hormones.
Nitrogen metabolism: Type of free living and Symbiotic bacteria involved in Nitrogen fixation.
Different types of Nodulin gene and Nod genes (common and host specified)
Structure and functions of nitrogenase, nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase enzymes.
Secondary Metabolites: Types, Biosynthetic pathway precursors and functions of terpenes, phenols (Flavonoids, Tannins) and nitrogen containing compounds (alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides and glucosinolates).
Sensory photobiology: Structure and functions of phytochrome, cryptochrome and phototropin)
Mechanism of photoperiodism (short day and long day plants)
Special emphasis on biological clocks

UNIT 7: System Physiology – Animal

Endocrine system: Name of the hormone, gland which it is secreted, their amino acid precursors and deficiency disorders.
Respiratory system: Mechanism of gaseous exchange, respiratory volumes (Tidal volume, IRV, ERV etc….)
Cardiovascular system: Thorough knowledge of ECG (P, Q, R, S & T waves), cardiac cycle.
Nervous system: Resting membrane potential and action potential (Graphical questions), list of neurotransmitters and functions
Excretory system: Solutes, ions, and essential elements that reabsorbed in PCT, DCT and Loop of Henle
Symporter and Antiporter present on PCT, DCT and Loop of Henle
Counter current mechanism
Sense organ: structure and functions of inner parts of ear and eye (anatomical characteristics also)
Digestive system: Composition of saliva, Intestinal juice, deficiency of vitamins and their disorders.

UNIT 8: Inheritance Biology

Student should have basic knowledge on Mendelian principles (Dominance, segregation, and independent assortment)
Applicative knowledge on codominance, incomplete dominance, gene interactions and pleiotropy
Special emphasis on methods of genetic transfers (transformation, conjugation, transduction, and sex duction)
Must study topics like Pedigree analysis, polygenic inheritance, and QTL mapping
Types of Homologous and Non homologous recombination.
Through knowledge on chromosomal alterations (deletion, duplication, inversion)

UNIT 9: Diversity of Life Forms

Must study topics are phylogenetic tree, cladograms
Surprisingly, questions asked from NCERT based so students should have thorough knowledge of types, mode of nutrition, types of reproduction (vegetative, asexual and sexual) of Monera, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia.
Rare, endangered species and their conservation strategies.

UNIT 10: Ecological Principles

Must study topic: Habitat and Niche (competitive exclusion principle or gause hypothesis)
Types of succession and their mechanism which are involved in the hydrosere, xerosere with examples.
Ecological rules: Allen’s rule, Gloger’s rule, Bergman’s rule.
Through knowledge on population ecology: Population density (mark recapture method, Types of dispersion (uniform, grouped and random), population growth curve, meta population, 3 types of survivorship curves and r and k selection. Different types of community interaction (Symbiosis, commensalism, Ammensalism, parasitism, competition, and predation with example
Must study topic: Lotka Volterra model of competition and predation
Different type of pyramid (Energy, Biomass, and number) in terrestrial, aquatic and grassland ecosystem
Definition of lentic and lotic ecosystem, gross primary productivity, net primary productivity, Eutrophication, biomagnification, bioremediation and phytoremediation Alpha diversity and Beta diversity with examples.
Through knowledge on air pollution (Acid rain and Greenhouse effect (gasses involved)), Water pollution (BOD, COD)
List of project tiger zones, National parks, sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves.
Conservation status (Critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, near threatened and least concern) of different organisms according to Red data book

UNIT 11: Evolution and Behavior

Basic knowledge on theories of evolution (Lamarckism and Darwinism)
Experiments of Oparin and Haldane, experiment of Miller
Must study topic: Geological time scale
Phylogenetic tree, cladogram, and Molecular clocks
Genetic drift
Definitions of convergent, divergent evolution, coevolution, adaptive radiation, homologous and analogous organs with examples.
Special emphasis on Hardy Weinberg principles.Through knowledge on altruism, Kin selection and reciprocal altruism.

UNIT 12: Applied Biology

Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer process
Types of vaccines
Different tissue culture requirements for both plants and animals
Gene therapy
Various bioresources, and uses in biodiversity, bioremediation and phytoremediation, purpose and the different organisms involved.
Biosensors are also sometimes asked.
some experimental questions on marker-assisted selection breeding of qualitative and quantitative traits or for disease resistance in plant breeding

UNIT 13: Methods in Biology

Statistical methods: regression and correlation: t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square test and Probability distribution
Electrophysiological methods: Give importance to ECG, Brain activity recording, MRI and FMRI
Microscopic techniques: Freeze-etch and Freeze fracture methods for EM
Histochemical and Immunotechniques: Principles and applications of ELISA, RIA, Western Blot, Flow cytometry and FISH and GISH.
Through knowledge on RFLP, RAPD and AFLP techniques.
Biophysical methods: Principles and applications of UV, CD, NMR, ESR and X-ray diffraction.
Different vectors used in rDNA technology (Plasmids, cosmids, phagemids, BAC and YAC).
Isolation and purification of RNA and DNA
Gene knockout experiments in bacteria and Eukaryotic organisms.

Conclusion

As we conclude this enlightening journey through the most important topics for TSSET Life Sciences 2023, remember that excellence is not an accident but a result of strategic choices. Armed with the insights gained here, you now possess a distinct advantage over your competition. Your commitment to mastering these pivotal subjects showcases your dedication to not only acing an exam but also becoming a trailblazer in the field. Keep in mind that success is a blend of knowledge, preparation, and the courage to embrace challenges. So, go forth with newfound confidence, delve into these topics with unwavering determination, and let your passion for Life Sciences shine brilliantly in the upcoming TSSET exam. Your success story awaits – make it legendary!

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