ICSE (Class XII)
Syllabus (2013)
Subject: Biotechnology
There will be two papers in the subject
Paper I: Theory: 3 hours ... 70 marks
Paper II: Practical: 3 hours ... 20 marks
Project Work … 7 marks
Practical File … 3 marks
PAPER I –THEORY- 70 Marks
There will be one paper of three hours duration divided into two parts.
Part 1 (20 marks) will consist of compulsory short answer questions, testing
knowledge, application and skills relating to elementary/fundamental aspects of
the entire syllabus.
Part 2 (50 marks) will consist of eight questions out of which the candidates
will be required to answer five questions. Each question in this part shall
carry 10 marks.
1. Molecular Biology
(a) Biomolecules: introduction to biomolecules- definition and types.
Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins and enzymes – their structure and
properties.
Structure and functions of carbohydrates.
Sugars and derivatives – some important mono, di and polysaccharides. Glycogen,
cellulose, chitin and peptidoglycon. Chemical properties of sugars.
Structure and functions of proteins – building blocks of proteins, the amino
acids. Chemical structure, types and chemical properties of amino acids.
Different methods employed in determining the amino acid sequence in proteins -
3D - structure of proteins. Different types of proteins - primary, secondary,
tertiary quarternary. Vitamins and co-enzymes.
Structure and functions of enzymes: chemical nature of enzymes and the
properties of enzymes. An understanding of enzyme activity.
Structure and functions of lipids – building blocks of lipids, their structures,
types and chemical properties.
Optical activity / steriochemistry of biomolecules.
Concept of supramolecular assembly.
(b) Nucleic acids: an understanding of nucleic acids, their importance in
biotechnological work, biochemical structure and capacity to replicate.
DNA - definition, double helical model of DNA, (Watson and Crick’s),
Chargaff’s Law method of replication of DNA, various replicative enzymes in both
procaryotic and eucaryotic organisms, example topoisomerases, helicase, SSBs
polymerases, primases, ligases. Concept of semi conservative and
semi-discontinuous replication, leading and lagging strands, okazaki fragments.
RNA – definition, various types of RNAs such as mRNA, tRNA (Clover leaf model),
their structure and functions.
(c) Protein Synthesis: synthesis of different RNAs, and the complete
mechanism of polypeptide chain formation. Different metabolic diseases which
occur due to a change in the DNA structure.
From gene to protein: Transcription - DNA to RNA, various enzymes involved eg
RNA polymerases, an explanation of the complete process; post transcriptional
changes- polyadenylation, 5’ capping and splicing .
Genetic code – properties of genetic code, Start and Stop codons. The
translation of RNA to protein – complete mechanism of chain initiation,
elongation and termination, the role of tRNA in protein synthesis. (Post
translational changes not included)
Concept of central dogma, an overview of transcription factors and mechanism.
Concept of Reverse transcription. An understanding of one gene one enzyme
hypothesis. Fine structure of gene - exon, intron.
Gene regulation – Operon concept.
Inborn errors of metabolism - basic concept and examples like Albinism, sickle
cell anaemia. Phenyl ketonuria, alkaptonuria.
