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The CUET Biology / Biological Science / Biotechnology / Biochemistry syllabus 2026 is designed to evaluate a student’s understanding of fundamental biological concepts, life processes, and modern biological applications. This subject group is essential for students seeking admission to undergraduate programmes such as B.Sc. Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Life Sciences, Microbiology, and related courses through CUET UG.
The syllabus is largely aligned with the Class 12 Biology curriculum, focusing on both theoretical knowledge and conceptual application.
Pre-fertilisation: structure and events – stamen, microsporangium and pollen grain, pistil, megasporangium and embryo sac; Development of male (microsporogenesis) and female gametophyte (megasporogenesis); Pollination – types, agents and examples; Out breeding devices; Pollen-pistil interaction; Double fertilisation; Post fertilisation: structure and events – development of endosperm and embryo; Formation of seed and fruit and parthenocarpy; Significance of seed in angiosperms; Apomixis and polyembryony.
Male and female reproductive system; Microscopic anatomy of testis and ovary; Gametogenesis – spermatogenesis and oogenesis; Menstrual cycle; Fertilisation, embryo development up to blastocyst formation, implantation; Pregnancy and embryonic development and placenta; Parturition and lactation.
Problems and strategies – amniocentesis; Population stabilisation and birth control – various methods of contraception; Medical termination of pregnancy (MTP); Sexually transmitted infections (STIs); Infertility – Assisted reproductive technologies (IVF, ZIFT, GIFT, ICSI and IUI).
Mendel’s law of inheritance: Inheritance of one gene – Law of dominance, law of segregation (test and back cross); Deviation from Mendelism – incomplete dominance and co-dominance; Multiple alleles and inheritance of blood groups; Inheritance of two genes – law of independent assortment, dihybrid cross; Chromosomal theory of inheritance; Linkage and recombination; Polygenic inheritance; Pleiotropy; Sex determination in humans, birds and honey bee; Mutation; Genetic disorders – pedigree analysis, Mendelian disorders (colour blindness, haemophilia, sickle-cell anaemia, phenylketonuria and thalassemia), chromosomal disorders in humans (aneuploidy, polyploidy, Down's syndrome, Turner's syndrome and Klinefelter's syndrome).
Structure and packaging of DNA helix; Search for genetic material (transforming principle and Hershey-Chase experiment); Properties of genetic material; Replication (Meselson and Stahl’s experiment); Transcription – transcription unit and gene; RNA world – types of RNA and process of transcription; Genetic code and mutations; tRNA; Translation; Regulation of gene expression – Lac operon; Human Genome Project (goals, salient features and applications); DNA fingerprinting (polymorphism and VNTR).
Origin of life – Miller’s experiment; Concepts of evolution (Darwin's contribution); Evidences for evolution (embryology, paleontology, comparative anatomy, divergent and convergent evolution and industrial evolution); Adaptive radiation; Biological evolution; Natural selection; Mechanism of evolution; Hardy-Weinberg principle and affecting factors (gene migration, genetic drift, mutation, recombination and natural selection); Evolution of plants and vertebrates through geological periods; Origin and evolution of man.
Introduction about health; Common diseases in humans (typhoid, pneumonia, common cold, malaria, amoebiasis, ascariasis, filariasis and ringworms); Immunity – innate and acquired immunity, active and passive immunity, vaccination and immunisation, allergies, auto-immunity and immune system in human; AIDS; Cancer; Drugs and alcohol abuse - adolescence, addiction, effects of drug abuse, prevention and control.
Microbes in household products; Microbes in industrial products – beverages, antibiotics, enzymes and bioactive molecules; Microbes in sewage treatment and production of biogas, Microbes as biocontrol agents and biofertilisers.
Principles of biotechnology; Tools of recombinant DNA technology – restriction enzymes, cloning vectors, competent host; Processes of rDNA technology – isolation, amplification of gene (PCR), insertion of rDNA in host and bioreactors; Downstream processing.
Application of biotechnology in agriculture – tissue culture, genetically modified organisms, Bt cotton, RNA interference; Biotechnology in medicine – insulin, gene therapy and molecular diagnosis; Transgenic animals; Ethical issues – biopiracy and patents.
Population attributes – birth and death rate, age pyramids; Population growth – exponential and logistic growth; Life history variation; Population interactions – predation, competition, parasitism, commensalism, mutualism and amensalism.
Structure and function; Productivity; Decomposition; Energy flow – different trophic levels, food chain and food web; Ecological pyramids – pyramid of energy, biomass and number.
Biodiversity – concept, patterns and importance; Causes of biodiversity loss; Biodiversity conservation – approaches (narrowly utilitarian, broadly utilitarian and ethical); Methods of biodiversity conservation – in situ (endemism, hotspots and sacred groves etc.), ex situ (Wildlife safaris, zoological parks and cryopreservation etc.).
Below is an overview of the CUET UG Biology examination:
The paper tests a student’s conceptual clarity, understanding of biological processes, and application-based thinking.
Follow these preparation tips to score well in CUET Biology:
NCERT books should be the foundation of your preparation, supported by limited practice material.
Students should prioritise the following important areas:
These topics are frequently asked and carry high conceptual importance.
The CUET Biology / Biological Science / Biotechnology / Biochemistry syllabus 2026 is comprehensive and concept-driven. With a strong focus on NCERT textbooks, clear understanding of biological processes, and consistent MCQ practice, students can perform well in this subject.
Biology is a high-scoring subject for students who maintain regular revision and concept clarity.
