AP Biology
Dr. Cao
August 25th, 2014
Seating Chart AP Biology
Find your name & corresponding number
Find the appropriate seat with that number
1.Akagha, Destiny
12. Kaba, Rokiatou
23. Parker, Naiya
2. Bennett, Nahshon
13. Kidane, Kidus
24. Renteria, Cristina
3. Brown, Tamia
14. Koncsol, Alexandria
25. Roberson, Anthony
4. Chisolm, Raleifoot
15. Lee, Daija
26. Ruiz, Daniella
5. Davenport, Benjamin
16. Maddox, Megan
27. Sansbury, Jonathan
6. Dula, Desiree
17. Martin, Za’Kerea
28. Vang, Angely
7. Fisher, Zha’Mariah
18. McDaniel, Elizabeth
29. Wade, Hastings
8. Harper, Allanna
19. Nakhle, Royce
30. Williams, Simone
9. Hernandez, Jesus
20. Nguyen, Jennifer
31. Wilson, Xavier
10. Hudson, Queen
21. Pantaleon, Corey
32. Wylie, Sequoea
11. Janneh, Kadeeja
22. Park, Sung-Ju
33. Yang, Sheng
About Dr. Cao
• Bachelors of Science in Biology at University of North
Carolina-Charlotte (UNCC)
• Conducted scientific research on honey bee communication behavior
About Dr. Cao
• Ph.D. in Entomology from University of Arizona.
Minored in Ecology and Evolutionary biology
• Conducted scientific research on bumble bee physiology and behavior
• Was a National Science Foundation Fellow
• Has published scientific articles
About Dr. Cao
• Loves to run
About Dr. Cao
• Has three dogs
About Dr. Cao
• Favorite comedian is Tina Fey
• Used to be a personal trainer
and group fitness instructor
• Used to write for the school
paper at UNCC
• Cannot swim
An idea of what scores are accepted for
college credit…
• https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/creditandplacement
What is the AP exam like?
• 3 hours long
• 1.5 hours multiple choice
• 63 multiple choice
• 6 grid-in questions
• 1.5 hours writing
• 8 questions, 2 of which are long
Our Big Goals
• To score 85% or higher on all assessments!!!
• To score a 4 or higher on the AP Biology exam
It’s all possible! You must study, pay attention in class,
and ask Dr. Cao for help when you need it!
Course Syllabus Overview
• Edit for late work:
• If you are absent on the day of a formal assessment or when a formal
assignment/project is due, you must provide documentation for an excused absence and
the assignment must be handed in within five school days upon your return.
• If you have an unexcused absence on the due date of a formal assessment/assignment,
you have one day to make it up or hand it in, for a maximum grade of 70%. If you are
in class but do not hand in an informal assignment on that due date, you will have one
day to hand it in and will also receive a grade deduction.
Classroom Conduct
• Show respect for your school, teacher, classmates, and yourself at
all times. Disrespect and misconduct will not be tolerated.
• Come to class prepared, on time, and ready to learn. This means
come ready to take your warm-up quiz, and have your necessary
materials (e.g. binder and pens) each day.
• Follow directions the first time.
• Adhere to all school and classroom policies and procedures.
• Always participate in class and be ready to provide answers.
RRHS
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Honor
• Service
Lab Safety
Teacher/student/parent teacher contract
Lab safety contract
• Signed and turned in by tomorrow, Tuesday
August 26
Classroom Procedures
• To be added on:
• Cell Phone Policy- No cell phones in class. They
must remain in your bag.
Class Materials
DUE ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2TH
• 1.5 or 2” three-ring binder
• Lab notebook with graphing paper
• Blue or black ink pens
Biology
What is it?
Biology
• Biology is the scientific study of life
Biology
• Biology is the scientific study of life
• Biologists ask questions such as
• How does a single cell develop into an organism?
• How does the human mind work?
• How do living things interact in communities?
Figure 1.3
Order
Response to
the environment
Evolutionary adaptation
Reproduction
Regulation
Energy processing
Growth and
development
Scientific Method
Deduction vs. Induction
• Induction (bottom-up): using observations to
form conclusions
• Deduction (top-down): using a general
conclusion to form specific conclusions
Evolution
Evolution
• Change in allele frequencies over time
• i.e. changes in populations over time
Evolution
Gray wolf
Your dog
Who is Charles Darwin?
Published On the Origin of Species by Means of
Natural Selection in 1859
• Two main points:
• Species showed evidence of “descent with
modification” from common ancestors
• Natural selection is the mechanism behind
“descent with modification”
• Darwin’s theory explained the duality of
unity and diversity
Figure 1.21
Evolution by Natural Selection
• Individuals with inherited traits that are best
adapted to the local environment are more likely to
survive and reproduce than those less adapted to
the environment
Katydid insect- leaf mimicry
Observation & Question
Non-venomous
Venomous
Bookwork
Videos that will help
• Deduction vs. induction
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmxZTtn5tII
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcjgWov7mTM
• Evolution and natural selection
Homework
• Quiz on Friday on all of this week’s materials
• Optional: watch the two videos tonight.
• Mandatory:
• Have teacher/parent/student and lab safety contracts signed by Tuesday,
August 26th, tomorrow!
• Have class materials by Tuesday, September 2
• 1.5”-2” three-ring binder
• Lab notebook with graphing paper
• Blue or black pens