AP Biology

About the course

Course Description

This second year Biology course prepares students for the AP Biology Exam.  Topics covered include biochemistry, cells, photosynthesis, respiration, heredity, molecular, genetics, evolution, diversity of life, plant and animal form and function, and ecology.  This course follows the College Board Advanced Placement syllabus and students are strongly encouraged to take the national college board exam in May.

Prerequisites

Grade "B" or better in College Prep Biology or instructor approval. "C" or better in Chemistry or concurrent enrollment in Chemistry.

Topic Outline

I.     Molecules and Cells (25%)               A.     Chemistry of Life (7%)                    1.     Water                    2.     Organic molecules in organisms                    3.     Free energy changes                    4.     Enzymes               B.     Cells (10%)                    1.     Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells                    2.     Membranes                    3.     Subcellular organization                    4.     Cell cycle and its regulation               C.     Cellular Energetics (8%)                    1.     Coupled reactions                    2.     Fermentation and cellular respiration                    3.     Photosynthesis     II.     Heredity and Evolution (25%)               A.     Heredity (8%)                    1.     Meiosis and gametogenesis                    2.     Eukaryotic chromosomes                    3.     Inheritance patterns               B.     Molecular Genetics (9%)                    1.     RNA and DNA structure and function                    2.     Gene regulation                    3.     Mutation                    4.     Viral structure and replication                    5.     Nucleic acid technology and applications               C.     Evolutionary Biology (8%)                    1.     Early evolution of life                    2.     Evidence for evolution                    3.     Mechanisms of evolution   III.     Organisms and Populations (50%)               A.     Diversity of Organisms (8%)                    1.     Evolutionary patterns                    2.     Survey of the diversity of life                    3.     Phylogenetic classification                    4.     Evolutionary relationships           B.    Structure and Function of Plants and Animals (32%)                    1.      Reproduction, growth, and development                    2.      Structural, physiological, and behavioral adaptations                    3.      Response to the environment               C.    Ecology (10%)                    1.      Population dynamics                    2.      Communities and ecosystems                    3.      Global issues

Major Themes

In an attempt to develop unifying constructs in biology, the AP Biology Development Committee has identified eight major themes that recur throughout the course.   Major Themes:        I.  Sciences as Process     II.  Evolution    III.  Energy Transfer    IV.  Continuity and Change     V.  Relationship of Structure to Function    VI.  Regulation   VII.  Interdependence in Nature  VIII.  Science, Technology, and Society   Please the Biology Advanced Placement Program Course Description (the Acorn book) for more information on the major themes.

Textbook:

Biology , 6 th Edition Campbell, Reese Copyright 2002 by Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Distributed by Scott-Foresman-Addison Wesley

AP Biology Examination:

The AP Biology Examination is three hours in length and is designed to measure a student's knowledge and understanding of modern biology.  The examination consists of a 80-minute, 100-item multiple-choice section, and a 100-minute free-response section, consisting of four mandatory questions.  The number of multiple-choice items taken from each major subset of biology reflects the percentage of the course as designated in the Topic Outline.  In the free-response portion, usually one essay question is take from the Molecules and Cells section, one question is taken from the Heredity and Evolution section, and two questions focus on the Organisms and Populations section.  The multiple-choice section counts for 60 percent of the student's examination grade, and the free-response section counts for 40 percent. In order to provide the maximum information about differences in students' achievements in biology, the examinations are intended to have average scores of about 50 percent of the maximum possible score for the multiple-choice section and for the free-response section.  Thus, students will find these exams to be more difficult that most classroom exams.