ral Selection with examples drift types of natural slection – Gene flow and genetic
– Adaptive Radiation
Unit III BIOLOGY AND HUMAN WELFARE
Health and Disease – Basic concepts of immunology: vaccines
– Pathogens, parasites causing human diseases ( Malaria, Filariasis, Ascariasis, Typhoid, Pneumonia, common cold, amoebiasis, ring worm).
– Cancer, HIV and AIDS.
– Adolescence drug and alcohol abuse.
Insects and human welfare – Silk, Honey, Lac
Improvement in food production – Plant breeding, tissue culture, single cell protein.
– Biofortification, Animal husbandry.
Microbes in human welfare – In household food processing, industrial production, sewage treatment, energy generation and as biocontrol agents and bioferilizers.
UNIT IV BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONS
Principles and process of Biotechnology – Genetic engineering (Recombination DNA technology).
Application of Biotechnology in health and agriculture – Human insulin and vaccine production, gene therapy.
– Genetically modified organisms: B+ crops.
– Bio safety issues.
– Bio piracy and patents.
Unit V ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Meaning of ecology, environment, habitat and niche – Organisms and environment.
Population and ecological adaptations – Population Interactions: mutualism, competition, predation, parasitism.
– Population attributes: growth, birth rate and death rate,
– Age distribution.
Patterns, components, energy flow, nutrient cycling (carbon and phosphorous), decomposition and productivity – Pyramids of number, biomass, energy.
– Ecological succession
– Ecological Services: Carbon fixation, Pollination, Oxygen release
Biodiversity and its conservation – Threats to and need for biodiversity conservation.
– Hotspots, endangered organisms, extinction, Red Data Book.
– Biodiversity conservation- biosphere reserves, national parks and sanctuaries.
Environmental Issues – Air Pollution and its control
– Water pollution and its control
– Agrochemicals and their effects
– Solid waste management
– Radioactive waste management
– Greenhouse effect and global warming
– Ozone depletion, deforestation.
– Any three case studies as success stories addressing environmental issues.