Biology: Physiology, Genetics, Molecular Biology and Ecology
Biology in BVP CET spans cell structure and division, biomolecules and enzymes, plant physiology (photosynthesis, respiration, transport), human physiology (digestion, circulation, respiration, excretion, neural and endocrine control), reproduction and development, genetics and molecular biology, biotechnology, evolution and ecology. Questions reward candidates who can link structure to function and follow a process from cause to result.
Core frameworks
Photosynthesis: the light reactions on thylakoid membranes split water, release O₂ and generate ATP and NADPH; the Calvin cycle in the stroma fixes CO₂ via RuBisCO. Respiration: glycolysis in the cytoplasm (net 2 ATP, 2 NADH), Krebs cycle in the mitochondrial matrix, oxidative phosphorylation on the inner membrane.
Worked example
In a population at Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, 16% of individuals show a recessive trait. Find the carrier frequency. q² = 0.16 → q = 0.4; p = 1 − q = 0.6. Carrier frequency = 2pq = 2(0.6)(0.4) = 0.48, i.e. 48%. The reasoning is the mark-earner: the 16% are homozygous recessives, not the allele frequency. Reading 0.16 directly as q is the standard error.
Genetics bookkeeping
Monohybrid F₂ gives 3:1; dihybrid F₂ gives 9:3:3:1. A test cross reproduces gamete ratios. At anaphase, count chromatids moving to poles, not chromosomes.
Traps
- Confusing mitosis (two identical diploid cells) with meiosis II (sister chromatids separate, haploid products).
- Mixing up the light reaction site (thylakoid) and the Calvin cycle site (stroma).
- Reversing insulin (lowers blood glucose) and glucagon (raises it).
- Treating dominance as meaning "the common allele"-dominance says nothing about frequency.
- Swapping restriction endonuclease (cuts) with DNA ligase (joins).