The NDA (National Defence Academy) and CDS (Combined Defence Services) Examinations are prestigious national-level exams conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for entry into the Indian Armed Forces — Army, Navy, and Air Force.
In the General Science section, Biology plays a vital role, testing fundamental understanding and application of basic biological principles relevant to life processes, growth, and heredity.
For NDA CDS 1 2026, the Biology syllabus emphasizes Animal Physiology, Growth, Reproduction, Genetics, and Cellular Biology — all of which help understand life processes in animals, including humans.
🧬 Biology Class Topic: Animal Growth, Animal Tissue, and Genetics
1. Introduction
Biology is the study of life and living organisms. Understanding how animals grow, how their bodies are structured, and how traits are inherited helps explain the complexity of life. The topics Animal Growth, Animal Tissue, and Genetics are interconnected — they explain how an organism develops, functions, and passes on characteristics to its offspring.
A. Animal Growth
Subtopics:
- Definition and Stages of Growth
- Growth: Irreversible increase in size and number of cells.
- Stages: Juvenile → Adult → Senescence.
- Types of Growth
- Determinate and Indeterminate Growth.
- Factors Affecting Growth
- Nutrition, Hormones (Growth Hormone, Thyroxine, etc.), Environment.
- Regeneration and Repair
- Replacement of lost or damaged tissues (e.g., starfish arms, lizard tail).
B. Animal Tissue
Subtopics:
- Introduction to Tissues
- Definition: A group of similar cells performing a specific function.
- Types of Animal Tissues
- Epithelial Tissue: Covers body surfaces (e.g., skin, lining of organs).
- Connective Tissue: Supports and binds (e.g., bone, cartilage, blood).
- Muscular Tissue: Enables movement (skeletal, smooth, cardiac).
- Nervous Tissue: Controls and coordinates (neurons and glial cells).
- Functions and Examples
- Structure, location, and importance in the human body.
C. Genetics
Subtopics:
- Introduction to Genetics
- Study of heredity and variation; pioneered by Gregor Mendel.
- Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance
- Law of Dominance, Segregation, and Independent Assortment.
- Chromosomes and Genes
- Carriers of hereditary information; DNA as genetic material.
- Genetic Disorders
- Examples: Hemophilia, Sickle Cell Anemia, Down’s Syndrome.
- Application of Genetics
- Selective breeding, genetic engineering, and evolution studies.
🧠 Conclusion
Understanding Animal Growth, Animal Tissue, and Genetics provides a foundation for comprehending how life develops, functions, and evolves. These concepts not only form a crucial part of the NDA CDS 1 2026 Biology syllabus but also develop analytical and scientific thinking essential for future officers in the armed forces — where observation, reasoning, and precision matter as much as courage and leadership.
