AP Biology Syllabus 2015-2016
(this is subject to change…)
The 2015-2016 AP bio class will be organized around the four Big ideas from the AP
biology curriculum, which are:
Big idea 1: The process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.
Labs:
1. Artificial Selection- plants
2. Mathematical modeling- Excel spreadsheet
3. BLAST/DNA sequences
Topics and chapters:
 Themes in the study of life and statistics (1)
o Lab 1- start
 Evolution (22-25)
o Lab 2
 Evolutionary history of biological diversity (26, 29, 30, 32)
o Lab 3
 Plant form and function (35.1-2, 38.1-.2, 39.2-.3)
o Continue Lab 1
Big idea 2: Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to
reproduce and to maintain dynamic homeostasis.
Labs:
4. Diffusion/Osmosis
5. Photosynthesis- algae spheres
6. Cell respiration- peas and respirometer
Topics and chapters:
 The chemistry of life (3-5)
o Lab: Building organic molecules
 The cell (6, 7)
o Lab 4
 Introduction to metabolism (8)
 Photosynthesis (10)
o Lab 5 (algae spheres)
 Cellular Respiration (9)
o Lab 6
Big idea 3: Living systems store, retrieve, transmit and respond to information essential to life
processes.
Labs:
7. Mitosis/Meiosis
8. Biotech/Transformation
9. Biotech/Restriction Enzymes
Topics and chapters:
 Cell communication (11)
 Cell cycle and Meiosis (12, 13)
o Lab 7
 Genetics (14-18)
o Lab 8
 Bacteria and viruses (27, 19)
 Biotechnology (20, 21)
o Lab 9
Big idea 4: Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex
properties.
Labs:
10. Energy dynamics- butterflies
11. Transpiration- plants
12. Animal behavior- sow bugs
13. Enzyme lab
 Fetal pig dissection
Topics and chapters:
 Ecology (Chapters 52-56)
o Labs 10, 11
 Animal behavior (51)
o Lab 12
 Human systems (40, 43, 45, 48, 49.1-.2)
o Lab 13
o Pig dissection