NEET Biology Syllabus 

National Eligibility Entrance Test, known as NEET, is a qualifying exam through which students can take admissions in various medical courses like MBBS and BDS in several medical and dental colleges in India. NEET is conducted by National Test Agency (NTA). NEET 2023 Biology syllabus is divided into two sections i.e Botany and Zoology. Furthermore, this section comprises 5 units each from classes 11th and 12th. Each section contains 50 marks out of which 45 questions need to be attempted which results in 360 marks in NEET total marks.

NEET Biology Syllabus Highlights

Aspirants are advised to read through the NEET biology class-wise curriculum in the table below.

The total weightage of the NEET 2023 Biology Syllabus 50% of NEET Course
Subsection Botany and Zoology
Number of questions asked From both subjects, Section A: 35, Section B: 15 (attempt only 10 from sec B)
Marks allotted for each question +4 marks for each correct answer
Negative marking -1 mark for each wrong answer
Total marks for Biology 360 out of 720 marks

NEET biology syllabus 2023 for Class 11

Unit Topic / Chapters
I Diversity of Living Organisms
Chapter-1: The Living World
Chapter-2: Biological Classification
Chapter-3: Plant Kingdom
Chapter-4: Animal Kingdom
II Structural Organisation in Plants & Animals
Chapter-5: Morphology of Flowering Plants
Chapter-6: Anatomy of Flowering Plants
Chapter-7: Structural Organisation in Animals
III Cell: Structure and Function
Chapter-8: Cell-The Unit of Life
Chapter-9: Biomolecules
Chapter-10: Cell Cycle and Cell Division
IV Plant Physiology
Chapter-11: Transport in Plants
Chapter-12: Mineral Nutrition
Chapter-13: Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
Chapter-14: Respiration in Plants
Chapter-15: Plant – Growth and Development
V Human Physiology
Chapter-16: Digestion and Absorption
Chapter-17: Breathing and Exchange of Gases
Chapter-18: Body Fluids and Circulation
Chapter-19: Excretory Products and Their Elimination
Chapter-20: Locomotion and Movement
Chapter-21: Neural Control and Coordination
Chapter-22: Chemical Coordination and Integration

NEET 2023 Biology syllabus for Class 12

Unit Topic / Chapters
VI Reproduction
Chapter-1: Reproduction in Organisms
Chapter-2: Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
Chapter-3: Human Reproduction
Chapter-4: Reproductive Health
VII Genetics and Evolution
Chapter-5: Principles of Inheritance and Variation
Chapter-6: Molecular Basis of Inheritance
Chapter-7: Evolution
VIII Biology and Human Welfare
Chapter-8: Human Health and Diseases
Chapter-9: Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production
Chapter-10: Microbes in Human Welfare
IX Biotechnology and its Applications
Chapter-11: Biotechnology – Principles and Processes
Chapter-12: Biotechnology and its Application
X Ecology and Environment
Chapter-13: Organisms and Populations
Chapter-14: Ecosystem
Chapter-15: Biodiversity and its Conservation
Chapter-16: Environmental Issues

 

Chapter-wise NEET Biology Syllabus Class 11

Unit Topic Sub Topic
Unit 1 Diversity in Living World
  • What is living? ; Biodiversity; Need for classification; Three domains of life; Taxonomy & Systematics; Concept of species and taxonomical hierarchy; Binomial nomenclature; Tools for study of Taxonomy — Museums, Zoos, Herbaria, Botanical gardens. Five kingdom classification; salient features and classification of Monera; Protista and Fungi into major groups; Lichens; Viruses and Viroids.
  • Salient features and classification of plants into major groups-Algae, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms (three to five salient and distinguishing features and at least two examples of each category); Angiosperms- classification up to class, characteristic features and examples).
  • Salient features and classification of animals-non chordate up to phyla level and chordate up to classes level ( salient features and examples).
UNIT 2 Structural Organisation in Animals and Plants Morphology and modifications; Tissues; Anatomy and functions of different parts of flowering plants: Root, stem, leaf, inflorescence- cymose and racemose, flower, fruit and seed. Animal tissues; Morphology, anatomy and functions of different systems (digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous and reproductive) of an insect (cockroach). (Brief account only)
Unit 3  Cell Structure and Function
  • Cell theory and cell as the basic unit of life; Structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell; Plant cell and animal cell; Cell envelope, cell membrane, cell wall; Cell organelles-structure and function; Endomembrane system-endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, lysosomes, vacuoles; mitochondria, ribosomes, plastids, microbodies; Cytoskeleton, cilia, flagella, centrioles (ultrastructure and function); Nucleus-nuclear membrane, chromatin, nucleolus.
  • Chemical constituents of living cells: Biomolecules-structure and function of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids; Enzymes-types, properties, enzyme action. B Cell division: Cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis and their significance.
Unit 4 Plant Physiology
  • Transport in plants: Movement of water, gases and nutrients; Cell to cell transport-Diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport; Plant — water relations — imbibition, water potential, osmosis, plasmolysis; Long-distance transport of water— Absorption, apoplast, symplast, transpiration pull, root pressure and guttation; Transpiration-Opening and closing of stomata; Uptake and translocation of mineral nutrients-Transport of food, phloem transport, Mass flow hypothesis; Diffusion of gases
  • Mineral nutrition: Essential minerals, macro and micronutrients and their role; Deficiency symptoms; Mineral toxicity; Elementary idea of Hydroponics as a method to study mineral nutrition; Nitrogen metabolism-Nitrogen cycle, biological nitrogen fixation.
  • Photosynthesis: Photosynthesis as a means of Autotrophic nutrition; Site of photosynthesis take place; pigments involved in Photosynthesis (Elementary idea); Photochemical and biosynthetic phases of photosynthesis; Cyclic and non-cyclic and photophosphorylation; Chemiosmotic hypothesis; Photorespiration C3 and C4 pathways; Factors affecting photosynthesis.
  • Respiration: Exchange gases; Cellular respiration-glycolysis, fermentation(anaerobic), TCA cycle and electron transport system (aerobic); Energy relations-Number of ATP molecules generated; Amphibolic pathways; Respiratory quotient.
  • Plant growth and development: Seed germination; Phases of Plant growth and plant growth rate; Conditions of growth; Differentiation, dedifferentiation and Redifferentiation; Sequence of developmental process in a plant cell; Growth Regulators-auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, ethylene, ABA; Seed dormancy; Vernalisation; Photoperiodism.
Unit 5 Human Physiology
  • Digestion and absorption; Alimentary canal and digestive glands; Role of digestive enzymes and gastrointestinal hormones; Peristalsis, digestion, absorption and assimilation of proteins, carbohydrates and fats; Caloric value of proteins, carbohydrates and fats; Egestion; Nutritional and digestive disorders — PEM, indigestion, constipation, vomiting, jaundice, diarrhoea.
  • Breathing and Respiration: Respiratory organs in animals (recall only); Respiratory system in humans; Mechanism of breathing and its regulation in humans-Exchange of gases, transport of gases and regulation of respiration Respiratory volumes; Disorders related to respiration-Asthma, Emphysema, Occupational respiratory disorders.
  • Body fluids and circulation: Composition of the blood, blood groups, coagulation of blood; Composition of lymph and its function; Human circulatory system-Structure of human heart and blood vessels; Cardiac cycle, cardiac output, ECG, Double circulation; Regulation of cardiac activity; Disorders of the circulatory system- Hypertension, Coronary artery disease, Angina pectoris, Heart failure.
  • Excretory products and their elimination: Modes of excretion- Ammonotelism, ureotelism, uricotelism; Human excretory system-structure and function; Urine formation, Osmoregulation; Regulation of kidney function-Renin-angiotensin, Atrial Natriuretic Factor, ADH and Diabetes insipidus; Role of other organs in excretion; Disorders; Uraemia, Renal failure, renal calculi, Nephritis; Dialysis and artificial kidney.
  • Locomotion and Movement: Types of movement- ciliary, flagella, muscular; Skeletal muscle- contractile proteins and muscle contraction; Skeletal system and its functions (To be dealt with the relevant practical of Practical syllabus); Joints; Disorders of muscular and skeletal system-Myasthenia Gravis, Tetany, Muscular dystrophy, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Gout
  • Neural control and coordination: Neuron and nerves; Nervous system in humans- central nervous system, peripheral nervous system and visceral nervous system; Generation and conduction of nerve impulse; Reflex action; Sense organs; Elementary structure and function of eye and ear.
  • Chemical coordination and regulation: Endocrine glands and hormones; Human endocrine system-Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Pineal, Thyroid, Parathyroid, Adrenal, Pancreas, Gonads; Mechanism of hormone action (Elementary Idea); Role of hormones as messengers and regulators. Hypo-and hyperactivity and related disorders (Common disorders e.g. Dwarfism, Acromegaly, Cretinism, goitre, exophthalmic goitre, diabetes, Addison’s disease)

 

Chapter-wise NEET Syllabus for Biology Class 12

Unit Topic Sub Topic
Unit 1 Reproduction
  • Reproduction in organisms: Reproduction, a characteristic feature of all organisms for continuation of species; Modes of reproduction — Asexual and sexual; Asexual reproduction; Modes-Binary fission, sporulation, budding, gemmule, fragmentation; vegetative propagation in plants.
  • Sexual reproduction in flowering plants: Flower structure; Development of male and female gametophytes; Pollination-types, agencies, and examples; Outbreeding 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 and fruit formation.
  • Human Reproduction: Male and female reproductive systems; Microscopic anatomy of testis and ovary; Gametogenesis-spermatogenesis & oogenesis; Menstrual cycle; Fertilisation, embryo development up to blastocyst formation, implantation; Pregnancy and placenta formation (Elementary idea); Parturition (Elementary idea); Lactation (Elementary idea).
  • Reproductive health: Need for reproductive health and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STD); Birth control-Need and Methods, Contraception and Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP); Amniocentesis; Infertility and assisted reproductive technologies — IVF, ZIFT, GIFT 
Unit 2 Genetics and Evolution
  • 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, 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.
  • 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 and human genome project; DNA fingerprinting.
  • Evolution: Origin of life; Biological evolution and evidence for biological evolution from Paleontology, comparative anatomy, embryology and molecular evidence); 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 3 Biology and Human Welfare
  • Health and Disease; Pathogens; parasites causing human diseases (Malaria, Filariasis, Ascariasis. Typhoid, Pneumonia, common cold, amoebiasis, ringworm); Basic concepts of immunology-vaccines; Cancer, HIV and AIDS; Adolescence, drug and alcohol abuse.
  • Improvement in food production; Plant breeding, tissue culture, single-cell protein, Biofortification; Apiculture and Animal husbandry. Microbes in human welfare: In household food processing, industrial production, sewage treatment, energy generation and as biocontrol agents and biofertilizers.
Unit 4 Biotechnology and Its Applications
  • Principles and process of Biotechnology: Genetic engineering (Recombinant DNA technology).
  • Application of Biotechnology in health and agriculture: Human insulin and vaccine production, gene therapy; Genetically modified organisms-Bt crops; Transgenic Animals; Biosafety issues-Biopiracy and patents.
Unit 5 Ecology and environment
  • Organisms and environment: Habitat and niche; Population and ecological adaptations; Population interactions-mutualism, competition, predation, parasitism; Population attributes-growth, birth rate and death rate, age distribution.
  • Ecosystem: Patterns, components; productivity and decomposition; Energy flow; Pyramids of number, biomass, energy; Nutrient cycling (carbon and phosphorous); Ecological succession; Ecological Services-Carbon fixation, pollination, oxygen release.
  • Biodiversity and its conservation: Concept of Biodiversity; Patterns of Biodiversity; Importance of Biodiversity; Loss of Biodiversity; Biodiversity conservation; Hotspots, endangered organisms, extinction, Red Data Book, biosphere reserves, National parks and sanctuaries.
  • Environmental issues: Air pollution and its control; Water pollution and its control; Agrochemicals and their effects; Solid waste management; Radioactive waste management; Greenhouse effect and global warning; Ozone depletion; Deforestation; Any three case studies as success stories addressing environmental issues.

NEET Biology syllabus 2023 – Weightage

Chapters Approximate Weightage
Diversity of Living Organisms 12%
Structural Organisation in Plants & Animals 9%
Cell: Structure and Function 8%
Plant Physiology 8%
Human Physiology 16%
Reproduction 11%
Genetics and Evolution 13%
Biology and Human Welfare 9%
Biotechnology and its Applications 4%
Ecology and Environment 10%

 

NEET Biology syllabus 2023 – Important topics

Candidates must refer to the biology important topics for cracking the NEET Exam 2023. As it has been prepared on the basis of weightage and frequency of questions. The NEET-UG 2023 Registration has begin on April 6. The registration would continue till May 7, 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many subjects are there in NEET exam?

 NEET exam has 3 subjects- Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. NEET Chemistry can be subdivided into 3 sections- Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry. NEET Biology includes Zoology and Botany, The syllabus for all 3 subjects is based on class XI and XII NCERT syllabus.

2. Which is the most difficult subject in NEET?

The physics section is the toughest with 70% numerical-based tricky questions. NEET Chemistry is easy and less time-consuming with maximum questions based on NCERT syllabus. NEET Biology is rated easy to moderate with direct questions.

3. Has NEET Syllabus 2023 been revised?

No, NEET Syllabus has not been revised. It is similar to the 2021 syllabus. Last year, NTA introduced the option of internal choice in section B of NEET paper to rationalize the reduction in syllabus by various state boards. NEET Syllabus is set by NMC based on class 11 and 12 syllabi of various state boards- CBSE, ICSE, etc.

4. Is syllabus reduced for NEET 2023?

No, the syllabus for NEET 2023 has not been reduced. The syllabus for NEET exam 2023 includes 10 units from biology, 19 units from physics, and 30 units from chemistry.