CSS Zoology Syllabus
PAPER: ZOOLOGY (100 MARKS)
I. Animal Diversity-Invertebrates
Architectural pattern of an animal, Taxonomy and phylogeny, Major subdivisions of
animal kingdom.
Animal-Like Protists: The Protozoa: evolutionary perspective, locomotion and
reproduction, Protozoa of veterinary and medical importance.
Porifera: Body wall, skeleton and water currents system. Coelenterates:
Reproduction plan and alteration of generation (Polymorphism), Coral reefs.
Platyhelminthes and Nematodes: Parasitic adaptations and medical importance.
Annelids: Metamerism and ecological importance.
Molluscs: Modification of foot, Feeding and their role in the shell fishery.
Arthropods: Modification in their mouth parts, Role of arthropods as vectors in the
transmission in microbial infection. Arthropods and their ecological importance.
Echinoderms: Characteristics, Evolutionary perspective, Relationships to other
animals; echinoderm characteristics.
II. Animal Diversity-Chordata
Hemichordates and Invertebrate Chordates: Evolutionary Perspective: Phylogenetic
Relationships and considerations.
Fishes: Structural and functional adaptations of fishes.
Amphibian: Movement onto land and early evolution of terrestrial vertebrates.
Reptiles: Characteristics of reptiles, adaptations in reptilians.
Birds: Migration and navigation, adaptations.
Mammal: Structural and functional adaptations of mammals.
III. Principles of Animal Life
The chemical basis of animal life: Brief introduction to bio-molecules; carbohydrates,
lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.
Cell concept and cell theory, Organization of cellular organelle (their structure and
functions), Central dogma of cell biology (Transcription and Translation), Meiosis and
Mitosis
Protozoa: Reproduction pattern on in protozoan, Parasitism in protozoan
Mesozoza and Parazoa: Porifera: Cells types, body wall and skeleton and water
currents system, Coelenterata: Reproduction plan and alteration of generation
(Polymorphism)
Tissues Types: epithelial, connective, muscle and nervous tissue; organs and organ
systems.
Enzymes function and factors affecting their activity, cofactors and coenzymes.
Energy Harvesting: Aerobic and anaerobic respiration the major source of ATP.
Revised Scheme and Syllabus for CSS Competitive Examination-2016
Mendel’s law of inheritance, Chromosomal basis of inheritance, Multiple alleles,
Eukaryotic chromosomes: Mutations and chromosomal aberrations.
Ecological Concepts: Interactions, Concepts and components of ecosystem, Food
chain, Food web, Biogeochemical cycles, Forest, Biomes, Wildlife conservation and
management, Environmental pollution, Green house effect, Acid rain, Global
warming.
Evolution: Darwinian evolutionary theory based on natural selection and the
evidence, Microevolution: Genetic variation and change within species,
Macroevolution: Species and speciation (Allopatric, Parapatric and Sympatric
speciation)
IV. Animal Form and Function
Protection, Support and Movement: Integumentary system of invertebrates and
vertebrates; Animal muscles: the muscular system of invertebrates and vertebrates.
Digestion and Nutrition: Feeding mechanism, Digestion, Organization and regional
function of alimentary canals, Regulation of food intake, Nutritional requirements
Internal Fluids and Respiration: Internal fluid environment, Composition of blood,
Circulation and respiration mechanisms
Homeostasis: Excretion, Vertebrate kidney mechanisms, Temperature regulation
Nervous Coordination: Nervous system and Sense: Functional units of nervous
systems, Synapses junctions between nerves.
Chemical Coordination: Endocrine System; Vertebrate endocrine glands and types
of hormones, Mechanism of hormones action,
Animal behavior: Learning, Habituation, Insight learning, latent learning, classical
learning: Control of Behavior; social behavior
I. Animal Diversity-Invertebrates
Architectural pattern of an animal, Taxonomy and phylogeny, Major subdivisions of
animal kingdom.
Animal-Like Protists: The Protozoa: evolutionary perspective, locomotion and
reproduction, Protozoa of veterinary and medical importance.
Porifera: Body wall, skeleton and water currents system. Coelenterates:
Reproduction plan and alteration of generation (Polymorphism), Coral reefs.
Platyhelminthes and Nematodes: Parasitic adaptations and medical importance.
Annelids: Metamerism and ecological importance.
Molluscs: Modification of foot, Feeding and their role in the shell fishery.
Arthropods: Modification in their mouth parts, Role of arthropods as vectors in the
transmission in microbial infection. Arthropods and their ecological importance.
Echinoderms: Characteristics, Evolutionary perspective, Relationships to other
animals; echinoderm characteristics.
II. Animal Diversity-Chordata
Hemichordates and Invertebrate Chordates: Evolutionary Perspective: Phylogenetic
Relationships and considerations.
Fishes: Structural and functional adaptations of fishes.
Amphibian: Movement onto land and early evolution of terrestrial vertebrates.
Reptiles: Characteristics of reptiles, adaptations in reptilians.
Birds: Migration and navigation, adaptations.
Mammal: Structural and functional adaptations of mammals.
III. Principles of Animal Life
The chemical basis of animal life: Brief introduction to bio-molecules; carbohydrates,
lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.
Cell concept and cell theory, Organization of cellular organelle (their structure and
functions), Central dogma of cell biology (Transcription and Translation), Meiosis and
Mitosis
Protozoa: Reproduction pattern on in protozoan, Parasitism in protozoan
Mesozoza and Parazoa: Porifera: Cells types, body wall and skeleton and water
currents system, Coelenterata: Reproduction plan and alteration of generation
(Polymorphism)
Tissues Types: epithelial, connective, muscle and nervous tissue; organs and organ
systems.
Enzymes function and factors affecting their activity, cofactors and coenzymes.
Energy Harvesting: Aerobic and anaerobic respiration the major source of ATP.
Revised Scheme and Syllabus for CSS Competitive Examination-2016
Mendel’s law of inheritance, Chromosomal basis of inheritance, Multiple alleles,
Eukaryotic chromosomes: Mutations and chromosomal aberrations.
Ecological Concepts: Interactions, Concepts and components of ecosystem, Food
chain, Food web, Biogeochemical cycles, Forest, Biomes, Wildlife conservation and
management, Environmental pollution, Green house effect, Acid rain, Global
warming.
Evolution: Darwinian evolutionary theory based on natural selection and the
evidence, Microevolution: Genetic variation and change within species,
Macroevolution: Species and speciation (Allopatric, Parapatric and Sympatric
speciation)
IV. Animal Form and Function
Protection, Support and Movement: Integumentary system of invertebrates and
vertebrates; Animal muscles: the muscular system of invertebrates and vertebrates.
Digestion and Nutrition: Feeding mechanism, Digestion, Organization and regional
function of alimentary canals, Regulation of food intake, Nutritional requirements
Internal Fluids and Respiration: Internal fluid environment, Composition of blood,
Circulation and respiration mechanisms
Homeostasis: Excretion, Vertebrate kidney mechanisms, Temperature regulation
Nervous Coordination: Nervous system and Sense: Functional units of nervous
systems, Synapses junctions between nerves.
Chemical Coordination: Endocrine System; Vertebrate endocrine glands and types
of hormones, Mechanism of hormones action,
Animal behavior: Learning, Habituation, Insight learning, latent learning, classical
learning: Control of Behavior; social behavior