AP Biology
Format
Class meets 7 periods/week. Two days have double periods of 84 minutes allowing for laboratory
experiments, and exams longer then a single period.
All 12 AP labs are student conducted and are a minimum of 84 minutes each. Every lab is collected and
assessed and a test on each lab follows. For Labs 2, 4, 5, 9, 11 and 12 students design their own labs
selecting the variable(s) to be tested. The following Pasco interfacing probes are used for data collection
where appropriate: Lab 1 pH, Lab 2 pressure, Lab 4 Spectrophotometer using Vernier probes, Lab 5 carbon
dioxide, Lab 9 pressure/barometer, Lab 12 DO. The data from all the various groups and their hypothesis
being tested are collected and students are required to analyze each group’s data. Additional laboratory
experiments are included in addition to the twelve required labs (see syllabus).
Most units are assessed with a test that includes a combination of objective questions and written/essay
questions. Previous AP exam essays are frequently given for both unit and lab tests. Some units require an
in class essay that is written in the computer lab.
Textbook and Supplemental Reading
The text for AP Biology is:
Campbell, Neil A., J Reece. Biology 6th edition (2002)
The students are also required to read and summarize each chapter of The Beak of the Finch by Jonathan
Weiner as part of their summer assignment.
Additional reading of relevant topics is given. Four examples are: with the study of protein structure,
students read about how the secondary structure of prions changes to cause spongiform encephalopathy
(information on the internet), details about how viruses infect cells was supplemented with a Discover
article on hemagglutinin spike structure, excepts from Genome by Matt Ridley included information about
transcription and translation, and an article on human evolution from National Geographic supplemented
information in relation to the DNA technology unit. I firmly believe that topics need to be made relevant
and interesting for students to truly learn and integrate information in meaningful ways.
Evolution is the theme throughout the course starting with The Beak of the Finch. We frequently refer to
the Beak of the Finch starting with the second unit on ecology. The evolution unit is included early in the
year and then reinforced with every subsequent unit.
Syllabus
Chemistry
Essential Questions
• What are the characteristics of carbon that make it an ideal molecule for life?
• How does the structure of water facilitate water transport in plants?
• How does the structure of water relate to its biological functions?
Content
• Review of atomic structure and types of bonds
• Role of carbon in molecular diversity.
• Chemistry of water
• Transpiration and leaf structure.
• AP guidelines for graphing.
• Chemistry of water in relation to transpiration and leaf structure.
• Chapters 2 and 3 plus pages 62-68 on carbohydrates
• Transpiration: Lab 9
• Chromatography of Plant Pigments (First part of Lab 4)
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Ecology
Essential Questions
• What models are useful in describing the growth of a population?
• How is population size regulated by abiotic and biotic factors?
• How is energy flow through an ecosystem related to trophic structure?
• How do elements (C,N,P,S,O) cycle through ecosystems?
• How do organisms affect the cycling of elements and water through the biosphere?
• How do biotic and abiotic factors affect community structure and ecosystem function?
• In what ways are humans affecting the biogeochemical cycles?
• Why is conservation important and how can we reduce the biodiversity crisis?
Content
• Population dynamics
• Communities and ecosystems
• Conservation biology
• Textbook chapters: Chapter 50 pages 1106-1117, Chapters 52, 53, 54, 55
• Lab 12 Dissolved Oxygen
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Membrane/Osmosis/Diffusion
Essential Questions
• What are various mechanisms by which substances cross membranes?
• How do the structure of lipids and proteins allow for their functioning in membranes and
properties of membranes?
Content
• Molecular architecture of membranes and its functions in controlling transport.
• Chapter 8
• Lab 1, Osmosis and Diffusion
Protein Structure, Enzymes and Metabolism
Essential Questions
• What is the role of ATP in coupling the cell’s anabolic and catabolic processes?
• How do the laws of thermodynamics relate to the biochemical processes that provide energy to living
systems?
• How does protein structure relate to the functions of enzymes.
• How is the activity of an enzyme regulated?
• How do enzymes regulate the rate of chemical reactions?
Content
• Hydrolysis and synthesis reactions of lipids and proteins.
• Four levels of protein structure
• Enzyme structure and function
• Textbook pages 71-80 & Chapter 6
• Lab 2, Enzymes
DNA: Replication, Transcription, Translation
Essential Questions
• How do the structures of nucleic acids relate to their functions of information storage and protein
synthesis?
• How does DNA account for phenotype?
• How do mutations arise and affect phenotype?
• How does scientific knowledge build on previous findings?
• How do prokaryotic cells control gene expression?
Content
• Historical experiments elucidating DNA as the heredity molecule, its structure and replication. Eg:
Acetabularia, Stewart, Griffity-Avery, Hershey -Chase, Frankel-Conrat, Meselson-Stahl, BeadleTatum.
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DNA replication.
Transcription
Translation
Primary and secondary structure of RNA
Types of mutations
Given a DNA sequence make a protein and show how a variety of mutations may or may not
affect this structure.
Transformation
Lac operon, inducer and repressor systems, positive and negative control systems
Chapters 16 & 17 plus pages 347-350.
DNA extraction lab
AP Lab 6 (half):Transformation
DNA Technology
Essential Questions
• What are the processes involved in DNA technology & what are its applications.
• What legal and ethical problems may arise from DNA technology?
Content
• Ch 8 Genome by Matt Ridley
• Chapter 20
• Lab 6, DNA Fingerprinting
• DNA manipulation
• Solving a murder using DNA technology
• Ethical decisions
• DNA fingerprinting and DNA sequencing problems to solve
• Reading on DNA technology and human evolution
Evolution
Essential Questions
• What is the evidence for evolution?
• What is the role of natural selection in the process of evolution?
• What mechanisms account for speciation and macroevolution?
Content
• Evolution including Hardy-Weinberg
• Discussion of The Beak of the Finch summer reading
• Chapters 22, 23, 24, pages 488-499 in Chapter 25.
• Lab 8
Glycolysis and Anaerobic Respiration
Essential Question
• How do cells generate ATP in the absence of oxygen?
Content
• Glycolysis and substrate phosphorylation
• Control of glycolysis and allosteric proteins
Origin of Life
Essential Questions
• What is life and how did it arise on Earth?
• What molecules were present in the first life form?
• What was the first genetic molecule?
• How did the first cell obtain energy?
• How did the first cell form macromolecules?
• How did the membrane of early life differ from membranes today?
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• How does scientific knowledge build on previous findings?
• What does LUCA look like?
• How did cells generate ATP in the absence of oxygen on the early earth?
• Why is RNA believed to be the first molecule of life?
• Why is DNA a better heredity molecule than RNA?
Content
• Characteristics of life that are necessary and sufficient.
• Oparin hypothesis, Miller experiment, Deamer experiments.
• Relating autopoeisis to the laws of thermodynamics.
• Textbook pages 516 – 522
• Primordial Soup Lab
• Readings from What Is Life by Lynn Margulis and Dorian Sagan, Discover & Scientific American
Evolution of the Eukaryotic Cell
Essential Questions
• What are the characteristics, of bacteria and how do they reproduce sexually and asexually
• What was the great divide and how were domains determined?
• What were the two major events that caused the evolution of the eukaryotic cell.
• How do organelles function together in cellular processes?
• What factors limit cell size?
• How are the structures of the various subcellular organelles related to their functions?
• What is the endosymbiotic theory and what organelles evolved through symbiosis?
• What are representative organisms from the Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya
Content
• Evolution of the Eukaryotic cell and the endosymbiotic theory
• Chapter 7
• Identifying and measuring prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells using a microscope
• What is Life excerpt
• Cell Identification Lab
Evolution of Photosynthesis and Plant Homeostasis
Essential Questions
• How does photosythesis convert light energy into chemical energy?
• How are the chemical products of the light-trapping reactions coupled to the synthesis of
carbohydrates?
• How does chemiosmosis function in bioenergetics?
• How do plants maintain homeostasis of water, CO2 and glucose?
• How has the present knowledge of photosynthesis developed through experimentation starting
with van Helmont
Content
• Anatomy and biochemistry of photosynthesis.
• Stomatal opening and closing with lab.
• Pressure flow theory
• Chapter 10.
• Lab 4, 2nd half
• Stomatal opening and closing lab/structure and function
Cell Cycle, Mitosis and Cancer
Essential Questions
• How does the cell cycle assure genetic continuity?
• How does mitosis allow for the even distribution of genetic information to next cells?
• What are the mechanisms of cytokinesis in plant and animal cells?
• How is the cell cycle regulated?
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• How can aberrations in the cell cycle lead to tumor formation?
• How does failure of the cell cycle control mechanisms lead to cancer?
Content
• Stages of the cell cycle, its control and the three types of cancer causing genes.
• Stages and purpose of mitosis.
• Chapter 12
• Lab 3, mitosis sections
• Manipulation of chromosome models
Evolution of Aerobic Respiration
Essential Questions
• What is the role of oxygen in energy-yielding pathways?
• What interactions exist between photosynthesis and respiration?
• How do the energy yielding products of oxidative decarboxylation and the Krebs cycle form ATP
in chemiosmosis?
Content
• Biochemical pathways of aerobic respiration.
• Relationship between photosynthesis and respiration.
• Ch 9
• Lab 5, Respiration
Meiosis, Sexual Reproduction, Embryology, Hox Genes
Essential Questions
• What are Hox genes and what is their developmental and evolutionary significance?
• What is the purpose of meiosis and how do the events of meiosis cause variety?
• What features of meiosis are important in sexual reproduction?
• Why is meiosis important in heredity?
• How do fungi exhibit alternation between haploid and diploid stages in their life cycle
• What are the major events in embryology that cause body anatomy
• How do the 3 germ layers develop in deuterostomes and what organ systems do they give rise?
• What is embryonic induction and how does it cause development of the nervous system and eye?
• What are Hox genes and what is their developmental and evolutionary significance?
• How do stem cells function and how might they be used?
• What are the pros and cons of adult and embryonic stem cell usage?
• How do plants undergo sexual reproduction?
Content
• Purpose and stages of meiosis.
• Comparison of mitosis and meiosis
• Fungi life cycle
• Fertilization, cleavage, gastrulation and neuralation of frog and human.
• Evolution and role of hox genes
• Embryological development
• Adult vs embryonic stem cells and their uses.
• Flower anatomy, pollination, double fertilization, seed formation and germination.
• Meiosis
• Chapter 13 plus, 1002-1009 Embryology, 406-410 Stem cells and cloning, 417-421 Hox genes,
783-792 flower and Angiosperm sexual reproduction.
• Lab 3, Meiosis
• Embryology lab
• Flower anatomy and reproduction lab
• Reading from Genome on Hox genes.
• Experimental analysis of embryonic induction.
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Genetics
Essential Questions
• How did Mendel’s work lay the foundation of modern genetics?
• What are the principal patterns of inheritance?
• How can genetic diseases be detected early in embryology?
Content
• Mendelian genetics
• Nonmendelian genetics
• Types and causes of genetic diseases.
• Pros and cons of genetic testing, role of genetic counseling.
• Chapter 12 Genome
• Fruit fly life cycle
• Chapters 14 and 15
• Lab 7; Immobilize & determine characteristics of fruit flies
• Determine from lab data F1 and F2 whether fruit fly characteristics are autosomal or sex linked,
dominant or recessive.
Plant Evolution and Hormonal Control
Essential Questions
• What are the major divisions of plants and what are their evolutionary relationships?
• How does plant anatomy and physiology show increasing adaptation to land?
• How do plants regulate growth, flowering and germination
Content
• Alternation of Generations
• Plant divisions and their adaptations,
• C4 photosynthesis lab
• Plant hormones
• Photoperiodism
• Sections of chapter 29 (plant evolution and adaptations to land), Chapter 39 pages 806-823.
• Effect of gravity, light and hormones on plant growth labs.
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Major Animal Phyla
Essential Questions
• How to Cladograms give a better analysis of evolutionary relationships than classical
classification categories.
• What are the major phyla of animals and how do their characteristics show evolutionary
relatedness?
• What are the symptoms of diabetes and what physiological process are contributing to these
symptoms.
• What’s wrong to cause a newborn to be blue in color immediately after birth and what has
happened to correct the problem?
• What causes babies to become jaundice and what is the treatment?
• How have circulatory and respiratory systems evolved in the different animal groups and how do
they function?
• How does the skin function and what happens when you are cut?
• What is the anatomy and physiology behind a reflex?
• What is an immune response and how does your body recover from a cold or flu?
• How does the digestive system act to prepare food to pass through membranes?
• What are some representative examples of negative feedback in the respiratory, digestive and
circulatory systems?
• How does the endocrine system function to maintain homeostasis?
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• How do the skeletal and muscular systems function to maintain homeostasis?
• How does sexual reproduction compare in plants and animals?
• Why isn’t their an effective treatment/vaccine for HIV?
• How do animals respond to changes in environmental conditions?
Content
• Excretory system and endocrine systems
• Circulation in fetus compared to adult.
• Fetal blood chemistry before and after birth
• Human respiratory system, O2 and CO2 transport, comparison to other animal phyla.
• Evolution of circulation and respiration in select animal phyla including countercurrent
mechanisms.
• Skin anatomy and physiology, inflammatory response, clotting
• Nerve anatomy and transmission of nerve impulse, reflex
• Immune system, primary and secondary response.
• Digestive system of humans and comparison to other animal groups.
• Homeostasis on human organ systems and its control by the central nervous system and endocrine
system.
• HIV
• Chapter 40 pages 834-839, Chapter 41 pages857-866, Chapter 42, Chapter 43 pages 900-915 &
919-921, Chapter 44 pages 927-931 & 936- 951,Chapter 45 pages 960-972, Chapter 48 to page
1049, Chapter 49 pages 1078-1086.
• Animal Tissue Lab
• Lab 10 Physiology of the Circulatory System
• Lab 11 Animal Behavior
• Fetal Pig and Human Anatomy Labs
• Urinalysis Lab
• Nerves and synapses lab
• Effect of drugs on heart rate of Daphnea
Wrap Up: Application and Analysis
Essential Questions
• How do the low carbohydrate diets cause ketosis and what does this mean?
• How does the biochemistry of low carbohydrate diets compare to other weight loss diets in
relation to general health and disease prevention?
• How do drugs, legal and illegal, affect brain and nerve function?
• How does the intelligence of chimps compare to humans?
• What happens to maintain homeostasis during exercise?
• What happens physiologically to your body when you become “physically fit”?
Content
• Biochemistry of carbohydrate, protein and lipids in relation to a variety of diets.
• Effect of drugs on the central nervous system
• Excerpts from Next of Kin by Roger Fouts
• Excerpts from Nature vs Nuture by Lynn Margulis and Dorian Sagan
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