The Central Board of Secondary Education has provided subject-wise syllabus for students of class 12th of 2023-24 academic session. Check CBSE class 12th biology syllabus here. With the description of the course content, the students can also see the design and evaluation details of the question paper. The PDF to download the syllabus 2024 is also attached in this article.
CBSE Class 12th Biology Syllabus 2024 Highlights
CBSE Class 12th Biology detailed Syllabus 2024
Unit-VI Reproduction
Chapter-2: Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
Flower structure; development of male and female gametophytes; pollination – types, agencies and examples; out breeding devices; pollen-pistil interaction; double fertilization; post fertilization events – development of endosperm and embryo, development of seed and formation of fruit; special modes- apomixis, parthenocarpy, polyembryony; Significance of seed dispersal and fruit formation.
Chapter-3: Human Reproduction
Male and female reproductive systems; microscopic anatomy of testis and ovary; gametogenesis-spermatogenesis and oogenesis; menstrual cycle; fertilisation, embryo development upto blastocyst formation, implantation; pregnancy and placenta formation (elementary idea); parturition (elementary idea); lactation (elementary idea).
Chapter-4: Reproductive Health
Need for reproductive health and prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs); birth control – need and methods, contraception and medical termination of pregnancy (MTP); amniocentesis; infertility and assisted reproductive technologies – IVF, ZIFT, GIFT (elementary idea for general awareness).
Unit-VII Genetics and Evolution
Chapter-5: Principles of Inheritance and Variation
Heredity and variation: Mendelian inheritance; deviations from Mendelism – incomplete dominance, co-dominance, multiple alleles and inheritance of blood groups, pleiotropy; elementary idea of polygenic inheritance; chromosome theory of inheritance; chromosomes and genes; Sex determination – in humans, birds and honey bee; linkage and crossing over; sex linked inheritance – haemophilia, colour blindness; Mendelian disorders in humans – thalassemia; chromosomal disorders in humans; Down’s syndrome, Turner’s and Klinefelter’s syndromes.
Chapter-6: Molecular Basis of Inheritance
Search for genetic material and DNA as genetic material; Structure of DNA and RNA; DNA packaging; DNA replication; Central Dogma; transcription, genetic code, translation; gene expression and regulation – lac operon; Genome, Human and rice genome projects; DNA fingerprinting.
Chapter-7: Evolution
Origin of life; biological evolution and evidences for biological evolution (paleontology, comparative anatomy, embryology and molecular evidences); Darwin’s contribution, modern synthetic theory of evolution; mechanism of evolution – variation (mutation and recombination) and natural selection with examples, types of natural selection; Gene flow and genetic drift; Hardy – Weinberg’s principle; adaptive radiation; human evolution.
Unit-VIII Biology and Human Welfare
Chapter-8: Human Health and Diseases
Pathogens; parasites causing human diseases (malaria, dengue, chikungunya, filariasis, ascariasis, typhoid, pneumonia, common cold, amoebiasis, ringworm) and their control; Basic concepts of immunology – vaccines; cancer, HIV and AIDS; Adolescence – drug and alcohol abuse.
Chapter-10: Microbes in Human Welfare
Microbes in food processing, industrial production, sewage treatment, energy generation and microbes as biocontrol agents and bio-fertilizers. Antibiotics; production and judicious use.
Unit-IX Biotechnology and its Applications
Chapter-11: Biotechnology – Principles and Processes
Genetic Engineering (Recombinant DNA Technology).
Chapter-12: Biotechnology and its Applications
Application of biotechnology in health and agriculture: Human insulin and vaccine production, stem cell technology, gene therapy; genetically modified organisms – Bt crops; transgenic animals; biosafety issues, biopiracy and patents.
Unit-X Ecology and Environment
Chapter-13: Organisms and Populations
Population interactions – mutualism, competition, predation, parasitism; population attributes – growth, birth rate and death rate, age distribution. (Topics excluded: Organism and its Environment, Major Abiotic Factors, Responses to Abiotic Factors, Adaptations)
Chapter-14: Ecosystem
Ecosystems: Patterns, components; productivity and decomposition; energy flow; pyramids of number, biomass, energy (Topics excluded: Ecological Succession and Nutrient Cycles).
Chapter-15: Biodiversity and its Conservation
Biodiversity-Concept, patterns, importance; loss of biodiversity; biodiversity conservation; hotspots, endangered organisms, extinction, Red Data Book, Sacred Groves, biosphere reserves, national parks, wildlife, sanctuaries and Ramsar sites.
Prescribed Books
- Biology, Class-XII, Published by NCERT
- Other related books and manuals brought out by NCERT (consider multimedia also)
- Biology Supplementary Material (Revised). Available on CBSE website.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ’s)
- What are the major topics covered in CBSE Class 12th Biology in 2023-24?
CBSE Class 12th Biology syllabus includes diverse topics such as Reproduction, Genetics and Evolution, Biology and Human Welfare, Biotechnology and its Applications, Ecology and Environment, and Cell: Structure and Functions, and more. - What is the marking scheme for CBSE Class 12th Biology in 2023-24?
The total marks for CBSE Class 12th Biology are 70. The theory paper consists of 56 marks, and the practical exam is for 30 marks. The remaining four marks are allotted for internal assessment. - What are the types of questions asked in the CBSE Class 12th Biology exam?
The CBSE Class 12th Biology exam includes a mix of short and long answer questions, as well as objective type questions. - How can I prepare for the CBSE Class 12th Biology exam 2024?
To prepare for the CBSE Class 12th Biology exam, you should first study the syllabus thoroughly. You can also refer to NCERT textbooks, previous year papers, and sample papers to get an idea of the exam pattern. Practice writing answers to different types of questions, and take mock tests to assess your preparation. - How important are diagrams and illustrations in CBSE Class 12th Biology?
Diagrams and illustrations are very important in CBSE Class 12th Biology as they help to understand the concepts better and make answers more effective. You should practice drawing diagrams and labeling them properly. - Is it necessary to memorize all the scientific names and terminologies in CBSE Class 12th Biology?
It is important to have a basic understanding of scientific names and terminologies in CBSE Class 12th Biology, but you do not need to memorize all of them. Focus on understanding the concepts and their applications. - What are the career options after studying CBSE Class 12th Biology?
There are many career options after studying CBSE Class 12th Biology such as medical field, biotechnology, environmental science, genetics, zoology, microbiology, and more. You can also opt for further studies and pursue a career in research or teaching.
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