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10 February 2025 1:15 AM
CAT
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
The Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) Biology Syllabus is designed to prepare candidates for the Board’s examination. It aims to assess candidates’ understanding of:
Diversity of Life – Understanding the interdependence and unity of living organisms.
Continuity of Life – Exploring organization, inheritance, and evolution in biology.
Biological Principles – Applying biological concepts to real-life situations, including environmental and health-related matters.
DETAILED SYLLABUS
SECTION A: VARIETY OF ORGANISMS
1. Living Organisms
Topics:
Monocots (e.g., Maize)
Dicots (e.g., Waterleaf)
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
✔ Identify the distinguishing features of Gymnosperms and Angiosperms.
✔ Differentiate between Monocots and Dicots with examples.
4. Animal Kingdom (Animalia)
i. Invertebrates
Coelenterates (e.g., Hydra)
Platyhelminthes (e.g., Flatworms like Taenia)
Nematoda (e.g., Roundworms)
Annelida (e.g., Earthworms)
Arthropoda (e.g., Mosquito, Cockroach, Housefly, Bee, Butterfly)
Mollusca (e.g., Snails)
ii. Vertebrates (Multicellular Animals)
Pisces (Cartilaginous and Bony Fish)
Amphibia (e.g., Toads, Frogs)
Reptilia (e.g., Lizards, Snakes, Turtles)
Aves (Birds)
Mammalia (Mammals)
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
✔ Trace the advancement of invertebrate animals and their classification.
✔ Determine the economic importance of insects (e.g., Bees, Mosquitoes, Butterflies).
✔ Assess the values of these organisms to the environment.
✔ Analyze the evolutionary advancements of multicellular animals (vertebrates).
✔ Determine the economic importance of vertebrates in various ecosystems.
5. Structural, Functional, and Behavioral Adaptations of Organisms
a. Adaptive Coloration & Its Functions
Countershading (e.g., Fish, Toads, Snakes)
Warning Coloration (e.g., Mushrooms)
b. Behavioral Adaptations in Social Animals
Caste system in termites (Worker, Soldier, Queen)
Territorial behavior in animals
Hibernation and aestivation in response to extreme conditions
c. Structural Adaptations in Organisms
Food Acquisition (Beaks and legs of birds, Mouthparts of insects like Mosquito, Butterfly, and Moth)
Protection & Defense (Stick insects, Praying mantis, Toad camouflage)
Mating Strategies (Male Redhead Agama lizard vs. Female, Bird feather displays)
Temperature Regulation (Skin, Feathers, and Hairs in warm- and cold-blooded animals)
Water Conservation (Spines in plants, Scales in mammals)
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
✔ Explain how structural, functional, and behavioral adaptations help organisms survive in their environment.
✔ Categorize coloration patterns and their functions in various animals.
✔ Differentiate the roles of caste systems in social insects like termites.
✔ Explain territorial behaviors, hibernation, and aestivation in animals.
✔ Analyze adaptive features for feeding, protection, mating, and survival in various organisms.
SECTION B: FORM AND FUNCTIONS
1. Internal Structure of a Flowering Plant
Key Organs:
Root
Stem
Leaf
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
✔ Identify the transverse sections of plant organs.
✔ Relate the structure of these organs to their functions.
✔ Identify supporting tissues in plants (e.g., Collenchyma, Sclerenchyma, Xylem, and Phloem).
✔ Describe the distribution of supporting tissues in roots, stems, and leaves.
2. Internal Structure of a Mammal
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
✔ Examine the arrangement of internal organs in mammals.
✔ Describe the appearance and position of digestive, reproductive, and excretory organs.
3. Nutrition
a. Modes of Nutrition
Autotrophic Nutrition (Photosynthetic & Chemosynthetic)
Heterotrophic Nutrition (Holozoic, Parasitic, Saprophytic, Carnivorous plants)
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
✔ Compare photosynthetic and chemosynthetic nutrition with examples.
✔ Differentiate autotrophic and heterotrophic modes of nutrition.
b. Types of Nutrition
Holozoic (e.g., Sheep, Humans)
Parasitic (e.g., Roundworm, Tapeworm, Loranthus)
Saprophytic (e.g., Rhizopus, Mushroom)
Carnivorous Plants (e.g., Sundew, Bladderwort)
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
✔ Differentiate between types of heterotrophic nutrition.
✔ Determine the nutritional value of different feeding strategies.
c. Plant Nutrition
Photosynthesis
Mineral Requirements (Macronutrients & Micronutrients)
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
✔ Differentiate between light and dark reactions in photosynthesis.
✔ Identify the necessity of light, CO₂, and chlorophyll in photosynthesis.
✔ Test for starch in leaves as evidence of photosynthesis.
✔ Identify essential macro- and micro-elements required by plants.
✔ Recognize deficiency symptoms of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
d. Animal Nutrition
Classes of Food Substances: Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats & Oils, Vitamins, Mineral Salts, Water
Food Tests (e.g., Starch, Reducing Sugar, Protein, Oil, Fat)
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
✔ Identify food sources for different classes of nutrients.
✔ Relate nutrient deficiencies to diseases (e.g., Scurvy, Rickets, Kwashiorkor).
✔ Explain the importance of a balanced diet.
✔ Perform food tests to detect the presence of starch, protein, and fats.
4. The Mammalian Tooth
Structure, Types, and Functions
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
✔ Identify the types of mammalian teeth.
✔ Describe the structure and function of different teeth.
4. Mammalian Alimentary Canal
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
✔ Describe the structure of the mammalian alimentary canal.
✔ Explain the functions of accessory organs (liver, pancreas, gall bladder).
5. Nutrition Process
Ingestion
Digestion
Absorption
Assimilation
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
✔ Identify the characteristics of digestive enzymes.
✔ Associate enzymes with digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
✔ Determine the end products of digestion.
6. Transport in Organisms
a. Need for Transportation
✔ Relationship between size, complexity, and need for a transport system.
b. Materials for Transportation
✔ Excretory products, gases, food, nutrients, water, and hormones.
b. Mechanism of Gaseous Exchange
In animals: Lungs, gills, tracheal system.
In plants: Stomata, lenticels.
c. Chemical Process of Respiration
✔ Glycolysis & Krebs cycle (simplified).
✔ Role of ATP in energy production.
✔ Experimental evidence of gas exchange & heat production.
Objectives:
Candidates should be able to:
✔ Describe how respiration occurs in different organisms.
✔ Explain the importance of ATP in energy transfer.
✔ Identify respiratory organs & their adaptations.
8. Respiration
a. Plants vs. Mammals
✔ Mechanism for the opening and closing of stomata.
✔ Respiratory movements in mammals.
b. Aerobic Respiration
✔ Role of oxygen in energy production.
✔ Effects of oxygen deficiency on muscles.
c. Anaerobic Respiration
✔ Fermentation using yeast and sugar solution.
✔ Economic importance of yeasts.
9. Excretion
a. Excretory Structures
✔ Contractile vacuole, flame cell, nephridium, Malpighian tubule, kidney, stoma, lenticel.
b. Excretory Mechanisms
✔ Kidneys, lungs, and skin.
✔ Excretory products and functions of each organ.
c. Excretory Products in Plants
✔ Carbon dioxide, oxygen, tannins, resins, gums, alkaloids.
Objectives:
✔ Describe the functions of excretory organs in animals.
✔ Explain the economic importance of plant excretory products.
10. Support and Movement
a. Movement in Plants
✔ Tropic, Tactic, Nastic, and Sleep movements.
✔ Growth response to light, water, gravity, and touch.
b. Supporting Tissues in Animals
✔ Chitin, Cartilage, Bone and their functions.
✔ Mammalian skeletal structure and joints.
c. Skeletal System in Animals
✔ Exoskeleton & Endoskeleton.
✔ Functions: Protection, Support, Movement, Respiration.
Objectives:
✔ Identify plant supporting tissues (collenchyma, sclerenchyma, xylem, phloem).
✔ Explain auxins and plant growth regulation.
✔ Differentiate joint types and their examples.
11. Reproduction
a. Asexual Reproduction
✔ Fission (Paramecium), Budding (Yeast).
✔ Vegetative Propagation (Natural & Artificial).
b. Sexual Reproduction in Plants
✔ Floral parts and their functions.
✔ Pollination & Fertilization.
✔ Types of Placentation & Fruit Formation.
c. Reproduction in Mammals
✔ Male and female reproductive organs.
✔ Fertilization and embryonic development.
✔ Effects of maternal health & nutrition on pregnancy.
d. Modern Reproductive Technology
✔ In-vitro fertilization (IVF).
✔ Birth control methods.
Objectives:
✔ Compare asexual vs. sexual reproduction.
✔ Apply vegetative propagation in agriculture.
✔ Understand the advantages of cross-pollination.
✔ Explain modern reproduction control methods.
12. Growth & Germination
a. Meaning of Growth
✔ Factors affecting growth in plants and animals.
b. Germination of Seeds
✔ Conditions necessary for seed germination.
✔ Epigeal vs. Hypogeal germination.
Objectives:
✔ Explain growth measurement in organisms.
✔ Differentiate types of germination.
13. Coordination and Control
a. Nervous Coordination
✔ Central Nervous System (CNS) – Structure and function.
✔ Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) – Components & function.
✔ Impulse transmission & reflex action.
b. The Sense Organs
✔ Skin (touch), Nose (smell), Tongue (taste), Eyes (vision), Ears (hearing).
✔ Function and correction of sense organ defects.
c. Hormonal Control
i. Animal Hormones
✔ Pituitary, Thyroid, Parathyroid, Adrenal, Pancreas, Gonads.
✔ Hormones produced & their functions.
ii. Plant Hormones (Phytohormones)
✔ Functions of auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, ethylene.
Objectives:
✔ Differentiate reflex and voluntary actions.
✔ Identify endocrine glands and their hormones.
✔ Explain hormonal functions in animals & plants.
SECTION C: HOMEOSTASIS & ECOLOGY
1. Homeostasis
a. Regulation of Internal Conditions
✔ Body temperature regulation in mammals.
✔ Salt and water balance in the body.
b. Phytohormones in Plants
✔ Effects of auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, and ethylene on:
Growth & tropism.
Flowering & fruit ripening.
Leaf abscission (shedding).
Objectives:
✔ Explain the role of hormones in maintaining body equilibrium.
✔ Describe how phytohormones regulate plant development.
2. Factors Affecting the Distribution of Organisms
a. Abiotic (Non-living) Factors
✔ Temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind speed & direction.
✔ Altitude, salinity, turbidity, soil type (edaphic conditions).
✔ Measurement tools: thermometer, rain gauge, secchi disc.
b. Biotic (Living) Factors
✔ How plant and animal activities (including humans) affect ecosystems.
Objectives:
✔ Analyze the impact of environmental factors on species distribution.
✔ Use scientific tools to measure abiotic factors.
✔ Explain how human activities influence ecosystems.
3. Symbiotic Interactions in Ecosystems
✔ Types of relationships:
✔ Food Chains & Webs
✔ Nutrient Cycles in Nature
Carbon Cycle (oxygen-carbon balance, global warming).
Water Cycle (effects on other nutrient cycles).
Nitrogen Cycle (role of bacteria & legumes).
Objectives:
✔ Identify ecological relationships between organisms.
✔ Explain how food chains & webs work in different habitats.
✔ Describe nutrient cycling and its significance in nature.
4. Natural Habitats & Adaptation
a. Aquatic Habitats
✔ Ponds, lakes, streams, mangrove swamps, and seashores.
b. Terrestrial & Arboreal Habitats
✔ Tree tops (oil palm), dry savannas, burrows, abandoned farmlands.
Objectives:
✔ Classify organisms based on their habitat.
✔ Explain how organisms adapt to different environments.
SECTION D: NIGERIAN BIOMES & POPULATION ECOLOGY
1. Nigerian Biomes & Their Characteristics
✔ Tropical Rainforest – High rainfall, dense vegetation, rich biodiversity.
✔ Guinea Savanna (Southern & Northern) – Grasslands with scattered trees, moderate rainfall.
✔ Sudan Savanna – Drier grasslands, adapted plants & animals.
✔ Desert – Arid climate, scarce vegetation, extreme temperatures.
✔ Montane Forests & Grasslands – Found in highland areas like Obudu, Jos, and Mambilla Plateau.
Objectives:
✔ Identify biomes in different regions of Nigeria.
✔ Apply knowledge of biome characteristics to different regions.
2. Population Ecology & Interactions
a. Population Density & Overcrowding
✔ Population density calculation – Number of organisms per unit area.
✔ Effects of overcrowding – Resource depletion, disease spread, competition.
b. Adaptation & Survival Strategies
✔ Factors causing competition (food, space, mates).
✔ Intra-specific competition (within the same species) vs. Inter-specific competition (between different species).
✔ Ecological succession – How competition leads to ecosystem changes.
c. Factors Affecting Population Size
✔ Biotic Factors – Food, predation, disease, competition, reproduction rate.
✔ Abiotic Factors – Climate, rainfall, temperature, pH, light availability.
Objectives:
✔ Explain causes and effects of population increase.
✔ Relate competition to succession and ecosystem stability.
✔ Identify factors that influence population changes (e.g., drought causing food shortages).
3. Ecological Succession
✔ Primary Succession – Formation of new ecosystems (e.g., volcanic islands).
✔ Secondary Succession – Ecosystem recovery after disturbance (e.g., forest regrowth after fire).
Objectives:
✔ Trace how ecosystems develop over time from barren land to a stable community.
4. Soil Science & Conservation
a. Soil Types & Properties
✔ Sandy Soil – Large particles, poor water retention.
✔ Loamy Soil – Ideal for farming, rich in nutrients.
✔ Clayey Soil – Small particles, retains water.
✔ Soil Components:
b. Soil Fertility & Conservation
✔ Causes of Soil Degradation:
Loss of nutrients due to erosion, leaching.
Overcropping (depleting soil nutrients).
Compaction (reducing air and water movement).
✔ Methods of Soil Conservation:
Crop rotation & polycropping (maintaining fertility).
Mulching & contour ridging (preventing erosion).
Organic & inorganic fertilizers (restoring nutrients).
Objectives:
✔ Experimentally compare soil types based on particle size & water retention.
✔ Identify factors affecting soil fertility and ways to enhance soil conservation.
SECTION E: HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
1. Human Diseases & Prevention
a. Common & Endemic Diseases
✔ Malaria – Spread by female Anopheles mosquito, caused by Plasmodium.
✔ Meningitis – Bacterial infection affecting the brain & spinal cord.
✔ Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease) – Caused by Dracunculus medinensis.
✔ Schistosomiasis – Spread by snails, caused by Schistosoma parasite.
✔ Onchocerciasis (River blindness) – Caused by Onchocerca volvulus, transmitted by blackflies.
✔ Typhoid Fever – Caused by Salmonella typhi, spreads through contaminated food & water.
✔ Cholera – Caused by Vibrio cholerae, spreads through contaminated water.
📌 Objectives:
✔ Identify ecological factors affecting disease spread.
✔ Understand the biology of disease vectors and their control methods.
2. Transmissible Diseases & Disease Syndromes
✔ Poliomyelitis – Viral infection causing paralysis.
✔ Cholera – Severe diarrhea, dehydration.
✔ Tuberculosis (TB) – Bacterial infection affecting lungs.
✔ Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs):
Gonorrhea – Caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Syphilis – Caused by Treponema pallidum.
HIV/AIDS – Attacks immune system.
📌 Objectives:
✔ Recognize causes, transmission & symptoms of these diseases.
✔ Understand prevention & treatment, including vaccination & inoculation.
3. Pollution & Environmental Control
a. Types & Sources of Pollution
✔ Air Pollution – Smoke, gases, industrial emissions.
✔ Water Pollution – Sewage, oil spills, industrial waste.
✔ Soil Pollution – Pesticides, plastics, waste dumping.
b. Effects of Pollution
✔ Respiratory diseases (asthma, lung infections).
✔ Waterborne diseases (cholera, typhoid).
✔ Soil degradation & loss of biodiversity.
c. Pollution Control Measures
✔ Waste Management – Recycling, proper sewage disposal.
✔ Air Quality Control – Reducing emissions.
✔ Water Treatment – Preventing contamination.
📌 Objectives:
✔ Categorize pollution types and their effects.
✔ Apply pollution control measures.
4. Sanitation & Sewage Management
✔ Importance of proper sanitation – Reduces disease spread.
✔ Sewage disposal methods – Pit latrines, sewage treatment plants.
✔ Community health & personal hygiene.
📌 Objectives:
✔ Analyze the importance of sanitation in disease prevention.
✔ Evaluate the roles of health organizations:
WHO (World Health Organization)
UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund)
International Red Cross Society
Ministry of Health & Environment
5. Conservation of Natural Resources
a. Renewable & Non-Renewable Resources
✔ Renewable – Forests, water, wildlife.
✔ Non-renewable – Fossil fuels, minerals.
b. Conservation Methods
✔ Afforestation & Reforestation – Planting trees.
✔ Soil Conservation – Preventing erosion.
✔ Sustainable Fishing & Hunting – Protecting biodiversity.
✔ Water Conservation – Efficient use & treatment.
📌 Objectives:
✔ Apply methods to conserve natural resources.
✔ Understand the importance of conservation for future generations.
6. Game Reserves & National Parks in Nigeria
✔ Game Reserves – Yankari, Okomu, Borgu, etc.
✔ National Parks – Gashaka-Gumti, Kainji Lake, Cross River, Chad Basin.
📌 Objectives:
✔ Know the locations & importance of game reserves.
✔ Recognize bodies responsible for conservation:
Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF)
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)
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