Pre-AP Biology Syllabus
INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY
Discussion over Class Rules and Procedures
MOLECULES AND CELLS
Chemistry of Life (Chapter 2)
 Chemistry & Water
o Chemical and physical properties that make life on earth possible
o Effects of hydrogen bonding
 Organic molecules in organisms
o Role of carbon for the diversity of life
o Diversity of organic molecules based on the variation of carbon
skeletons
o Functional groups contribute to the diversity of life (Relationship
of structure to function)
o Structure and function of macromolecules
 Enzymes
o Function
o Specificity based on structure (Regulation)
o Regulation (Regulation)
Lab : Enzyme Catalysis and Video (2 Periods)
Cells (Chapter 7)
 Cell History
 Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
o Similarities and differences
o Evolutionary relationships (Evolution)
 Subcellular organization
o Structural relationships to overall functions (Relationship to
structure and function)
o Function in cellular processes
 Membranes
o Past and current models (Science as a process)
o Molecular organization contributes to permeability
o Cell-cell recognition (Relationship of structure to function)
o Types of transport
Lab: Light Microscope and Cell Organelles (Teacher Generated, Hands-on) (1
Period)
Students use a light microscope and view cell organelles. They must
illustrate all cell organelles and describe why the size, shape and position of
the organelles are important to their function.
Lab : Diffusion and Osmosis
Cellular Energetics (Chapters 8 & 9)

Photosynthesis (Energy transfer) (Chapter )
o ATP powering of cellular work by exergonic and endergonic
reactions (Energy transfer)
o Conversion of light energy into chemical energy
o Products of light reactions coupled to synthesis of carbohydrates
o Evolution of photosynthesis in response to environmental
conditions (Evolution)
o Evidence that photosynthesis has evolved (Science as a process)
o Interactions between photosynthesis and cellular respiration
Lab : Plant Pigments and Photosynthesis

Fermentation and cellular respiration (Energy Transfer) ( Chapter 9)
o Catabolic pathways to breakdown organic molecules
o Energy yielding pathways
o Generation of ATP in absence of oxygen
Lab: Cell Respiration / Fermentation
HEREDITY AND EVOLUTION
Heredity
 Cell Cycle and its regulation (Regulation) (Chapter 10)
o Surface Area to Volume Ratio
o Functions in reproduction, growth, and repair
o Distribution of genetic information
o Process of cell division
o Regulation
o Problems that arise from the escape of regulation
Lab: Mitosis Cell Count


Meiosis and gametogenesis (Chapter 11-4)
o Importance of meiosis to sexual reproduction
o Importance of meiosis to heredity
o Genetic Variation
o Animal and plant gametogenesis
Inheritance patterns (Regulation) (Chapter 11 & 14)
o
o
o
o
Mendel’s laws
Mendelian patterns of inheritance
Non-mendelian inheritance
Pedigrees
Lab: Classroom Pedigree Analysis (Teacher Generated)
Students will determine what type of disease to illustrate on the pedigree.
They will construct a classroom pedigree and draw for spots on the pedigree.
Some students will have their genotype predetermined. All other students will
have to determine their genotype based on the information from infected
individuals or known carriers. Students must analyze the pedigree to
determine if certain individuals should have a child based on their position on
the pedigree. (Science as a process)
Molecular Genetics
 RNA and DNA structure and function (Relationship to structure and
function) (Chapter 12)
o Discovery of the structure of DNA (Science as a process)
o Nucleic acid structure and function in information storage and
protein synthesis
o Prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes
 Mutation (Chapter 12 Cont.)
o Mechanisms for genetic information alterations
o Effects of mutations
 Nucleic acid technology and applications (Science, technology, and
society) (Chapter 13)
o Recombinant technologies
o Nucleic acid technologies
o Legal and ethical considerations
Lab: Transformation
Evolutionary Biology
 Evidence for evolution (Evolution) (Chapter 15)
o Types of evidence that support the evolutionary view
 Mechanisms of evolution (Evolution) (Chapter 16)
o Natural selection as the mechanism for adaptive evolution
o Causes of microevolution
o Caused of macroevolution
o Speciation
Lab : Hardy Weinburg
ORGANISMS AND POPULATIONS
Diversity of Organisms
 Evolutionary patterns (Evolution) (Chapter 24)
o Major body plans for plants and animals
o Evolutionary evidence of those plans
 Survey of the diversity of life Chapter 26-1, Survey 26-32)
o Survey of all kingdoms of organisms
 Phylogenetic classification (Chapter 18)
o Distinguishing characteristics of each major taxonomic groups
 Evolutionary relationships (Evolution) (Chapter 17/18)
o Evidence of relationships of all organisms
o Use of this evidence to classify organisms
Structure and Function of Plants and Animals (Chapter 22.1, Survey 22-24)
 Reproduction, growth, and development (Relationship of structure and
function) (Chapters 29, 30, 35, 38, 39, 40, & 44)
o Functional Anatomy
o Body plans and interactions with the environment
o Regulation of the internal environment
o Life cycles

Structural, physiological, and behavioral adaptations (Chapter 35-40
Survey)
o Organization of cells, tissues and organs in determining of
structure and function in plants and animals (Relationship of
structure and function)
o Interaction of structure and functions in various systems
o Adaptations that have led to the success of plants and animals
Ecology
 Communities and ecosystems (Chapters 3 & 4)
o Energy flow through ecosystems (Energy transfer)
o Interspecific interactions (Continuity and change)
o Human impact on ecosystems (Continuity and change)

Population dynamics (Chapter 5 )
o Population growth models
o Limiting factors (Interdependence in nature)
o Factors affecting distribution (Interdependence in nature)
o Human influences, both positive and negative (Science,
technology, and society)