“2025” Update of Main topics in Biology for entrance exams in Saint Petersburg State University & Kazan Federal University

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Principles of biology

1. Basic attributes of living systems.
2. Biological disciplines, biotechnology, biomedicine, main branches of medicine.
3. Biological terminology.
4. Key discoveries in biology and medicine.
5. Chemical elements and molecules of living systems.
6. Basic metabolic pathways.

Molecular genetics

1. Central dogma of molecular biology.
2. Structure and function of nucleic acids and proteins.
3. DNA replication, transcription, translation and genetic code.
4. Genome, chromosome, and gene structure.
5. Mutations and their consequences.
6. Basic molecular genetic methods.

Cell biology

1. Structure and organization of cells (prokaryotic, eukaryotic, plant, animal).
2. Origin, structure, and function of mitochondria.
3. Origin, structure, and function of chloroplasts, photosynthesis.
4. Structure and function of ribosomes.
5. Nucleus and chromatin, human karyotype.
6. Cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis, crossing over, oogenesis and spermatogenesis, gametes, fertilization.

Genetics

1. Genotype and phenotype.
2. Mendel laws and Mendelian and non-Mendelian modes of inheritance.
3. Gene linkage and gene interactions.
4. Medically important autosomal recessive, dominant, sex-linked and multifactorial traits. 

Virology, bacteriology, protistology, zoology, botany, and mycology

1. Classification, basic characteristics, structure and reproduction of viruses.
2. Retroviruses and reverse transcription.
3. Viral diseases.
4. Viroids, prions and associated diseases.
5. Eubacteria and Archea, their reproduction and importance.
6. Bacterial infections and their therapy.
7. Protists, their taxonomy and classification.
8. Parasitic protists and associated diseases.
9. Taxonomy and evolution of animals.
10. Classification, reproduction, ontogenesis and body structure of invertebrates.
11. Parasitic invertebrates (helmints, arthropods), their life cycle and associated diseases. 
12. Classification, reproduction, ontogenesis and body structure of chordates. 
13. Taxonomy, evolution and reproduction of plants and fungi.
14. Medically important fungi (parasitic, producing antibiotics or toxic compounds).

Basic human biology

1. Basic anatomy and physiology of the human body, tissues and organ systems. 
2. Skeleton, structure and development of bones, disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
3. Most important muscles and the mechanism of muscular contraction. 
4. Basic components and function of blood, blood groups and transfusion.
5. Heart and circulatory system, blood vessels, blood pressure, heart rate, cardiovascular diseases.
6. Immunity, lymphatic system, antibodies, vaccination and transplantation, disorders of the immune system. 
7. Respiration, respiratory system and its disorders.
8. Digestive system and basic nutrients, vitamins, their sources and importance.
9. Excretion, urinary system, production and composition of urine, diseases of the urinary system. 
10. Skin, its structure and importance, skin diseases. 
11. Central and peripheral nervous system, its anatomy and function, sensory organs and receptors.
12. Disorders and injuries of the nervous system, stress, psychiatric diseases, addiction. 
13. Exocrine and endocrine glands, endocrine system and its disorders, hormones. 
14. Reproductive system and human reproduction, embryogenesis, organogenesis, prenatal care, inborn defects.

Evolution

1. Evolutionary theories, Darwin’s concept of evolution, neodarwinism, selfish gene theory.
2. Evolutionary factors: variability, mutation, selection, genetic drift, gene flow. 
3. Origin of life, prebiotic evolution, evolution of cellular organisms, fossils.
4. Evolution of Homo sapiens, its ancestors and related species.

Ecology

1. Biotic and abiotic factors, population, community, ecosystem, biome, species diversity. 
2. Food web, food chain, producers, consumers, decomposers.
3. Interspecific and intraspecific relationships. 
4. Toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic factors of the human environment, genotoxicity testing.
5. Global environmental issues and environmental protection.

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