Biology – The Entrance Exam Topics
Principles of biology
» Basic attributes of living systems
» Biological disciplines, biotechnology, biomedicine, main branches of medicine
» Biological terminology
» Key discoveries in biology and medicine
» Chemical elements and molecules of living systems
» Basic metabolic pathways
Cell biology
» Structure and organization of cells (prokaryotic, eukaryotic, plant, animal)
» Origin, structure, and function of mitochondria
» Origin, structure, and function of chloroplasts, photosynthesis
» Structure and function of ribosomes
» Nucleus and chromatin, human karyotype
» Cell cycle, mitosis, their regulation and errors
» Meiosis, crossing over, oogenesis and spermatogenesis, gametes, fertilization
Virology, bacteriology, protistology, zoology, botany, and mycology
» Classification, basic characteristics, structure and reproduction of viruses
» Retroviruses and reverse transcription
» Viral diseases
» Viroids, prions and associated diseases
» Eubacteria and Archea, their reproduction and importance
» Bacterial infections and their therapy
» Protists, their taxonomy and classification
» Parasitic protists and associated diseases
» Taxonomy and evolution of animals
» Classification, reproduction, ontogenesis and body structure of invertebrates
» Parasitic invertebrates (helmints, arthropods), their life cycle and associated diseases
» Classification, reproduction, ontogenesis and body structure of chordates
» Taxonomy, evolution and reproduction of plants and fungi
» Medically important fungi (parasitic, producing antibiotics or toxic compounds)
Evolution
» Evolutionary theories, Darwin’s concept of evolution, neodarwinism, selfish gene theory
» Evolutionary factors: variability, mutation, selection, genetic drift, gene flow
» Origin of life, prebiotic evolution, evolution of cellular organisms, fossils
» Evolution of Homo sapiens, its ancestors and related species
Ecology
» Biotic and abiotic factors, population, community, ecosystem, biome, species diversity
» Food web, food chain, producers, consumers, decomposers
» Interspecific and intraspecific relationships
» Toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic factors of the human environment, genotoxicity testing
» Global environmental issues and environmental protection
Molecular genetics
» Central dogma of molecular biology
» Structure and function of nucleic acids and proteins
» DNA replication, transcription, translation and genetic code
» Genome, chromosome, and gene structure
» Regulation of gene expression
» Mutations and their consequences
» Basic molecular genetic methods
Genetics
» Genotype and phenotype
» Mendel laws and Mendelian and non-Mendelian modes of inheritance
» Gene linkage and gene interactions
» Population genetics and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
» Clinical genetics, genetic counselling and prevention of genetic disorders, prenatal examination
» Medically important autosomal recessive, dominant, sex-linked and multifactorial traits
» Medically important chromosomal abnormalities
» Germline and somatic genetic defects in cancer
Basic human biology
» Basic anatomy and physiology of the human body, tissues and organ systems
» Skeleton, structure and development of bones, disorders of the musculoskeletal system
» Most important muscles and the mechanism of muscular contraction
» Basic components and function of blood, blood groups and transfusion
» Heart and circulatory system, blood vessels, blood pressure, heart rate, cardiovascular diseases
» Immunity, lymphatic system, antibodies, vaccination and transplantation, disorders of the immune system
» Respiration, respiratory system and its disorders
» Digestive system and basic nutrients, vitamins, their sources and importance, eating disorders, obesity
» Excretion, urinary system, production and composition of urine, diseases of the urinary system
» Skin, its structure and importance, skin diseases
» Central and peripheral nervous system, its anatomy and function, sensory organs and receptors
» Disorders and injuries of the nervous system, stress, psychiatric diseases, addiction
» Exocrine and endocrine glands, endocrine system and its disorders, hormones
» Reproductive system and human reproduction, embryogenesis, organogenesis, prenatal care, inborn defects
» Disorders of human reproduction, assisted reproduction, sexually transmitted diseases
» Cancer, its origin, carcinogens, cancer prevention