ISC Class 11 Biotechnology Syllabus 2025-2026: Download PDFs Here!

Overview

Details

Subject:

Biotechnology

Subject Code: 

878

Theory Marks:

70

Project Marks: 

15

Exam Duration:

3 Hours

1. Introduction to Biotechnology 

(i) Historical background; definition; a brief introduction of the traditional and modern techniques of Biotechnology and their applications.

(ii) Scope and importance of biotechnology: different branches of biotechnology and different regulatory guidelines; ethical, legal and social issues (ELSI) that a biotechnologist comes across while doing the work. Various organisations in the field of biotechnology.

(iii) Basic concepts of Biochemical technology and biostatistics: What does biochemical technology mean? An understanding of various statistical methods involved in biotechnology.

2. Cell Biology 

(i) Cell: Justification of the cell as a basic unit of life. Prokaryotic cell and eukaryotic cell; A brief note on the cell components with special reference to nucleus. Various cytological techniques used in identifying the cell and chromosomes.

(ii) Cell Division and cell cycle: types of cell divisions and various other activities of cells such as biochemical transformations.

(iii) Errors in cell division: what happens if the cell does not divide normally? An understanding of different numerical and structural abnormalities.

3. Biomolecules and related techniques 

(i) Introduction to biomolecules- definition and types. Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins and enzymes – their structure and properties. 

• Biomolecules – definition and types 
• Structure and functions of carbohydrates.

(ii) Techniques used for separation of biomolecules Ion exchange chromatography and paper chromatography.

4. Developmental Biology and Immunology 

(i) Animal and plant development: development of an organism from zygotic cells in both plants and animals. 

• Animal development – fertilisation, zygote to blastocyst formation. 
• Plant development. Double fertilisation including formation of primary endosperm nucleus. 

(ii) An understanding of defence strategies in living organisms.

5. Genetics 

(i) Laws of Inheritance: An account of Mendel’s experiments. Different types of genetic inheritance. 

• Mendel’s experiment on pea plants and his laws of inheritance. 
• Concept of trait, gene, allele, phenotype, genotype, homozygosity, heterozygosity and hemizygosity. Types of inheritance: autosomal inheritance - dominant, codominant, recessive, polygenic, pleiotropic and cytoplasmic inheritance (plastidial inheritance).

(ii) Gene Mapping: mapping of genes on chromosomes using linkage analysis. 

• Cancer and its genetics. 
• Mapping of genes on chromosomes with respect to COV (Crossing Over Value).

(iii) Genes in populations: how do genes behave in populations from generation to generation? Various ways of studying population genetics.

1. Theory Paper

70 marks

2. Practical Work

15 marks

1. Determination of blood group by using antisera. The students can perform this experiment on their own blood groups. Proper instructions however are to be given for ‘prick’ – e.g. 

(a) Sterilize fingers with alcohol/disinfectant. 

(b) Use only disposable sterile needles. 

(c) Use the needle only once and destroy it. 

(d) Do not prick or use blood drop in an indiscriminatory way

2. Identification of different types of blood cells by preparing blood smear using Leishmann’s stain. Requirements: Blood sample, disposable needles, slides, Leishmann’s stain. Make a blood smear on a slide, use the stain to colour the smear, wash and observe under microscope

3. Instruments – their names, use and principles (if applicable). Water bath, pH meter, weighing balance, desiccators, microfiltration unit, magnetic stirrer, LAF, haemocytometer, micropipette, vortex mixer, colorimeter/spectrophotometer, hot air oven, autoclave, incubator, electrophoresis chamber, colony counter, autoclave, hot plate.

4. Finding out the pH of water by using a pH meter or pH paper on tap water and water containing acid, base. 

5. Observation of steps of mitosis by using the root tip of onion.

6. Measurement of mitotic index. Mitotic index is the ratio of the number of cells undergoing mitosis to the number of cells in the field.

7. Observation of various stages of meiosis under microscope.

8. Effect of temperature on curdling of milk by using Lactobacillus bacteria at 37o C, 60o C and 10o C.

9. Food tests: 

(i) Carbohydrates – starch by iodine solution turning blue - black in colour.

(ii) Protein test – Biuret test, Xanthoproteic and Millon’s test

(iii)Lipids – Sudan III, Acrolein test, paper test 

10. Finding out the purity of milk by using a lactometer.

11. Construction of pedigree showing different types of inheritance.

12. Preparation of karyotypes. Demonstration of any metaphasic plate of mitosis.

13. Sampling methods – quadrat and transect by using different techniques.

14. Data collection – primary and secondary. Collect any type of primary data and secondary data, tabulate the data and draw conclusions.

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