Zoology Syllabus 2026: Check Semester-wise Subjects & Syllabus

Non – Chordates (Protista to Pseudocoelomate)

Cell Biology

Molecular Biology

Biosystematics, Structure and Function of Invertebrates

Ecology

Parasitology

Animal and Animal cell Biotechnology

Biochemistry

Evolutionary Biology

Vertebrates

Non – Chordates (Protista to Pseudocoelomate) Theory

There are both theory and lab classes for this subject, including studying and identifying organisms. The topics included are as follows:

• Basics of Animal Classification
• Protista and Metazoans
• Porifera, Cnidaria, and Ctenophora
• Platyhelminthes and Nematoda

Molecular Biology

There are both theory and lab classes for this subject focusing on studying molecular structures of living organisms. The topics included are as follows:

• Nucleic Acids and DNA replication
• Transcription and Translation
• Post Transcriptional Modifications and Processing of Eukaryotic RNA
• Gene Regulation
• DNA Repair Mechanisms
• Molecular Techniques

Cell Biology

There are both theory and lab classes for this subject focusing on studying the biology of cells in living organisms. The topics included are as follows:

• Plasma membranes
• Cytoplasmic organelles
• Cytoskeleton
• Nucleus
• Cell cycle
• Cell signalling

Systematics

This subject is included in both general B.SC. Course and B.Sc. Honours course. The topics included are as follows:

• Taxonomy and its levels
• Place and Contribution of Systematics in Biology
• Classification (Phenetic and Cladistics)
• Concept of dendrogram and cladogram
• Concept of biological species
• Isolation and its role in speciation
• Modes of speciation and Type concept
• The basic principle and use of DNA barcoding in species identification

Animal Behaviour

This subject is included in both general B.SC. Course and B.Sc. Honours course focuses on studying the behaviour of animals. The topics included are as follows:

• Instinctive and learning behaviour
• Fixed action pattern
• Communication in honey bees
• Altruism, kinship and selfishness
• Echolocation in bat
• Cost and benefit analysis of parental investment
• Parent-offspring conflict
• Migration in birds

Ecology

This subject is included in both general B.SC. Course and B.Sc. Honours course focusing on studying the ecology of living organisms. The topics included are as follows:

• Concept of Ecosystem
• Wetland as an ecosystem service provider
• Population attributes
• Population growth models
• Life history analysis, r and k strategies
• Population interactions
• Animal’s space and resource use
• Community and ecosystem
• Ecological succession
• A brief idea on El Nino, La Nina and their consequences

Applied Zoology

This subject focuses on the cultivation (or culture) of certain species for mass usage items or farming. The topics included are as follows:

• Sericulture (silkworm cultivation, also known as silk farming)
• Aquaculture
• Apiculture (honey bee cultivation, also known as bee farming)
• Aquaculture (exotic fish cultivation)
• Poultry farming
• Pest and Management

Evolutionary Biology

This subject focuses on the study of evolution among living organisms. The topics included are as follows:

• Definition of systematics & taxonomy
• Species as a unit of evolution Chemical basis of the origin of life
• Anatomical and Physiological adaptations (aquatic, desert, volant)
• Zoogeographical realms (Wallace scheme) with characteristic mammalian fauna

Biosystematics, Structure and Function of Invertebrates

This subject focuses on the study of biological systems in living organisms and invertebrates. There are both theoretical and lab topics for this subject. The topics included are as follows:

• Biosystematics and Applications
• Nutrition & Respiration
• Excretory and Nervous systems
• Minor phyla and invertebrate larvae

Biochemistry

This subject focuses on studying biological and chemical substances and systems in living organisms. There are both theoretical and lab topics for this subject. The topics included are as follows:

• Biomolecules
• Enzymes
• Bioenergetics
• Metabolism

Parasitology

This subject focuses on studying the biology of insects (specifical parasites) and insect theory. It is a theoretical as well as a practical subject.

Reproductive Biology

This subject focuses on the study of the biology of reproduction in living organisms.

Animal and Animal Cell Biotechnology

This subject focuses on studying the biology of animals and the biotechnology that can be derived from them.

Entomology

This subject focuses on the study of insects and their behaviours. It is a specialisation-type course.

Fisheries and Aquaculture

This subject focuses on studying aquatic animals (specifical fishes) and their behaviours.

Entomology and Parasitology

Applied Zoology, Parasitology, and Entomology

Entomology is a specialisation subject focusing on the study of insects, their behaviours, anatomy and cultivation.

Parasitology specialises in the study of parasites.

Evolution Biology

Evolutionary Biology and Ecology

This subject offers specialisation on the study of evolution among living organisms, the influence of ecosystem and habitat on evolution, and the biology behind the evolution of species and organisms.

Marine Biology

Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Ichthyology

This subject offers specialisation on aquaculture, fisheries, Ichthyology, marine life and ecosystem, and marine life organisms. This specialisation is included in the M.Sc. degree for Zoology.

Ecology

Concept of Ecosystem, Community, and Ecological succession.

This is a core subject for B.SC. in Zoology, included in both general B.SC. course and B.Sc. Honours course focusing on studying the ecology of living organisms. One can pursue an M.Sc. degree for specialisation.

Non – Chordates (Protista to Pseudocoelomate)

Invertebrate Zoology

Ruppert and Barnes, R.D.

Ecology

Fundamentals of Ecology

Eugene P. Odum

Animal Physiology: Controlling and Coordinating Systems

Textbook of Medical Physiology

Guyton, A.C. & Hall, J.E.

Genetics

Genetics

Monroe W. Strickberger

Evolution

Evolution

Monroe W. Strickberger

Biochemistry

Principles of biochemistry

Lehninger

Biosystematics and Taxonomy

The Biology of Biodiversity

M. Kato

Kashmir University

Kota University - UOK

Shivaji University

Maulana Azad College

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University

Uttarakhand Open University

Kalinga University

Alagappa University

Tamil Nadu Open University