1. Phylum Aschelminths (Nemathelminths).........................7
1.1 General characters, body structure, pseudocoelom, parasitism.
1.2 Classification up to classes with examples (names only).
1.3 Class Nematoda: Ascaris lumbricoides – Helminth control programs, Wuchereria bancrofti – Lymphatic filariasis and its control measures, Ancylostoma duodenale – anemia due to hookworm infection.
1.4 Human and plant parasitic nematodes and economic importance of Nematoda.
1.5 Recent Advances: Introduction of Caenorhabditis elegans as model organism in genetics and developmental biology
2. Phylum Annelida.................................................28
2.1 General characters.
2.2 Classification up to classes with examples (names only).
2.2.1 Class Polychaeta - Nereis pelagica, Aphrodite aculeate.
2.2.2 Class Oligochaeta - Pheritima posthuma.
2.2.3 Class Hirudinea - Hirudinaria granulosa.
2.3 Economic importance of annelids with reference to earthworms and leeches.
2.4 Study of Earthworm: External characters, digestive system, reproductive system, excretory system (Nephridia only).
2.5 Recent Advances: Introduction of role of hirudin as a potential anticoagulant in modern medicine, use of Annelids as a model for studying synaptic transmission
3. Phylum Arthropoda.............................................61
3.1 General characters.
3.2 Classification up to classes with examples (names only).
3.2.1 Class: Crustacea: Palaemon (prawn)
3.2.2 Class: Chilopoda: Scolopendra sp. (centipede).
3.2.3 Class: Diplopoda: Julus sp. (millipede).
3.2.4 Class Insecta: Periplaneta americana
3.2.5 Class: Arachnida - Buthus sp. (scorpion).
3.3 Study of Cockroach: External Morphology, Digestive System, Reproductive System.
3.4 Recent Advances: Introduction of Use of CRISPER-Cas9 in gene editing in Drosophilla melanogaster, Vaccine development using Arthropods salivary proteins, medicinal properties of Arthropods.
4. Phylum Mollusca.........................................................90
4.1 General characters.
4.2 Classification up to classes with examples (names only).
4.2.1 Class Gastropoda - Pila globosa (apple snail).
4.2.2 Class Pelecypoda - Lamellidens marginalis (bivalve).
4.2.3 Class Polyplacophora - Chiton.
4.2.4 Class: Cephalopod - Octopus vulgaris (common octopus).
4.3 Recent Advances: Introduction of development of analgesics from toxins of cone snails, use of snail mucous & its medicinal properties, use of molluscan species as bioindicator of aquatic pollution.
5. Phylum Echinodermata...................................103
5.1 General characters.
5.2 Classification up to classes with examples (names only).
5.2.1 Class Asteroidea - Asterias rubens (sea stars or starfish).
5.2.2 Class: Holothuroidea - Holothuria sp. (sea cucumbers).
5.2.3 Class: Echinoidea - Echinus esculentis (common sea urchins).
5.2.4 Class: Crinoidea - Sea lilies or feather stars.
5.3 Economic importance of Echinodermata.
5.4 Recent Advances: Limbs and organ regeneration studies in starfish and sea cucumbers, Echinoderms as bioindicators of marine ecosystem health.
References.........................................................131
