Course Outline
AP Biology
Mr. Somers
This course is aligned as a first year (two-semesters) biology course at any major university. It will require the
same amount of work as a first year biology course. You will be prepared throughout the year to take the AP
Biology exam, which is administered in the second week of May. The focus of this course is to prepare you for
a college level experience so it is expected that you are taking either the AP exam or the final. Along with these
are the dates that these units will be covered (barring snow in the winter and other natural disasters) and testing
on these units will occur on the last day listed. Tests will be given on the last day listed for each unit, which are
Thursdays unless the test falls on a holiday or mid-term week and we will adjust accordingly (indicated by **).
Within each unit there will be several labs related to the topics being covered and proper lab report format is
expected. Along with lab reports you will be expected to do various homework assignments, quizzes, and
major tests. All work, both homework and lab reports are due on the day it is due. Electronic submissions are
due by 7:30 AM that day, handouts are due at the beginning of class that day. Many of your notes will be
provided for the tests and quizzes early on in the course but you are responsible for adding or amending them as
we go along.
Hope you have a great year and enjoy the show.
TOPIC OUTLINE FOR AP BIOLOGY 2015-2016
I.
MOLECULES AND CELLS ………………………………………………………………….25%
Unit 1: Chemistry of Life …………9/9 – 10/1………Chapters 2, 3, 4, & 5…….……….8%
Chemical Elements, Atomic Structure, Molecular Bonds
Properties of Water and Water’s Effect on Organisms
Carbon as the Basic Unit of Life
Macromolecules (Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids)
Enzymes and Metabolism
Unit 2: Cells …………………..…10/2 – 10/22……….Chapters 6, 7, & 8 ……….……10%
Cell Structures and Functions
Membrane Structure and Transportation
Mitosis
Unit 3: Cellular Energy …………10/23 – 11/12..….…Chapters 9 & 10 …………..……8%
Cellular Respiration, Krebs Cycle, Glycolysis and Fermentation
Photosynthesis and the Calvin Cycle
Unit 4: Cell reproduction ………..11/13-12/3………...Chapters 11, 12, and 13 ...………8%
Cell communication
Mitosis and the Cell Cycle
Meiosis and Sexual life cycles
II.
HEREDITY AND EVOLUTION ……………………………………………………………..40%
Unit 5: Heredity …………………12/4 – 12/18**…..……Chapters 14, 15, & 16………..…8%
Mendelian Genetics and Patterns of Inheritance
Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
Molecular Basis of Inheritance
Unit 6: Molecular Genetics.…….12/21 – 1/14…………Chapters 17, 18, & 19…....…..…8%
From Gene to Protein
Genetics of Viruses and Bacteria
Eukaryotic Genomes
Mid-Term Late January (Or date to be arranged if taking other science mid-term on the assigned day)
Unit 7: Technology and Development….1/15 – 2/3**..…Chapters 20 & 21…..…….....…6%
DNA Technology
Genetic Basis of Development
End of First Semester
Unit 8: Evolutionary Biology ……...….2/4– 2/18 ….…Chapters 22, 23, & 24…………..8%
Darwin and the Evidence for Evolution
Evolution of Populations
Origin of Species
Unit 9: Phylogeny and Organization …..2/19-3/10…… Chapters 25, 26, and 27…...……7%
Phylogeny and Systematics
Intro do Biodiversity
Prokaryotes
III.
ORGANISMS ………………………………………………………………………………….25%
Unit 10: Plant Function ……………….3/11 – 3/24** …...Chapters 38 &39 ………......10%
Plant Reproduction
Plant responses to stimuli
Unit 11. Animal Form and Function …..3/25 – 4/14 …….Chapters 40-49 …..……….…22%
Systems to be determined based on current AP Central guidelines. These will be clearly discussed
and delineated before we enter Unit 11.
IV.
ECOSYSTEMS AND BASIC ECOLOGICAL CONCEPTS……………………………….10%
Unit 12: Ecology ………4/15 – 4/28**………Chapters 50,51, 52,53, 54 & 55…….….10%
Intro to Ecology
Behavioral Ecology
Population Ecology
Community Ecology
Ecosystems
Conservation
May 9th
***AP EXAM***
AP Exam until last day of classes
Complete Fetal Pig Dissection and Dissection Practical Exam
**Indictes a different test day than normal (not Thursday) and/or shorter period of time for unit.