Topic Wise Standard Reference Books for JRF NET Life Science Examination
(also for ICMR JRF, DBT JRF, GATE Life Science, Biotechnology and ICAR Examination)

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“Great books help you understand, and they help you feel understood…”

  John Green

          Preparation is the most important (of course the only) strategy to crackle CSIR JRF NET examination and it will help to build up your confidence. For through preparation, books are the best resource to gain conceptual and application knowledge on concerned topics. Following are the list of some of the standard reference books in different disciplines of biology to prepare any competitive examinations. We have arranged these books topic wise to best suit your requirements. It is a very long list and it doesn’t mean that you have to study all these books before going for the examination. Best strategy is that, you first select a topic from the syllabus, and for the preparation of that topic we advise you to use any of these books from the list. For example, for a better understanding of Biochemistry, you cannot omit books like ‘Lehninger’s Principles of Biochemistry’ or ‘Biochemistry by Stryer‘. Similarly for Immunology, the best one is ‘Immunology by Kuby’, for molecular biotechnology use ‘Principles of Gene Manipulation by Primrose’ and so on. The best things about these books are that they introduce the topic in most interesting and easy way with colourfull pictures and animated descriptions so that anyone can understand the concepts very easily. Furthermore they provide a good summary and practice questions at the end of each chapter that can be used to test your knowledge once you finished the topic. Most of these books contain boxed contents such as ‘key points/concepts’, interesting stories regarding the discoveries and real life situations such as diseases, treatments etc. which will help to generate curiosity in readers mind and encourage them to explore more.

So… don’t waste the time… start your preparations now itself…. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for any clarification/doubt….All the best…

Books for Numerical Ability

@. Quickest Mathematics: Quantitative Aptitude and Numerical Ability for all Competitive Examinations by Kiran Prakashan

@. A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by Agarwal

@. Analytical Reasoning by M. K. Pandey

@. A New Approach to Numerical Ability by Navratan Singh

@. IQ and Aptitude Tests: Assess Your Verbal, Numerical and Spatial Reasoning Skills by Philip Carter

@. Numerical Ability and mathematical Aptitude by Aditham Rao

@. GATE General Aptitude: Numerical and Verbal Ability by ACE Engineering Academy

Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics for Biologists

@. Chemistry for Biologists (Instant notes) by Fisher & Arnold
(Julie Fisher and ‎John Arnold; Instant Notes: Chemistry for Biologists, Ed. 2; 2003; BIOS Scientific Publishers, Taylor & Francis)

@. Mathematics & Statistics for Life Sciences (Instant Notes) by MacKenzie 
(Aulay Mackenzie; Instant Notes: Mathematics and Statistics for Life Sciences; 2005; BIOS Scientific Publishers, Taylor & Francis)

@. General, Organic and Biological Chemistry (Schaum’s Series) by Odian & Blei
(George Odian and ‎Ira Blei; Schaum’s Outilne: General, Organic and Biological Chemistry; 2009; McGraw Hill Professional)

@. Physics for Biology and Health Students (Schaum’s Series) by Hademenos
(George Hademenos; Schaum’s Outline: Physics for Pre-Med, Biology and Allied Health Students; 1998; McGraw Hill)

@. Biochemical Calculations by Segel
(Irwin H. Segel; Biochemical Calculations: How to Solve Mathematical Problems in General Biochemistry; 1976; Wiley International)

General Biology

@. Raven’s Biology by Raven
(Peter Raven, ‎George Johnson, ‎Kenneth Mason; Biology, Ed. 10; 2013; McGraw Hill)

@. Biology by Campbell and Reece
(Neil A. Campbell, ‎Jane B. Reece; Biology, Ed. 9; 2005; Pearson)

@. Biology by Robert Brooker
(Robert J. Brooker, ‎Eric P. Widmaier, ‎Linda E. Graham; Biology, Ed. 3, 2014; McGraw Hill)

@. This is Biology by Mayr
(Ernst Mayr; This is Biology: The Science of Living world; 1998; Harvard University Press)

@. Life by Lewis
(Ricki Lewis; Life; Ed. 6, 2007; McGraw Hill)

@. Life: The Science of Biology by Sadava
(David E. Sadava, ‎David M. Hillis, ‎H. Craig Heller, W. H. Freeman; Life: The Science of Biology; Ed. 10, 2014; Sinauer Associates)

@. Biology: Concepts and Investigations by Hoefnagels
(Marielle Hoefnagels; Biology: Concepts and Investigations; 2012; McGraw Hills)

@. Discover Biology by Cain
(Anu Singh Cundy, Michael Lee Chain and Jennie Dusheck; Discover Biology; 2012; W. W. Norton and Company)

@. 3000 Solved Problems in Biology (Schaum’s Series) by Bernstein
(Ruth Bernstein, ‎Stephen Bernstein; Schaum’s Outline: 3000 Solved Problems in Biology; 2004; McGraw Hill)

@. Biology (Schaum’s Outline) by Fried
(George Fried, ‎George Hademenos; Schaum’s Outline: Biology; 2009; McGraw Hill)

Plant and Animal Sciences (Diversity of Life Forms)

@. Plant Biology by Stern
(Kingsley Rowland Stern, ‎James E. Bidlack, ‎Shelley Jansky; Introductory Plant Biology; 2008; McGraw Hill)

@. Plant Biology (Instant Notes) by Lack & Evans
(Andrew Lack, ‎David Evans; Instant Notes: Plant Biology; 2001; BIOS Scientific Publishers; Taylor & Francis)

@. Animal Biology (Instant Notes) by Jurd
(Richard David Jurd; Instant Notes: Animal Biology; 2004; BIOS Scientific Publishers; Taylor & Francis)

@. Biology of Plants by Raven
(Peter H. Raven, Ray Franklin Evert, Susan E. Eichhorn; Biology of Plants; 2013; W.H. Freeman Publishers)

@. Plant Breeding by B.D. Singh
(B.D. Singh; Plant Breeding: Principles and Methods; 2007; Kalyani Publishers)

@. Plant Pathology by Agrios
(George Agrios; Plant pathology; 2012, Elsevier)

Cell and Molecular Biology

@. Cell and Molecular Biology by Karp:
(Gerald Karp; Cell and Molecular Biology: Concepts and Experiments; 2009; John Wiley & Sons)

@. Molecular Biology of Cells by Bruce Alberts
(Bruce Alberts; Molecular Biology of Cells; 1989; Curier Corporation)

@. Cell and Molecular Biology by De Robertis
(Eduardo D. P. De Robertis, Eduardo M. F. De Robertis; Cell and Molecular Biology; 2001; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins)

@. Molecular Cell Biology by Lodish
(Harvey Lodish, ‎Arnold Berk, ‎Chris A. Kaiser; Molecular Cell Biology; 2012; W. H. Freeman)

@. Molecular Biology of the Gene by Watson
(James D. Watson, Tania A. Baker, Stephen P. Bell, Alexaner Gann, Michael Levine and Richard Losick; Molecular Biology of the Gene; 2004; Pearson Education India)

@. Essential Cell Biology by Bruce Alberts
(Bruce Alberts, Dennis Bray, Karen Hopkin, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts and Peter Walter; Essential Cell Biology; 2003;  Taylor & Francis Group)

@. The Cell by Cooper
(Geoffrey M. Cooper, Robert E. Hausman; The Cell: Molecular Approach; 2013; ASM Press)

@. The World of the Cell by Wayne & Lewis
(Wayne M. Becker, Lewis J. Kleinsmith, Jeff Hardinm; The World of the Cell; 2003;  Benjamin Cumming Publishing Company)

@. Molecular Biology by David Clark
(David P. Clark, Nanette J. Pazdernik; Molecular Biology: Understanding the Genetic Revolution; 2012; Elsevier)

@. Molecular Biology by Weaver
(Robert Weaver; Molecular Biology; 2011; McGraw Hill Education)

@. Molecular Biology (Instant Notes) by McLennan
(Alexander McLennan, ‎Andy Bates, ‎Phil Turner; Instant Notes: Molecular Biology; 2012; BIOS Scientific Publishers, Taylor & Francis)

@. Theory and Problems of Molecular and Cell Biology by Stansfield
(William Stansfield, Jaime S. Colome, Raul J. Cano; Schaum’s Outline: Theory and Problems of Molecular and Cell Biology; 1996; McGraw Hill Professional)

Genetics

@. Genetics: A Conceptual Approach by Pierce
(Benjamin A. Pierce; Genetics: A Conceptual Approach; 2012, W.H. Freeman)

@. Concept of Genetics by Klug
(William S. Klug, Michael R. Cummings, Charlotte A. Spence; Concept of Genetics; 2014; Pearson)

@. Genes IX by Lewin
(Benjamin Lewin; Genes IX; 2008; Jones & Bartlett Learning)

@. Principles of Genetics by Tamarin
(Robert H. Tamarin, Ken Zwicker; Principles of Genetics; 1992; Wm. C. Brown Publishers)

@. Principles of Genetics by Snustard
(D. Peter Snustad, Michael J. Simmons; Principles of Genetics; 2012; John Wiley & Sons)

@. Genetics: Analysis and Principles by Brooker
(Robert J. Brooker; Genetics: Analysis and Principles’ 2005, McGraw Hill Higher Education)

@. Principles of Genetics by Gardner  
(Eldon John Gardner, D. Peter Snustad; principles of Genetics; 1991; Wiley)

@. Lewin’s Genes XI by Krebs
(Benjamin Lewin, Jocelyn E. Krebs, Elliott S. Goldstein, Stephen T. Kilpatrick; Lewin’s Genes XI; 2014; Jones & Bartlett Publishers)

@. Genetics: Principles and Analysis by Hartl & Jones
(Daniel L. Hartl, Elizabeth W. Jones; Genetics: Principles and Analysis; 1998; Jones and Bartlett Publishers)

@. An Introduction to Genetic Analysis by Griffiths  
(Anthony J. F. Griffiths, Susan R. Wessler, Sean B. Carroll, John Doebley; An Introduction to Genetic Analysis; 2011; MacMillan Higher Education)

@. Genetics (Instant Notes) by Fletcher & Hickey
(Hugh Fletcher, Ivor Hickey; Instant Notes: Genetics; 2012; Garland Science, Taylor & Francis)

@. Theory and Problems of Genetics by Stansfield
(William D. Stansfield; Schaum’s Outline: Theory and problems of Genetics; 1983; McGraw Hill)

@. Genetics: Analysis of Genes and Genomes by Hartl & Ruvolo
(Daniel Hartl, Maryellen Ruvolo; Genetics: Analysis of Genes and Genomes; 2011; Jones & Bartlett Publishers)

Biochemistry

@. Lehninger’s Principles of Biochemistry by Nelson & Cox
(David Lee Nelson, Michael M. Cox; Lehninger’s Principles of Biochemistry, 2013, W.H. Freeman)

@. Fundamentals of Biochemistry by Voet & Voet
(Donald Voet, Judith G. Voet, Charlotte W. Pratt; Fundamentals of Biochemistry; 2012; John Wiley & Sons)

@. Biochemistry by Stryer
(Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Lubert Stryer; Biochemistry; 2010; W.H. Freeman)

@. Biochemistry (Instant Notes) by Hames & Hooper
(David Hames, Nigel Hooper; Instant Notes: Biochemistry; 2011; Taylor & Francis)

@. Plant Biochemistry by Walter
(Hans-Walter Heldt, Birgit Piechulla; Plant Biochemistry, Ed. 4; 2011; Academic)

@. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants by Bob Buchanan
(Bob Buchanan, Wilhelm Gruissem, Russell Jones; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants, Ed. 2; 2015; Wiley)

@. Enzymes by Palmer
(T Palmer, P L Bonne; Enzyme: Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Clinical Chemistry; 2007; Elsevier)

@. Biochemistry by Garret & Grisham
(Reginald Garrett, Charles Grisham; Biochemistry; 2012; Cengage Learning)

@. Biochemistry by Campbell & Farrell
(Mary Campbell, Shawn Farrell; Biochemistry; 2014; Cengage Learning)

@. Biochemistry and Genetics: 500 Questions by Wilson
(Golder Wilson; Biochemistry and Genetics: 500 Question; 2013; McGraw Hill Professional)

@. Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry by Murray
(Robert K. Murray, Harold Anthony Harper; Harper’s Illustrated Biochemistry; 2006; Lange Medical Books/McGraw Hill)

@. Medical Biochemistry by Baynes
(John Baynes, Marek H. Dominiczak; Medical Biochemistry; 2014; Elsevier Health Sciences)

@. Principles of Biochemistry by Moran
(Laurence A Moran, Robert A Horton, Gray Scrimgeour, Marc Perry, David Rawn; Principles of Biochemistry; 2013; Pearson Education Limited)

@. Theory and Problems of Biochemistry by Kuchel
(Philip W. Kuchel; Schaum’s Outline: Theory and problems of Biochemistry; 1998; McGraw Hill Professional)

Plant Physiology

@. Plant Physiology by Taiz
(Lincoln Taiz, Eduardo Zeiger; Plant Physiology; 2010; Sinauer Associates)

@. Plant Physiology by Salisbury & Ross
(Frank Salisbury, Cleon Ross; Plant Physiology, Ed. 4; 1991, Wiley)

@. Plant Physiology and Development by Taiz
(Lincoln Taiz, Eduardo Zeiger, Ian M. Moller, Angus Murphy; Plant Physiology and Development, Ed. 6; 2015)

@. Advanced Plant Physiology by Wilkins
(Malcolm B. Wilkins; Advanced Plant Physiology; 1984; Pub- Pitman)

Animal Physiology, Medical Physiology and Endocrinology

@. Text book of Medical Physiology by Guyton
(Arthur Clifton Guyton, John Edward Hall; Text Book of Medical Physiology; 2010; Elsevier Saunders)

@. Endocrinology by Hadley
(Mac E. Hadley; Endocrinology; 2012; Prentice Hall)

@. Comparative Vertebrate Endocrinology by Bentley
(P. J. Bentley; comparative Vertebrate Enxocrinology; 1998; Cambridge University Press)

@. Physiological Systems in Insects by Klowden
(Marc J Klowden; Physiological Systems in Insects; 2013; Academic Press)

@. Principles of Anatomy and Physiology by Tortora
(Gerard J. Tortora, Bryan H. Derrickson; Principles of Anatomy and Physiology; 2008; John Wiley & Sons)

@. Principles of Animal Physiology by Moyes & Schulte
(Christopher D. Moyes, Patricia M. Schulte; Principles of Animal Physiology; 2013; Pearson)

@. Vertebrate Endocrinology by Norris
(David O. Norris, James A. Carr; Vertebrate Endocrinology; 2013; Academic Press)

@. Neuroscience (Instant Notes) by Alan Longstaff
(Alan Longstaff; Instant Notes: Neuroscience; 2011; Taylor & Francis)

@. Human Physiology (Instant Notes) by McLaughlin
(Daniel P. McLaughlin, J. A. Stamford, David A. White; Instant Notes: Human Physiology; 2007; Taylor & Francis)

@. Human Anatomy and Physiology by Graaff
(Kent Van de Graaff, R. Rhees, Sidney Palmer; Schaum’s Outline: Human Anatomy and Physiology; 2013; McGraw Hill Professional)

@. Review of Medical Physiology by William Ganong
(William Ganong; Review of Medical Physiology; 2005; McGraw Hill Professional)

Immunology

@. Immunology by Kuby
(Thomas J. Kindt, Richard A. Goldsby, Barbara A. Osborne, Janis Kuby; Immunology, 2007; W.H. Freeman)

@. Essential Immunology by Ivan Roitt
(Peter J. Delves, Seamus J. Martin, Dennis R. Burton, Ivan M. Roitt; Essential Immunology; 2011; John Wiley & Sons)

@. Immunology (Instant Notes) by Lydyard
(Peter Lydyard, Alex Whelan, Michael Fanger; Instant Notes: Immunology; 2011; Taylor & Francis)

@. Immunology (Schaum’s series) by Pinchuk
(George Pinchuk; Schaum’s Outline: Immunology; 2001; McGraw Hill Professional)

Microbiology (Bacteriology and Virology)

@. Prescott’s Microbiology by Prescott
(Joanne M. Willey, Linda Sherwood, Christopher J. Woolverton; Prescott’s Microbiology, 2011; McGraw Hill)

@. Microbiology by Pelczar
(Michael Joseph Pelczar, Eddie Chin Sun Chan, Noel R. Krieg; Microbiology, 1993; McGraw Hill)

@. Microbiology by Tortora
(Gerard J. Tortora, Berdell R. Funke, Christine L. Case; Microbiology; 2015; Pearson Education)

@. Brock Biology of Microorganisms by Madigan
(Michael T. Madigan , David P. Clark, David Stahl , John M. Martinko; Broock Biology of Microorganisms; 2010; Benjamin Cummings)

@. Microbiology (Instant Notes) by Baker
(Simon Baker, Jane Nicklin, Caroline Griffiths; Instant Notes: Microbiology; 2011; Taylor & Francis)

@. Medical Microbiology (Instant Notes) by Irving
(William L. Irving, Dlawer A. A. Ala’Aldeen, Tim Boswell; Instant Notes: Medical Microbiology; 2005; Garland Science, Taylor & Francis)

@. Microbiology by Alcamo
(I. Edward Alcamo, Jennifer Warner; Schaum’s Outline: Microbiology; 2009; McGraw Hill Professional)

Biotechnology and Gene Manipulation

@. Principles of Gene Manipulation and Genomics by Primrose
(Sandy B. Primrose, Richard Twyman; Principles of Gene Manipulation; 2013; John Wiley and Sons)

@. Genomes by T. A. Brown
(Terence A. Brown; Genomes; 2007; Garland Science)

@. Molecular Cloning by Sambrook Vol-1, 2, 3
(Joseph Sambrook, David William Russell; Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Vol- 1, 2, 3; 2001; CSHL Press)

@. Gene Cloning and DNA Analysis by T. A. Brown
(T. A. Brown; Gene Cloning and DNA Analysis; 2013; John Wiley & Sons)

@. DNA Technology by Alcamo
(I. Edward Alcamo; DNA Technology; 2001; Gulf Professional Publishing)

@. Molecular Biotechnology by Glick & Pasternack
(Bernard R. Glick, Jack J. Pasternak, Cheryl L. Patten; Molecular Biotechnology: Principles and Applications of Recombinant DNA; 2010; ASM Press)

@. Plant Tissue Culture by Razdan
(Razdan; Introduction to Plant Tissue Culture; 2003; Oxford and IBH Publishing)

@. Biotechnology by Satyanarayana
(U. Satyanarayana; Biotechnology; 2013; Books and Allied (P.) Limited)

@. Plant Biotechnology by Slater & Scott
(Adrian Slater, Nigel W. Scott, Mark R. Fowler; Plant Biotechnology: The Genetic Manipulation of Plants; 2008; Oxford University Press)

@. Discovering Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics by Campbell
(Alastair Campbell; Discovering Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics; 2004; Pearson Education Limited)

@. Introduction to Biotechnology by Campbell & Brown
(C. M. Brown, Iain Campbell, F. G. Priest; Introduction to Biotechnology; 1987; Blackwell Scientific Publications)

Applied Biology

@. Principles of Fermentation Technology by Stanbury
(Peter F. Stanbury, Allan Whitaker, Stephen J. Hall; Principles of Fermentation Technology; 2013; Elsevier)

@. Industrial Microbiology by Casida
(L.E. Casida; Industrial Microbiology; 2005; New Age International (P.) Limited Publishers)

@. Environmental Biotechnology by Evans & Furlong
(Gareth G. Evans, Judy Furlong; Environmental Biotechnology: Theory and Applications; 2011; John Wiley & Sons)

Biophysical Instrumentation

@. Principles and Techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology by Wilson & Walker
(Keith Wilson, John Walker; Principles and Techniques of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; 2010; Cambridge University Press)

@. Molecular and Cellular Biophysics by Jackson
(Meyer B. Jackson; Molecular and Cellular Biophysics; 2006; Cambridge University Press)

@. Introductory Biophysics by Tran
(J. R. Claycomb, Jonathan Quoc P. Tran; Introductory Biophysics: Perspective on the Living State; 2010; Jones & Bartlett Publishers)

@. Introductory Biophysics by Cerdonio & Noble  
(Massimo Cerdonio, Robert W. Noble; Introductory Biophysics; 1986; World Scientific)

Bioinformatics

@. Introduction to Bioinformatics by Lesk
(Arthur M. Lesk; Introduction to Bioinformatics; 2014; Oxford University Press)

@. Bioinformatics by Baxevanis & Ouellette
(Andreas D. Baxevanis, B. F. Francis Ouellette; Bioinformatics: A Practical Guide to the Analysis of Genes and Proteins; 2004; John Wiley & Sons)

@. Bioinformatics (Instant Notes) by Hodgman
(T. Charlie Hodgman, Andrew French, David R. Westhead; Instant Notes: Bioinformatics; 2010; Taylor & Francis)

Biostatistics and Research Methodology

@. Introductory Biostatistics by Chap Le
(Chap T. Le; Introductory Biostatistics; 2003; John Wiley & Sons)

@. Statistical Methods in Medical Research by Armitage
(Peter Armitage, Geoffrey Berry, J. N. S. Matthews; Statistical Methods in Medical Research; 2008; John Wiley & Sons)

@. Research Methodology by Kothari
(C. R. Kothari; Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques; 2004; New Age International)

Embryology and Developmental Biology

@. Developmental Biology by Gilbert
(Scott F. Gilbert; Developmental Biology; 2014; Sinauer)

@. An Introduction to Embryology by Balinsky
(Boris Ivan Balinsky, B. C. Fabian; An Introduction to Embryology; 1981; Saunders College Pub.)

@. Developmental Biology (Instant Notes) by Twyman
(Richard M. Twyman; Instant Notes: Developmental Biology; 2001; Taylor & Francis)

@. Principles of Development by Lewis
(Lewis Wolpert, Cheryll Tickle; Principles of Development; 2011; Oxford University Press)

Evolution and Behavioral Biology

@. Evolution by Strickberger
(Brian Keith Hall, Benedikt Hallgrímsson, Monroe W. Strickberger; Evolution; 2013; Jones & Bartlett Publishers)

@. The Theory of Evolution by Dawkins & Maynard  
(John Maynard Smith; The Theory of Evolution; 1993; Cambridge University Press)

@. Principles of Insect Morphology by Snodgrass
(Snodgrass R.E.; Principles of Insect Morphology; 2004; CBS Publishers & Distributors)

@. The Insects: Structure, Function and Biodiversity by Ambrose
(Dunston P. Ambrose; The Insects: Structure, Function and Biodiversity; 2004; Kalyani Publishers, 2004)

Ecology and Environmental Sciences

@. Basic Ecology by Odum
(Eugene Pleasants Odum; Basic Ecology; 1983; Saunders College Pub.)

@. Fundamentals of Ecology by Odum
(Eugene P. Odum; Fundamental of Ecology; 2005; Cengage Learning India Private Limited)

@. Elements of Ecology by Smith & Smith
(Thomas Michael Smith, Robert Leo Smith; Elements of Ecology; 2012; Pearson Benjamin Cummings)

@. Plant Ecology by Erwin Beck
(Ernst-Detlef Schulze, Erwin Beck, Klaus Müller-Hohenstein; Plant Ecology; 2005; Springer Science & Business Media)

@. Ecology (Instant Notes) by Mackenzie
(Aulay Mackenzie, Sonia R. Virdee, A. S. Ball; Instant Notes: Ecology; 1998; BIOS Scientific Publishers)

@. Ecology: Theories and Applications by Peter Stiling
(Peter D. Stiling; Ecology: Theories and Applications; 2002; Prentice Hall)

@. Ecology: Concepts and Applications by Molles
(Manuel Carl Molles; Ecology: Concepts and Applications; 2012; McGraw-Hill)