UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE EXAMINATION
BIOLOGY SYLLABUS
1 Biology. Living things distinguished from non-living things by functions. Animals and plants
compared; holozoic and holophytic nutrition, the fundamental difference.
2 Cellular structure. Structures of typical animal and plant cells.
physical nature. Tissues, organs and systems.
Protoplasm; its chemical and
Students will be expected to have handled and cared for the microscope and to have used it to examine
simple preparations of plant and animal cells such as: onion epidermis, potato pith, staminal hairs (e.g.
Zebrina), cheek cells, blood and chromosomes in onion root tip or anthers of Lilium or Aloe.
3 The variety of organisms. A general study of the following organisms but with special reference to
the points indicated after each, with dissection where appropriate, and observation of living specimens
where possible.
The object of this section is to introduce the student to other important types of living organizations in
the world and their relationships to each other. The various aspects of the interrelations of these
organisms are considered in subsequent sections of the syllabus.
(a)
Viruses. Characteristics and mode of reproduction; viruses as causative agents of diseases.
Bacteria. Characteristics and modes of nutrition
(b)
Free-living protozoan (e.g. Amoeba, Paramecium, Euglena): protoplasm, nutrition, irritability,
movement, action of contractile vacuole, life-history.
Practical work to include the study of living specimens, e.g. Paramecium.
(c)
Spirogyra.
conjugation.
The green plant cell contrasted with the animal cell; reproduction including
Spirogyra. Microscopical examination.
(d)
Mould fungi: Structure, nutrition, reproduction (asexual and sexual) of a saprophytic and a
parasitic fungus; economic importance.
Yeasts: Structure, nutrition, respiration (including fermentation), reproduction, economic importance.
Fungi: To include the culturing of yeast and mould fungus such as Rhizopus.
Introduction to holophyatic, saprophytic and parasitic modes of nutrition.
(e)
Hydra.
Behaviour.
Differentiation and specialization of cells, reproduction (asexual and sexual).
Hydra. Including the study of living specimens and prepared slides.
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(f)
Parasitic animals, e.g. Ascaris and Taenia: life-cycle and parasitic habit.
Earthworm: External feature, mode of life, nutrition, relation to agriculture.
(g)
An insect, e.g. grasshopper or cockroach. Internal structure: feeding, without details of
individual mouth-parts: ecdysis, types of metamorphosis. External features, respiration, life-history.
(h)
A fish. External features and gills only.
(i)
Frog.
External features, respiration, transition from aquatic to terrestrial life, life-history
omitting embryological details.
(j)
A bird. External features, adaptations for flight.
(k)
A small mammal, e.g. rabbit or rat. Its distinctive features.
(l)
Sargassum.
reproduction.
A brown alga as example of an aquatic, non-flowering plant. Morphology and
Practical work to involve macroscopic and microscopic examinations of plant.
(m)
Moss or liverwort. As an example of a terrestrial, non-flowering green plant with a dominant
gametophyte (haploid) and dependent sporophyte (diploid) generations.
Practical work to involve macroscopic examinations of both generations.
(n)
Fern.
generation.
Another example of a non-flowering green plant but with a dominant sporophyte
Practical work to involve macroscopic and microscopic examinations of Asplenium nidus, both
generations.
(o)
A flowering plant. External morphology of a dicotyledon.
fruit. Methods of a seed dispersal. Germination,
The flower, pollination, seed and
Flowering plant. External features of a suitable plant; sections of stem, root, leaf, flower. Examination
of fruit and seed.
Germination: experiments showing conditions necessary for and stages in
germination.
(p)
Herbs, shrubs and trees: seasonal growth, leaf fall.
dicotyledonous trees.
Characteristic features of a two
Schools will be required to state the identity of the species selected.
4 Nutrition in green plant. (a) elements necessary to plants; (b) the soil; (c) intake of water and of
salts and their movement through the plant; (d) photosynthesis – the role of chlorophyll and associated
pigments, the role of light in the fixation of CO2 and the elaboration of carbohydrates, fats and proteins;
(e) food storage.
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Practical work to include:
(i)
Soil.
cultures.
Demonstration of simple properties of soils: humus, water and air contents.
Water
(ii)
Experiments and demonstrations concerning (a) osmosis; (b) root pressure; (c) various aspects
of transpiration; (d) factors necessary for photosynthesis; (e) products of photosynthesis.
(iii)
Food storage in plants illustrated by such plants as potato tuber, gladiolus corn, onion bulb,
artichoke root tuber, maize grain, sun-flower fruit, pea seed, orange, rhubarb petiole.
(iv)
Simple food tests.
5 Nutrition in mammal. (a) The digestive system: dentition and its relation to diet; glands and their
secretion; enzymes, hydro-lysis; (b) digestion, absorption and assimilation. Balanced diet. Calorific
values.
Practical work include dissection of the alimentary canal and associated organs. A simple knowledge
of the characteristics of enzymes is expected. These should be investigated experimentally in the case
of one enzyme with regard to temperature and to acidity (pH) of the medium.
6 General principles of nutrition. The carbon and nitrogen cycles.
7 Other modes of nutrition. Parasites and saprophytes.
8 Respiration.
Energy production by oxidation.
Respiratory mechanisms in insects, fish and
mammals. Respiration in plants. Anaerobic respiration in yeasts. Heat losses by radiation, conduction
and through evaporation. Mammalian skin and maintenance of temperature.
Respiration. Practical work to include: (a) intake of oxygen by animals and plants; (b) output of carbon
dioxide by animals and plants; anaerobic fermentation by yeasts; (c) production of heat by germinating
seeds; (d) demonstration of presence of air-spaces in leaves; (e) bell-jar and diaphragm demonstration
of breathing in a mammal; (f) dissection of respiratory system; (g) examination of prepared slides of
lung tissue and mammalian skin.
9 Transportation in the mammal and flowering plant.
(a)
Mammal. The blood, its composition and functions. Blood circulation in mammal.
Circulation of blood. Practical work to include: (a) the microscopical examination of blood; (b) study
of models and/or fresh specimens of hearts; (c) examination of sections of arteries and veins; (d)
demonstration of capillaries and circulation of blood, e.g. in the frog’s foot; (e) dissection of circulatory
system.
(b)
Flowering plant.
paragraph 4).
Transport of water, salts, foods, gases and growth substances.
10 Elimination of nitrogenous waste materials. Production of urea in mammalian liver.
simplified account of the action of the uriniferous tubules.
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(See also
Kidney,
The kidneys should be regarded as being composed of a system of tubes supplied by blood vessels and
leading to ureters. No details of the tubules or of the blood vessels will be expected. Practical work to
include the general dissection of the organs concerned.
11 Reproduction, growth and development.
(a)
Asexual reproduction. Examples of fission, e.g. protozoan; bacteria; spore formation, e.g. a
mould fungus; budding, e.g. yeast and Hydra; vegetative reproduction in flowering plants.
Meiosis. The main stages of meiosis.
(b)
Sexual reproduction.
and flowering plants.
Formation of gametes and fertilization in mammals and in non-flowering
Practical work to include dissection of reproductive organs of a mammal. Study sex organs in moss (or
liverwort) and ferns of non-flowering green plants and anther and ovule of flowering plants as seen
under the microscope.
(c)
Growth. Growth regarded as increase in size and complexity.
differentiation. Conditions necessary for growth.
Cell formation, growth and
The mammalian foetus.
The placenta to be considered solely as an organ for the interchange of food and exceretory products; a
knowledge of foetal membranes is not required.
Seed formation. Development and growth of a seed.
resulting in growth in length and in thickness.
Activity of apical meristems and of cambia,
A young and old stem of a dicotyledon plant to be examined under the microscope.
An outline of Mendelian inheritance, with simple examples from animals and plants.
The emphasis should be on the fact of Mendelian inheritance and not on the mechanism by which it is
brought about.
12 Irritability and movement in mammal and flowering plants. Stimulus and response.
Mammal. Thenervous system; central (omitting details of brain structure), peripheral and autonomic
systems, nerve cells and synapses. Reflex actin, conditioned reflex, voluntary action. Senses organs:
ear (including organs of balance), eye. Mechanism of limb movement.
Flowering plant. Tropisms: movement involving cell growth or changes of turgidity, part played by
growth substances (auxins).
Practical work include:
(a)
Examination of models of brain and prepared slides of transverse section of spinal cord.
(b)
Demonstration of a simple reaction in an animal, e.g. responses of fly larvae to light stimulus.
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(c)
Examination of models of eye and ear and dissection of an ox eye.
(d)
Reference should be made to the skeleton and its functions (omitting details of the skull),
including the way in which muscles work on bones.
(e)
stems.
Simple experiments to show geotropic response of primary roots and shoots; phototropism of
(f)
Simple experiments to show the region of tropic perception and response in plants.
13 Ecology. A beginning may be made here of the study of the representative plants and animals in
not more than two different kinds of habitat. Interdependence of these organisms and adaptation to
their environment with particular reference to nutrition, respiration, locomotion, reproduction and lifehistories.
Ecological relationships are of great importance and should be kept in mind throughout.
Reading List
New Biology for Tropical Schools
by R. H. Stone & A. B. Cozens
Comprehensive Biology
by Lam Peng Kwan & A. Johnson (Federal Publications)
Comprehensive Human and Social Biology
by W. O. Phoon, P. K. Chew & E. H. Goh (Federal Publications)
Biology of Animals (2nd ed.)
by C. P. Hickman, C. P. Hickman, Jr. & F. M. Hickman
(The C. V. Mosby Company)
Practical Biology for ‘A’ Level
by Yeo Chee Kai & Lim Peng Ann (Federal Publications, Singapore, 1979)
Malayan Botany
by A. Johnson (Eastern Universities Press)
The Diversity of Green Plants
(series of contemporary Biology)
by Peter Bell & Christopher Woodcock (Edward Arnold Limited)
Biological Science Vol 1 & 2
by N. P. O. Green, G. W. Stout & D. J. Taylor (Cambridge University Press)
Biology – A Functional Approach
by M. B. V. Roberts (ELBS & Nelson)
An Atlas of Histology
by W. A. Freeman & B. Bracegirdle (ELBS & Heinemann)
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Plant and Animal Biology
by A. E. Vines & N. Rees (Pitman)
Advanced Biology
J. Simpkins & J. I. Williams (Bell & Hyman)
Understanding Biology for Advanced Level
by G. Toole & S. Toole (Hutchinson)
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