ICSE Class 10 Biology Syllabus

ICSE Class 10 Biology Syllabus For Academic Session 2025-2026

The ICSE Class 10 Biology syllabus is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the biological concepts and principles governing living organisms. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the ICSE Class 10 Biology syllabus:

1. Basic Biology

• Cell Cycle and Cell Division:
  • Phases of the cell cycle (Interphase, Mitosis, Cytokinesis).
  • Types of cell division: Mitosis and Meiosis.
  • Importance of mitosis in growth and repair, meiosis in the formation of gametes.
• Structure of Chromosomes:
  • Structure of a chromosome, DNA as the genetic material, genes, and their role in inheritance.

2. Genetics

• Mendelian Inheritance:
  • Mendel’s laws of inheritance: Law of Dominance, Law of Segregation, Law of Independent Assortment.
  • Monohybrid and dihybrid crosses, Punnett squares, examples of Mendelian traits in humans.
• Sex Determination:
  • Chromosomal basis of sex determination in humans (XX-XY system).

3. Plant Physiology

• Photosynthesis:
  • Process of photosynthesis, importance of chlorophyll, light, and carbon dioxide in photosynthesis.
  • Equation of photosynthesis, factors affecting photosynthesis, significance of photosynthesis.
• Transpiration:
  • Process of transpiration, types of transpiration (stomatal, cuticular, lenticular), factors affecting transpiration.
  • Significance of transpiration, adaptation of plants to reduce transpiration.
• Absorption by Roots:
  • Structure of root hair, mechanism of water absorption (osmosis, diffusion, active transport).
  • Role of roots in absorption of water and minerals, importance of root pressure.
• Ascent of Sap:
  • Process and significance of ascent of sap, transpiration pull, cohesion-tension theory.
• Photosynthesis and Transpiration:
  • Relationship between photosynthesis and transpiration, significance of transpiration in cooling plants.

4. Human Anatomy and Physiology

• Circulatory System:
  • Structure of the heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries.
  • Circulation of blood, double circulation, cardiac cycle, blood pressure.
  • Components of blood, functions of blood (transportation, immunity, clotting).
• Excretory System:
  • Structure of the kidney, nephron, formation of urine, osmoregulation.
  • Role of the liver in excretion, structure and function of the skin as an excretory organ.
• Nervous System:
  • Structure and function of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
  • Reflex action, reflex arc, types of reflexes, significance of reflexes.
• Sense Organs:
  • Structure and function of the eye and ear.
  • Mechanism of vision and hearing.
• Endocrine System:
  • Endocrine glands (pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, pancreas), hormones secreted by these glands, and their functions.
  • Disorders related to endocrine glands (diabetes, goiter, dwarfism, gigantism).
• Reproductive System:
  • Male and female reproductive systems, structure, and functions of reproductive organs.
  • Menstrual cycle, fertilization, development of embryo, placenta, parturition.
  • Reproductive health, importance of family planning, methods of contraception.
• Human Evolution:
  • Basic concepts of evolution, evidence of evolution (fossil records, homologous structures, vestigial organs).

5. Plant Reproduction

• Asexual Reproduction:
  • Types of asexual reproduction (binary fission, budding, fragmentation, vegetative propagation).
  • Natural and artificial methods of vegetative propagation (grafting, layering, tissue culture).
• Sexual Reproduction in Plants:
  • Structure of a flower, pollination, types of pollination (self and cross-pollination), agents of pollination.
  • Fertilization in plants, formation of seeds and fruits, dispersal of seeds.

6. Human Diseases

• Types of Diseases:
  • Communicable and non-communicable diseases, causes, and transmission of diseases.
• Bacterial Diseases:
  • Examples (Tuberculosis, Cholera, Typhoid), symptoms, prevention, and treatment.
• Viral Diseases:
  • Examples (AIDS, Influenza, Hepatitis), symptoms, prevention, and treatment.
• Protozoan and Fungal Diseases:
  • Examples (Malaria, Amoebiasis, Ringworm), symptoms, prevention, and treatment.
• Lifestyle Diseases:
  • Examples (Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity), causes, prevention, and management.
• Immunity:
  • Types of immunity (innate, acquired), vaccination, principles of vaccination, importance of vaccines in preventing diseases.

7. Environmental Science

• Ecosystem:
  • Structure of an ecosystem, components of an ecosystem (biotic and abiotic).
  • Types of ecosystems (terrestrial, aquatic), food chains, food webs, and ecological pyramids.
• Biodiversity:
  • Importance of biodiversity, threats to biodiversity, conservation of biodiversity.
• Pollution:
  • Types of pollution (air, water, soil, noise), causes, effects, and control measures.
• Global Warming and Ozone Depletion:
  • Causes, effects, and preventive measures for global warming and ozone depletion.

8. Health and Hygiene

• Personal and Community Health:
  • Importance of personal hygiene, balanced diet, regular exercise.
• Water and Sanitation:
  • Safe drinking water, methods of water purification, importance of sanitation.
• Diseases Caused by Poor Sanitation:
  • Examples of diseases (diarrhea, cholera, dysentery), their prevention and control.

9. Bioethics and Human Welfare

• Bioethics:
  • Ethical issues related to biology (cloning, genetic modification, stem cell research).
• Human Welfare:
  • Contributions of biology to human welfare (medicine, agriculture, biotechnology).

This detailed syllabus ensures that students have a comprehensive understanding of biological concepts and their relevance to daily life and the environment. It prepares them for higher studies in biology and related fields.