UPPSC Zoology Assistant Professor Syllabus, Eligibility – GDC Examination 2025

September 17, 2025

The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) conducts the Assistant Professor Recruitment Examination for Government Degree Colleges (GDC) to fill vacancies in various subjects, including Zoology. Candidates preparing for this exam must go through the detailed Zoology syllabus, which covers Non-Chordates, Chordates, Ecology, Developmental Biology, Cell Physiology, Cytogenetics, Physiology, Endocrinology, Toxicology, Immunology, and Modern Techniques in Molecular Biology.

UPPSC Zoology Assistant Professor Syllabus 2025:

Unit 1: Non-Chordates

  • Principles of Animal Taxonomy, Classification of Non-Chordates

  • Locomotory Organs & Types of Locomotion

  • Nutrition and Reproduction in Non-Chordates

  • Protozoa and Important Diseases

  • Canal System in Sponges

  • Polymorphism in Coelenterata, Coral Reefs & Environmental Significance

  • Parasitic Adaptation in Helminthes

  • Metamerism in Annelids

  • Affinities of Hemichordata

  • Respiratory Organs, Pigments & Mechanism of Respiration

  • Excretory Organs and Mechanism of Excretion

  • Evolution of Nervous System in Non-Chordates

  • General Organization of Rotifers

  • Larval Forms of Free-Living Invertebrates & Evolutionary Significance

Unit 2: Chordates

  • Origin & Evolution of Chordates

  • Classification, Characteristics, Adaptive Features of Chordates

  • Comparative Study of Organ Systems (Amniotes & Anamniotes):

    • Integumentary, Skeletal, Digestive, Respiratory, Circulatory, Urinogenital, Nervous & Sense Organs

  • Gametogenesis: Spermatogenesis, Oogenesis

  • Fertilization & Biochemistry of Fertilization

  • Types of Eggs, Egg Envelopes & Cleavage

  • Foetal Membranes (Chick), Placenta Development in Mammals

Unit 3: Ecology, Animal Behaviour and Evolution

  • Principles & Concepts of Energy Flow in Ecosystems

  • Ecological Pyramids, Food Chain & Food Web

  • Community Organization, Predation, Mutualism, Commensalism

  • Terrestrial, Marine & Freshwater Ecology, Ecosystem Services

  • Air & Water Pollution: Causes and Control

  • Global Warming, Greenhouse Effect, Biodiversity Conservation

  • Major Hotspots in India, Kyoto Protocol, National Parks, Sanctuaries

  • Red Data Book & Endangered Species

  • Animal Behaviour: Parental Care, Types of Memory, Circadian Rhythm

  • Innate Behaviour, Learning, Social Communication

  • Population Dynamics, Species Concepts, Hardy-Weinberg Law

  • Natural Selection, Micro & Macro Evolution

  • Evolution of Horse & Man

Unit 4: Entomology, Fish and Fisheries

  • Insect Taxonomy & General Organization

  • Insect Morphology, Physiology (Neuro-Endocrinology)

  • Insect Ecology, Forensic & Medical Entomology

  • Bioluminescence, Metamorphosis, Diapause

  • Insect Control Methods, Types of Insecticides, Pheromones

  • Insect Hormones & Integrated Pest Management

  • Insects of Economic Importance, Social Behaviour in Insects

  • Fish Morphology, Taxonomy, Habitat & Population Attributes

  • Fish Organ Systems & Functions, Diversity, Breeding

  • Fish Diseases, Control Measures, Preservation & Processing

  • Fish Culture: Induced Breeding, Ecology, Capture Fisheries

  • Freshwater, Coldwater & Brackish Water Fishes

  • Management & Culture Practices, Polyculture, Aquarium Maintenance

Unit 5: Developmental Biology

  • Developmental Patterns in Metazoans

  • Stages of Animal Development, Embryonic Homologies

  • Malformation & Teratology

  • Early Development: Fertilization, Cleavage, Morulation, Blastulation, Gastrulation

  • Morphogenetic Movements

  • Development of Fowl up to Primitive Streak Formation

  • Late Development, Metamorphosis & Regeneration

  • Sex Determination, Epigenetics, Hox Genes

  • Environmental Disruption of Normal Development

  • Development of Genetically Modified Animals

Unit 6: Cell Physiology and Biochemistry

  • Structure & Function of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells

  • Plasma Membrane, Nucleus, Cytoskeleton, ER, Golgi, Mitochondria, Lysosomes

  • Cell Communication, Cell Cycle & Regulation

  • Stem Cells: Brief Account & Significance

  • Structure, Properties & Classification of Carbohydrates, Lipids, Amino Acids, Proteins & Nucleic Acids

  • Enzymes: Mechanism of Action & Classification

  • Fat & Water-Soluble Vitamins, Biosynthesis of Vitamins

  • Metabolic Pathways of Carbohydrates, Lipids, Amino Acids

Unit 7: Cytogenetics and Biostatistics

  • Chromosome Structure, Cell Division, Karyotype Analysis

  • Chromosomal Aberrations & Syndromes

  • Chromosome Banding, FISH Technique

  • Genomes, Transcriptomes, Proteomes

  • Mutagens, Mutation, Mutagenesis, Cytoplasmic Inheritance

  • Biostatistics:

    • Matrices, Vectors, Sampling, Data Collection

    • Measures of Central Tendency (Mean, Median, Mode)

    • Variance, Standard Deviation, Coefficient of Variation

    • Probability, Normal & Binomial Distribution

    • Correlation, t-Test, Chi-Square Test

  • Basics of Bioinformatics

Unit 8: Mammalian Physiology

  • Digestive System: Feeding Habits, Digestion, Absorption

  • GIT Hormones, Energy Balance & BMR

  • Blood Structure, Volume, Blood Groups & Inheritance

  • Rh Factor & Medical Importance, Haemostasis

  • Cardiac Cycle, Heart Structure & Function, Lymphatic System

  • Respiration in Vertebrates, Respiratory Pigments, Thermoregulation

  • Comparative Physiology of Excretion, Urine Formation

  • Vertebrate Nervous System, Nerve Impulse Conduction

  • Muscle Contraction Mechanism, Sense Organs

  • Male & Female Reproductive Systems in Humans

Unit 9: Endocrinology

  • Introduction to Endocrinology & Endocrine System

  • Phylogeny & Ontogeny of Endocrine Glands

  • Discovery & Classification of Hormones

  • Hormone Effects on Behaviour & Immunity

  • Biosynthesis, Regulation, Homeostasis

  • Pituitary, Pineal, Thyroid, Parathyroid, Thymus, Adrenal Glands

  • Steroid Hormones: Structure, Function, Related Diseases

  • Reproductive Hormones: Spermatogenesis & Oogenesis

  • Prostaglandins & Small Size Hormones

  • Termination Mechanism of Hormone Action

Unit 10: Toxicology and Immunology

  • Introduction, Kinds of Toxic Substances, Dose-Response

  • Xenobiotics, Toxification & Detoxification

  • Factors Influencing Toxicity, Synergism, Potentiation, Antagonism

  • Reproductive & Developmental Effects of Toxicants

  • Immune System: Self & Non-Self Recognition

  • Antigens, Haptens, Carrier Molecules

  • Structure of Immunoglobulins (IgA, IgD, IgE)

  • Immune Deficiencies: T-cell, B-cell, Combined

  • MHC, ELISA: Principle & Application

Unit 11: Modern Techniques in Molecular Biology

  • Microscopy: Phase Contrast, Electron, Fluorescence, Confocal

  • Colorimetry, Spectrophotometry, Beer-Lambert Law

  • PCR (Types & Machine), Gel Documentation System, Flow Cytometry

  • DNA Sequencing, Replication, Repair, Recombination

  • Gene Expression & Regulation, Post-Translational Modifications

  • Plasmids, Bacteriophages, Cosmids, BAC & YAC Vectors

  • RNA Synthesis & Processing, Splicing, Polyadenylation

  • Recombinant DNA Technology, Human Genome Project

  • Cancer Biology: Oncogenes, Tumor Suppressor Genes, Metastasis

General Studies (Common for All Subjects)

Apart from the subject syllabus, candidates must prepare for General Studies, which is common for every subject in the UPPSC GDC Assistant Professor Examination.

  • General Science

  • Current Events of National and International Importance

  • History of India (Including Indian National Movement)

  • Indian Polity & Economy

  • Geography – Indian & World

  • Mental Ability & Statistical Analysis
    (Special reference to Uttar Pradesh is expected)

UPPSC Zoology Assistant Professor Eligibility 2025

Option A: Master’s Degree + NET/SET/SLET

A Master’s degree with 55% marks (or equivalent grade) in Zoology or a relevant/allied subject from an Indian University,
OR an equivalent degree from an accredited foreign university.

Additionally, candidates must have cleared the National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by UGC/CSIR or an equivalent accredited test like SLET/SET.

Candidates with a Ph.D. Degree as per UGC Regulations (2009/2016 & amendments) are exempt from NET/SLET/SET, provided they fulfill the following conditions (for Ph.D. registered before July 11, 2009):

  • Ph.D. awarded in regular mode.

  • Thesis evaluated by at least two external examiners.

  • Open Ph.D. viva voce conducted.

  • At least two research papers published from Ph.D. work (one in a refereed journal).

  • At least two papers presented in UGC/ICSSR/CSIR-sponsored seminars/conferences.

Certification must be provided by the Registrar/Dean (Academic Affairs) of the awarding University.

Note: NET/SLET/SET exemption applies to subjects where these tests are not conducted.

Option B: Ph.D. from Top 500 Foreign Universities

A Ph.D. degree from a foreign university/institution ranked among the top 500 in global rankings by:

    • QS (Quacquarelli Symonds)

    • Times Higher Education (THE)

    • Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) by Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Conclusion

The UPPSC Zoology Assistant Professor Syllabus 2025 is comprehensive, covering everything from taxonomy and ecology to modern molecular biology techniques. Aspirants should prepare unit-wise, focusing on conceptual clarity and applied knowledge to excel in the upcoming GDC Examination.

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