Biology in Human Welfare: Human Health and Disease - Toppers’ Detailed Notes

1. Infectious diseases:

• Types of infectious diseases and causative agents:

  • Bacterial: Tuberculosis, typhoid, pneumonia, cholera
  • Viral: Influenza, HIV, Hepatitis B, COVID-19
  • Fungal: Ringworm, athlete’s foot, candidiasis
  • Parasitic: Malaria, amoebiasis, filariasis

• Transmission modes:

  • Air
  • Water
  • Food
  • Vectors (mosquitoes, flies, ticks)
  • Contact (direct or indirect)

• Prevention strategies:

  • Vaccination
  • Proper sanitation and hygiene
  • Vector control
  • Safe food handling
  • Avoiding contact with infected individuals

• Antibiotics:

  • Types of antibiotics
  • Mechanism of action
  • Antibiotic resistance

(Refer to NCERT Biology Class 11, Chapters 1, 3, 11, 13, 20)

2. Non-infectious diseases:

• Cardiovascular diseases: Hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke

• Diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes

• Cancer: Types of cancer, causes, and risk factors

• Asthma: Causes and triggers, management

• Autoimmune disorders: Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis

(Refer to NCERT Biology Class 12, Chapters 1, 3, 5, 8)

3. Epidemiology and public health:

• Epidemiology:

  • Definition
  • Measures of disease frequency (incidence, prevalence, mortality rate)
  • Epidemiological studies (observational studies, experimental studies)

• Public health:

  • Public health measures for disease prevention and control
  • Vaccination programs
  • Sanitation and hygiene measures
  • Health education

• Herd immunity:

  • Concept of herd immunity
  • Role of vaccination in achieving herd immunity

(Refer to NCERT Biology Class 12, Chapter 1, 3, 17, 18, 24)

4. Human immune system and immunology:

• Components of the immune system:
  • Innate immunity: Physical barriers, phagocytic cells, inflammation
  • Adaptive immunity: Lymphocytes (B cells, T cells), antibodies, immune response

• Humoral immune response: Antibody production, role of B cells

• Cell-mediated immune response: Activation of T cells, role in killing infected cells

(Refer to NCERT Biology Class 11, Chapters 21, 22)

5. Diagnostic techniques and biotechnology in healthcare:

• Diagnostic techniques: Microscopy, serological tests (ELISA), molecular techniques (PCR)

• Biotechnology: Genetic engineering, recombinant DNA technology, production of therapeutic proteins and vaccines

(Refer to NCERT Biology Class 12, Chapters 5, 6)

6. Health impacts of environmental factors:

• Pollution: Air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, their effects on human health

• Climate change: Impact on disease transmission, food production, mental health

• Lifestyle choices: Smoking, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, their impact on health

(Refer to NCERT Biology Class 12, Chapter 18)

7. Genetics and genetic disorders:

• Basic Mendelian inheritance: Dominance, recessiveness, co-dominance

• Genetic mutations and chromosomal abnormalities: Types of mutations, their effects on genes and proteins

• Genetic disorders: Examples and inheritance patterns

(Refer to NCERT Biology Class 12, Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16, 21)

8. Drug development and pharmacology:

• Drug discovery process: From target identification to clinical trials

• Drug action and mechanisms: Drug-receptor interactions, pharmacokinetics

(Refer to NCERT Biology Class 12, Chapters 9, 10)

Note: These detailed notes provide an overview of the essential subtopics within Biology in Human Welfare for the JEE exam. To ensure comprehensive preparation, it is crucial to refer to your prescribed syllabus, NCERT textbooks, and additional study materials.