- [ Purpose of the Examination ]
- The purpose of this examination is to test whether international students have the basic academic ability in science necessary for studying at universities or other higher educational institutions in Japan.
- [ Classification of the Examination ]
- The examination consists of three subjects: physics, chemistry, and biology. Examinees are required to select two of these subjects.
- [ Scope of Questions ]
- The scope of questions is as follows. What is taught in elementary and junior high schools in Japan is regarded as already learned and therefore to be included in the scope of the EJU. For each subject, the contents are grouped and presented by topic titles or key scientific terms.
Biology
The scope of questions will follow the scope of “Basic Biology” and “Advanced Biology” of the Course of Study for high schools in Japan.
- I Evolution of organisms
- II Phylogeny and evolution of organisms
- III Life phenomena and substances
- IV Metabolism
- V Expression of genetic information and development
- VI Maintenance of the human internal environment
- VII Animal responses and behavior
- VIII Plant growth and responses to the environment
- IX Ecology and environment
I Evolution of organisms
1. Origin of life and evolution of cells
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(1)Origin of life
Primitive Earth and chemical evolution -
(2)Evolution of cells
First appearance of prokaryotic cells and emergence of photosynthetic organisms
First appearance of eukaryotic cells and endosymbiosis
Evolution of living organisms and changes in Earth’s environment
2. Genetic changes and changes in genetic composition
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(1)Genetic changes
Mutations and changes in characteristics of organisms
Nucleotide substitution, insertion and deletion -
(2)Changes in genetic composition
Genes and chromosomes (gene loci, genotypes, and phenotypes)
Sex chromosomes and autosomes
Meiosis and fertilization
Linkage and recombination
3. Mechanisms of evolution
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(1)Mechanisms of evolution
Gene frequency and evolution
Genetic drift and neutral theory
Natural selection and adaptive evolution -
(2)Speciation
Isolation and speciation
II Phylogeny and evolution of organisms
1. Phylogeny and evolution of organisms
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(1)Phylogeny and classification of organisms
Nucleic acid sequences and amino acid sequences
Molecular evolution
Phylogenetic tree of vertebrates
Morphological and molecular phylogenetics -
(2)Domains and phylogeny
Phylogeny of bacteria and archaea
Phylogeny of eukaryotes -
(3)Human phylogeny and evolution
Evolution of primates
Evolution and migration of humans
III Life phenomena and substances
1. Cells and molecules
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(1)Biological substances and cells
Substances that compose cells
Structure of biomembranes
Structure and function of cell organelles
Cytoskeleton -
(2)Life phenomena and proteins
Structure and properties of proteins
Properties and functions of enzymes
Membrane transport proteins
Receptors and signal transduction
IV Metabolism
1. Metabolism and energy
- (1)Anabolism and catabolism
- (2)ATP and energy
2. Photosynthesis
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(1)Photosynthesis and chloroplasts
Structure of chloroplast and photosynthetic pigments
Mechanism of photosynthesis and ATP synthesis - (2)Bacterial photosynthesis
3. Respiration and fermentation
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(1)Respiration and mitochondria
Structure of mitochondria
Mechanism of respiration and ATP synthesis -
(2)Fermentation and its mechanism
Lactic acid fermentation
Alcoholic fermentation
V Expression of genetic information and development
1. Genetic information and its expression
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(1)Molecular structure and replication of DNA
Base complementarity and DNA replication
Cell cycle and DNA replication -
(2)Genetic information and its expression
Transcription, splicing and translation
Transcription and translation in prokaryotes
2. Regulation of gene expression and development
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(1)Regulation of gene expression
Regulation of transcription and regulation by gene regulators
Regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes
Regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes -
(2)Development and gene expression
Gametogenesis, fertilization and cleavage in animals
Organizers and induction
Cell differentiation and morphogenesis
Expression of genes involved in animal development
Cell differentiation and regulation of gene expression
3. Techniques for genetic manipulation
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(1)Techniques for genetic manipulation
Isolation and amplification of genes
Analysis of gene structure and expression -
(2)Applications of gene technology
Application to food production, and application to medicine
Ⅵ Maintenance of the human internal environment
1. Regulation of the human body
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(1)Bodily fluids and their circulation
Blood coagulation - (2)Autonomic nervous system and endocrine system
- (3)Immunity
VII Animal responses and behavior
1. Animal responses
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(1)Stimulus reception and response
Nervous system and neurons
Resting potentials and action potentials
Conduction of excitation and saltatory conduction
Synapses and signal transmission
Synaptic plasticity -
(2)Receptor mechanisms
Stimulus reception and adequate stimulus
Transmission of information from receptors to the central nervous system -
(3)Structure and function of the central nervous system
Structure and function of the brain
Structure and function of the spinal cord
Mechanism of reflex -
(4)Mechanisms of effector organs
Structure of skeletal muscle
Conduction of excitation and muscle contraction
2. Animal behavior
- (1)Innate behavior
- (2)Acquired behavior and learning
VIII Plant growth and responses to the environment
1. Angiosperm reproduction and development
- (1)Gametogenesis
- (2)Double fertilization
- (3)Embryogenesis
- (4)Seed formation
2. Plant life and plant hormones
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(1)Seed germination and responses to light
Seed dormancy and germination
Positive and negative photoblastic seeds
Photoreceptors -
(2)Plant responses to the environment and growth
Functions of auxin
Responses to light and gravity
Tropisms and nastic movements
Stomatal opening and closure -
(3)Flower bud formation and flower formation
Photoperiodism
Mechanism of flower bud formation
Vernalization
Flower structure and the ABC model - (4)Fruit development and maturation, defoliation, and fruit abscission
IX Ecology and environment
1. Population and community
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(1)Population and its characteristics
Survivorship curve and age pyramid
Population density and intraspecific competition
Interaction within a population (sociality) -
(2)Community and its characteristics
Predator and prey
Parasitism and symbiosis
Interspecific competition and ecological position (niche)
2. Ecosystems
- (1)Floral succession and biomes
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(2)Biomass production and matter cycles in ecosystems
Biomass production
Biomass movement and energy flow through trophic levels
Matter cycles (carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, and nitrogen assimilation) -
(3)Ecosystems and human activities
Ecosystems and biodiversity
Effects of human activities on ecosystems
Ecological balance and conservation
