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CSIR-NET Unit 1 Revision & Study Plan – Top 10 Tips & Tricks

A new initiative by Biotecnika where we are on a mission to help you conquer the CSIR NET Exam like a boss. We begin with CSIR-NET Unit 1 Revision & Study Plan For CSIR NET Life Sciences and hope to progress to Unit 13 and help you all achieve your dreams!

The start is always sacred, the start is where it all begins and CSIR NET Preparation always begins with Unit 1. Unit 1 is one such part where we all get stuck. Sometimes it feels tough, sometimes confusing.

Unit 1 is that part of the CSIR NET Life Sciences syllabus that connects you from Physics to Chemistry and Biology. So let’s start with CSIR-NET Unit 1 Revision Tips!

What is Unit 1? 

It’s all about biomolecules right?

  • Biochemistry with a tadka of chemistry.
  • It is interconnected to almost every unit.
  • YOU CANNOT SKIP IT!

What to revise?

  • The stabilization bonds between macromolecules eg., proteins and DNA.
  • Amino acid structures and their behaviour according to the different R groups, properties such as chirality and terms such as isoelectric point, pKa values.
  • Protein conformations, dihedral bonds and Ramachandran plot, techniques to determine different conformations and their sequencing.
  • Protein folding thermodynamics, denaturation and biological function. Enzyme kinetics is a must study, along with the inhibition process, graphical representations and formulas.
  • Metabolic pathways of carbohydrates include glycolytic and TCA cycle steps, regulation, enzyme co-factors involved and stoichiometry.
  • Numerical questions on molarity, pH buffer and thermodynamics.
  • Carbohydrate structure, Lipid structure with special emphasis on membrane lipids and adaptation to temperature. Nucleic acid topology and structure and nucleotide biosynthesis.

Tip Number 01 – Get a Good Grasp on basic Chemistry

  • Concepts such as atoms, molecules, bonds, functional groups, oxidation-reduction, nucleophiles, stereochemistry.
  • The better you understand these concepts, the faster you can revise.

Tip Number 02 – Make a list of Important Topics and Subtopics

  • Look at the topic and subtopics and try to recollect points.
  • You can write down the points as well.
  • Check with the textbook or Biotecnika ppt’s if you have missed any points or got any of them wrong.
  • Go through the topic once again.
  • This will be a systematic and all-inclusive revision approach.

Tip Number 03 – Make simplified forms of Metabolic pathways/Cycles to revise faster

  • Although it helps to have all information on one page, revision becomes complicated with too much information.
  • Keep it simple; reactants, products and enzymes.
  • Later you can check more details from other textbooks or notes.

Tip Number 04 – Take Colored Print outs of Processes/structures/Diagrams

  • Learning and revising from coloured diagrams is more fun and easy. It also makes recollection faster.
  • For eg., if you are revising a protein folding process then a coloured diagram is easier to perceive plus important parts or components are highlighted well.

Tip Number 05 – Revise from coloured Flashcards Containing Small bits of Information

  • These are easy to carry and revise quickly.
  • Write the topic name on one face and description on the other face.
  • 4 cards can be made out of one A4 size sheet.
  • Restrict to 3-4 short points/topic.
  • You can also draw molecular structures on cards, 1 amino acid/ 1 nucleotide structure on 1 card.

Tip Number 06 – Focus on properties/functional Groups of structures instead of memorizing

  • No need to draw and redraw structures to revise or learn them.
  • Try knowing the important functional groups in the structure, the behaviour, their properties and their contribution to the function, this is enough.

Tip Number 07 – Revise from Comparison Tables of related Terms /process/pathways

  • Revising from comparison tables and recollecting during exams becomes really easy.
  • For eg., compare the processes of Glycolysis and Gluconeogenesis, or competitive and non-competitive enzyme inhibition. It will help you revise the similarities and differences faster.

Tip Number 08 – Pay Special attention to Thermodynamics, regulation, and inhibitors of a particular process

  • If you are studying nucleotide metabolism, it is important to revise the important steps such as the regulatory step, the rate-limiting step, and inhibitors of the pathway and the spontaneity of the steps.
  • This applies to all metabolic pathways.

Tip Number 09 – Practice Numerical Graph-Based Questions

  • Know the basics of numerical such as molarity, normality, unit conversions etc.
  • Be familiar with the type of graphs and how to analyze or interpret them. Revise from the graphs in standard reference books.
  • Practice PYQ problems as much as you can so that you can become quick in the calculation.

Tip Number 10 – Revise from Flowcharts /Classification tables /charts

  • Whether you are studying the classification of carbohydrates, or lipids, types of co-factors needed for protein function, it is recommended you make a consolidated table/chart containing a few details as well.

👉 https://stores.biotecnika.org/collections/csir-net/products/konceptika-the-flowchart-book

Reference Books for CSIR NET Unit 1

  • Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry by David L Nelson and Michael M Cox.
  • Biochemistry by Donald Voet, Judith G Voet.
  • Biochemistry Hardcover by Lubert Stryer.
  • ENZYMES: Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Clinical Chemistry by Trevor Palmer.

Revision Books for This Unit

Whatever you do

Don’t skip ⇒ Revise Smart ⇒ Create Memory Milestones ⇒ Achieve Success

Sample Question Paper – Download link

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