AP Biology Course Syllabus
Organization:
This course is organized into the three major themes designated by the AP
Biology Course Description – Molecules and Cells, Heredity and Evolution, and
Organisms and Populations. In addition, the eight themes (science as a
process; evolution; energy transfer; continuity and change; relationship of
structure to function; regulation; science, technology, and society; and
interdependence in nature) have been integrated into every unit. I also have attempted to
organize the course so that students can observe the connections between structure and
function and the similarities and differences between organisms. I believe this allows students to
apply knowledge as they are learning, rather than learning in compartmentalized chapters.
Textbooks and other Materials:
Biology (6th ed.) by Neil Campbell and Jane B. Reece. (Benjamin Cummings:
2002) ISBN 0-8053-6624-5
AP Biology Lab Manual for Students (College Board)
Course Syllabus
(Time frames are approximate. Adjustments may be made according to student learning):
A. Molecules and Cells (8 weeks)
Unit 1: Introductory Information and Chemistry of Life
1. The Ten Themes in the Study of Life Chapter 1
Exploring Life on Its Many Levels
Evolution, Unity, and Diversity
The Process of Science
Review: Using Themes to Connect the Concepts of Biology
Labs and activities:
Computer Lab: Scientific Method
2. The Chemical Context of Life Chapter 2
Chemical Elements and Compounds
Atoms and Molecules
3. Water and the Fitness of the Environment Chapter 3
The Effects of Water’s Polarity
The Dissociation of Water Molecules
4. Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life Chapter 4
The Importance of Carbon
Functional Groups
5. The Structure and Function of Macromolecules Chapter 5
Polymer Principles
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Lipids
Nucleic Acids
Unit Test #1 Monday, Aug. 29
Unit 2: Cell Structure/ Function, DNA, Cell Cycle
1. Membrane Structure and Function Chapter 8
Membrane Structure
Traffic Across Membrane
Labs and activities:
AP Lab 1: Diffusion
AP Lab 1: Osmosis
Plasmolysis
2. A Tour of the Cell Chapters 7
How We Study Cells
A View of the Cell
The Nucleus and Ribosome
The Endomembrane System
Other Membranous Organelles
The Cytoskeleton
Cell Surfaces and Junctions
Labs and activities:
Computer Lab: Cells
3. The Molecular Basis of Inheritance Chapter 16
DNA as the genetic material
DNA Replication and Repair
Labs and activities:
Computer Lab: History of DNA
4. The Cell Cycle Chapter 12
The Key Roles of Cell Division
The Mitotic Cell Cycle
Regulation of the Cell Cycle
Labs and activities:
AP Lab 3: Mitosis
Computer Lab: Mitosis
Unit Test #2 Monday, September 19, 2011
Unit 3: Protein Synthesis, Bacteria, Viruses and Technology
1. From Gene to Protein Chapter 17
The Connection Between Genes and Proteins
The Synthesis and Processing of RNA
The Synthesis of Protein
2. Microbial Models: Genetics of Viruses and Bacteria Chapter 18
The Genetics of Viruses
The Genetics of Bacteria
3. Prokaryotes and the Origens of Metabolic Diversity Chapter 27
The World of Prokaryotes
The Structure, Function, and Reproduction of Prokaryotes
Nutritional and Metabolic Diversity
A survey of Prokaryotic Diversity
The Ecological Impact of Prokaryotes
Labs and activities:
Bacterial Colony Transformation (pGLO) – AP Lab 6 (2-3 days)
4. DNA Technology and Genomics Chapter 20
Restriction Enzymes and Recombinant DNA
Genetic Engineering
The Cloning Procedure
DNA Libraries
Restriction Fragment Analysis
Gel Electrophoresis
Mapping Genomes
Applications
Ethical Questions
Labs and activities:
Computer Lab: Biotechnology
Unit Test #3 Tuesday, October 11
B. Heredity and Evolution (6 weeks)
Unit 4: Meiosis, Genetics, and Development
1. Meiosis and Sexual Life Styles Chapter 13
An Introduction to Heredity
The Role of Meiosis in Sexual Life Cycles
Origens of Genetic Variation
Labs and activities:
AP Lab 3: Meiosis
2. Mendel and the Gene Idea Chapter 14
Gregor Mendel’s Discoveries
Extending Mendelian Genetics
Mendelian Inheritance in Humans
Labs and activities:
Chi-square Analysis – Lab
Pedigree Analysis – hands on
Genetics of Drosophila – AP Lab 7
3. Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance Chapter 15
Relating Mendelism to Chromosomes
Sex Chromosomes
Errors and Exceptions in Chromosomal Inheritance
4. The Organization and Control of Eukaryotic Genomes Chapter 19
Eukayotic Chromatin Structure
Genome Organization at the DNA level
The Control of Gene Expression
The Molecular Biology of Cancer
Labs and activities:
Recovering the Romanovs – Sex-linked online activity
http://www.dnai.org/d/index.html
5. The Genetic Basis of Development Chapter 21
From Single Cell to Multicellular Organism
Differential Gene Expression
Genetic and Cellular Mechanisms of Pattern Formation
Unit Test #4 Wednesday, Nov. 2
Unit 5: Evolution
1. Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life Chapter 22
Historical Context for Evolutionary Theory
Darwinian Revolution
2. The Evolution of Populations Chapter 23
Population Genetics
Causes of Microevolution
Genetic Variation, the Substrate for Natural Selection
A closer look at Natural Selection as the Mechanism of Adaptive Evolution
Labs and activities:
Population Genetics and Evolution – AP Lab 8
3. The Origen of Species Chapter 24
What is a Species?
Modes of Speciation
From Speciation to Macroevolution
4. Phylogeny and Systematics Chapter 25
The Fossil Record and Geologic Time
Systematics: Connecting Classification to Phylogeny
Labs and activities:
Building a Cladogram – hands on
Unit Test #5 Thursday, Nov. 17
Unit 6: Early Earth, Metabolism and Eukaryotes
1. Early Earth and the Origin of Life Chapter 26
Introduction to the History of the Earth
The Origin of Life
The Major Lineages of Life
2. An Introduction to metabolism Chapter6
Metabolism, Energy, and Life
Enzymes
The Control of Metabolism
3. The Origins of Eukaryotic Diversity Chapter 28
Introduction to the Protists
Origin and Early Diversification
A sample of Diversity
4. Plant Diversity Chapters 29 – 30
Evolution of Land Plants
Origin of Land Plants
Bryophytes
Origin of Vascular Plants
Seedless Vascular Plants
Evolution of Seed Plants
Gymnosperms
Angiosperms
Plants and Human Welfare
Labs and activities:
Dissection of Various Fruits – Lab
.
Unit Test #6 Friday, Dec. 9
Semester Final
C. Organisms and Populations (17 weeks)
Unit 1: Fungi, Plant Structure and Photosynthesis
1. Fungi Chapter 31
Introduction to the Fungi
Diversity of Fungi
Ecological Impacts of Fungi
Evolution of Fungi
Labs and activities:
Dissection of Various Fungal Types – Lab
2. Plant Structure and Growth Chapter 35
The Plant Body – Three Basic Organs
The Process of Plant Growth and Development
Mechanisms of Plant Growth and Development
Labs and activities:
Comparison of Cell Types – hands on
Microscopic Look at Root Tissue – Lab
Microscopic Look at Stem Tissue – Lab
3. Photosynthesis Chapter10
Photosynthesis in Nature
The Pathways of Photosynthesis
Labs and activities:
Plant Pigment Chromatography – AP Lab 4
Photosynthesis – AP Lab 4
4. Transport in Plants Chapter 36
An Overview of Transport Mechanisms
Absorption of Water and Minerals
Transport of Xylem Sap
The Control of Transpiration
Translocation of Phloem Sap
Labs and activities:
Transpiration Lab – AP Lab 9
Water Potential Lab – AP Lab 1
Unit Test #1 Monday, January 23
Unit 2: Plant Nutrition, Reproduction and Response
1. Plant Nutrition Chapter 37
Nutritional Requirements
The Role of Soil in Plant Nutrition
The special caser of Nitrgen as a plant nutrient
Nutritional Adaptations: Symbiotic Relationships of Plants and soil microbes
Nutritional Adaptations: Parasitic and predation by plants
2. Plant Reproduction Chapter 38
Sexual Reproduction
Asexual Reproduction
Plant Biotechnology
Labs and activities:
Flower Dissection – Lab
3. Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals Chapters 11 & 39
Signal Transduction and Plant Responses
Responses to Hormones
Responses to Light
Responses to Other External Stimuli
Plant Defenses: Responses to Herbivores and Pathogens
Labs and activities:
Plant Response to Light – Lab (1week)
Unit Test #2 Tuesday, Feb. 7
Unit 3: Introduction to Animals
1. Introduction to Animal Evolution Chapters 32
What is an animal?
Two Views of Animal Diversity
Origins of Animal Diversity
2. An Introduction to Animal Structure and Function Chapters 40
Functional Anatomy: an Overview
Body Plans and the External Environment
Regulating the Internal Environment
Introduction to the Bioenergetics of Animals
3. Invertebrates Chapter 33
Parazoa
Radiata
Protostomia: Lophotrochozoa & Ecdysozoa
Deuterostomia
4. Vertebrate Evolution and Diversity Chapter 34
Invertebrate Chordates and the Origen of Vetebrates
Introduction to the Vertebrates
Jawless Vertebrates
Fishes and Amphibians
Amniotes
Primates and the Evolution of Homo sapiens
Unit Test #3 Wednesday, Feb. 22
Unit 4: Animal Reproduction, Development and Regulation
1. Animal Reproduction Chapter 46
Overview of Animal Reproduction
Mechanisms of Sexual Reproduction
Mammalian Reproduction
2. Animal Development Chapter 47
The Stages of Early Embryonic Development
The Cellular and Molecular Basis of Morphogenesis and Differentiation in
Animals
3. Regulating the Internal Environment Chapter 44
An Overview of Homeostasis
Regulation of Body Temperature
Water Balance and Waste Disposal
Excretory System
4. Cell Communication Chapter11
Cell Signaling
Signal Reception and the Initiation of Transduction
Signal-Transduction Pathways
Cellular Responses to Signals
5. Chemical Signals in Animals Chapter 45
An Introduction to Regulatory Systems
Chemical Signals and Their Modes of Action
The Vertebrate Endocrine System
Unit Test #4 Thursday, March, 8
Unit 5: Nervous System and Response
1. Nervous Systems (Chapter 48)
An Overview of Nervous Systems
The Nature of Nerve Signals
Evolution and Diversity of Nervous Systems
Vertebrate Nervous Systems
Labs and activities:
Lights, Camera, Actions – Nerve Impulse Simulation
2. Sensory and Motor Mechanisms (Chapter 49)
Sensing, Acting and Brains Reception
Introduction to Sensory Reception
Photoreceptors and Vision
Hearing and Equilibrium
Chemoreceptors – Taste and Smell
Movement and Locomotion
Unit Test #5 Wednesday, March 28
Unit 6: Respiration, Nutrition, Transport and Defense
1. Cellular Respiration: Harvesting Chemical Energy Chapter 9
Principles of Energy Harvest
The Process of Cellular Respiration
Related Metabolic Processes
2. Animal Nutrition Chapter 41
Nutritional Requirements
Food and Feeding Mechanisms – An evolutionary comparison
Food Processing – A comparison
Mammalian Digestive System
Evolutionary Adaptations of Vertebrate Digestive Systems
3. Circulation and Gas Exchange Chapter 42
Circulation in Animals
Gas exchange in Animals
Labs and activities:
Physiology of the Circulatory System – AP Lab 10
4. The Body’s Defenses Chapter 43
Nonspecific defenses Against Infection
How Specific Immunity Works
Immune Responses
Immunity in Health and Disease
Unit Test #6 Tuesday, April 24
Unit 7: Ecology
1. Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere (Chapter 50)
What is Ecology?
Factors Affecting the Distribution of Organisms
Aquatic and Terrestrial Biomes
2. Behavioral Biology
What is Behavior?
Learning
Animal Cognition
Social Behavior and Sociology
3. Population and Communal Ecology (Chapters 52 – 53)
Characteristics of Populations
Life Histories
Population Growth
Population-Limiting Factors
Human Population Growth
What is Community?
Control in Community Structure
Disturbance and Community Structure
Factors that Affect the Biodiversity of Communities
4. Ecosystems (Chapter 54)
Trophic Relationships
Primary Production
Secondary Production
Element Cycling
Human Impact on Ecosystems
5. Conservation Biology (Chapter 55)
The Importance of and Threats to Biodiversity
Conservation of Populations and Species
Conservation of Communities and Ecosystems
Unit Test # 7 Tuesday, May 8
AP Test Review May 9-11
AP Test Monday May 14, 2011
Pig Dissection/ Project May 15-25