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AP BIOLOGY SYLLABUS
This course will cover all of the major topics typically found in a Majors College Level Introductory Biology Course. The course will utilize all eight of the themes set forth in the AP Biology Course Description. These themes are: Science as a Process, Evolution, Energy Transfer, Continuity and Change, Relationship of Structure to Function, Regulation, Interdependence in Nature, and Science, Technology, and Society.
The class meets each day for ninety minutes over the two semesters The class is scheduled during the last period of the day so that if a lab runs over the allotted class time, the students complete the lab after school. Most labs are designed so that they may be divided over a period of two or more days. In addition, some labs are carried out after school in their entirety. Students will utilize the ponds located near the school and/or a field trip to other ponds or a river to conduct a lab on water quality and dissolved oxygen.
The major textbook for the course is Campbell/Reece, Biology, 8th Edition, published by Benjamin Cummings Publishing Company. Other supplementary material includes the following laboratory manuals: Advanced Placement Biology Lab Manual, by The College Board and Biology in the Laboratory, 3rd Edition, by Helms, Helms, Kosinski, and Cummings, published by Freeman. For reference, a number of college biology textbooks are kept in the classroom and used by the teacher and students throughout the year. Students are given assignments from the internet and also use computer assisted programs to enhance instruction. Students are frequently assigned reading from journals such as Scientific American, Science, etc. A number of study guides are provided or suggested for student use including the study guide corresponding to Campbell’s Eighth Edition, and several AP Biology Study Test Preparation/Study Guides.
The laboratory component of the course consists of the 12 required AP Biology Labs as well as many other labs from other sources. Several labs which will require that the students design their own investigation will be carried out. Students will select the topic, design the investigation along the proper steps of the scientific method and present their results in a satisfactory manner to the class.
Evaluation is based on tests which are usually given over several chapters or concepts. The tests consist of both multiple choice and essay format. In addition, many questions cover laboratory concepts and involve interpretation of data and/or graphs. Throughout the year, I use many questions of the AP type from released exams. This is done to prepare students for answering these types of questions on the actual examination.
COURSE OUTLINE AND PACING GUIDE
First Semester (August – Early January)
- Introduction to the course, discussion of major themes in biology, the process of science, and introduction to laboratory safety. Chapter 1 of Campbell.
Lab: Science –A Process. A study of The Scientific Method from the Helms Lab Manual.
- Molecules .
Chapter 2 of Campbell, The Chemical Context of Life, a review of general chemistry and relationship to living things. Topics include atomic structure, bonding, weak interactions, relationship of biological function to shapes of molecules, and chemical reactions.
Chapter 3 of Campbell, Water and The Fitness of The Environment
Polarity of water molecules – hydrogen bonding
Cohesion and Adhesion
Effect of water on Earth’s climates
Water as a solvent
pH
Chapters 4 and 5 of Campbell, Carbon and Structure and Function of Macromolecules
Review of Organic Chemistry
Functional Groups – (structure and function)
Major Organic Compounds and Living Things – Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids.
Lab: Identification of Organic Compounds
- Cells
Chapter 7 of Campbell, A Tour of the Cell,
Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cell Structure
Subcellular organization
Lab: Eukaryotic Cell Structure
Chapter 8 of Campbell, Membrane Structure and Function
Structure of the Plasma Membrane
Diffusion
Osmosis
Active Transport
AP Lab on Diffusion and Osmosis
Chapter 11 of Campbell, Cell Communication
Plasma Membrane Proteins and their function in cell communication
Relationship of Structure and Function of Plasma Membrane
- Cellular Energetics
Chapter 6 of Campbell, An Introduction to Metabolism
Metabolic Pathways
Energy Transformation
Laws of Thermodynamics
ATP structure and function
Coupled reactions
Enzymes
Control of Metabolism
AP Lab: Enzyme Catalysis
Chapter 9 of Campbell, Cell Respiration
Glycolysis, Kreb’s Cycle, Electron Transport System
Comparison of Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration
Fermentation
AP Lab Cell Respiration
Chapter 10 of Campbell, Photosynthesis
Autotrophs and Heterotrophs
Light Dependent Reactions
Light Independent Reactions (Calvin Cycle)
C3 , C4. and CAM plants
AP Lab Plant Pigments and Photosynthesis
- Cell Cycle, Mitosis and Meiosis
Chapter 12 of Campbell
Cell Cycle
Mitosis
Control of Mitosis (Regulation of Cell Cycle)
Binary Fission in Prokaryotes
AP Lab Mitosis
Chapter 13 of Campbell, Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles
Meiosis
Life cycles of plants, fungi, and animals
AP Lab Meiosis
- Genetics
Chapter 14 of Campbell, Mendel and the Gene Idea
Inheritance Patterns--
Non-Mendelian Genetis
Human Inheritance
Chapter 15 of Campbell, Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance
Eukaryotic chromosomes
Linkage
Autosomes, Sex Chromosomes, Karyotyping
AP Lab – Genetics of Organisms
7. Molecular Genetics
Chapter 16 of Campbell, The Molecular Basis of Inheritance
Structure and Function of DNA
DNA Replication and Repair
Chapter 17 of Campbell, From Gene to Protein
Structure and Function of RNA
Protein Synthesis
Chapters 18 and 19 of Campbell
Genetics of Viruses and Bacteria and The Organization and Control
Of Eukaryotic Genomes
Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes Structure of Viruses
Viral Replication
Eukaryotic Chromosome Structure
Genome Organization
Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes
Molecular Biology of Cancer
Chapter 20 of Campbell, DNA Technology and Genomics
DNA Cloning
DNA Analysis and Genomics
Practical Applications of DNA Technology
Human Genome Project
AP Lab - Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Chapters 22 – 26 of Campbell
Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life
Darwin vs. Lamarck
Natural Selection
Evidence for Evolution
Fossil Record
The Evolution of Populations
Population Genetics
Hardy-Weinberg Theorem
Genetic Variation and Adaptive Evolution
AP Lab – Population Genetics and Evolution
The Origin of Species
What is a Species?
Modes of Speciation
From Speciation to Macroevolution
9. Phylogeny and Systematics
Classification
Phylogenetic trees
Cladistics
Constructing Cladograms
Early Earth and The Origin of Life
Chemical Evolution
Origin of Life
Prokaryotic origin
Origin of Eukaryotes
Diversity of Species
Second Semester (Early January – Early June)
10. Diversity of Organisms
Chapter 27 of Campbell, Prokaryotes and The Origins of Metabolic Diversity
Prokaryotic Structure and Function
Survey of Prokaryotic Diversity
Ecological Impact of Prokaryotes
Chapter 28 of Campbell, The Origins of Eukaryotic Diversity
Endosymbiotic Development of Eukaryotes
Protistan Diversity
Chapter 31 of Campbell, Fungi
Diversity of Fungi
Chapters 29, 30, 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39 of Campbell, Plants
Plant Diversity
Origin of Land Plants
Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Angiosperms
Plant Structure and Function
Plant Body
Growth and Development of Plants
Transport in Plants
Plant Nutrition
Plant Reproduction
Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals
AP Lab – Transpiration
Animal Diversity, Including Humans
Chapters 32, 33, and 34 of Campbell
Introduction to Animal Evolution
Diversity of Invertebrates
Diversity of Vertebrates
Human Evolution
Structure and Function of Animals, including Humans
Chapters 40 – 49 of Campbell
Introduction to Animal Forma and Fuction
Tissues
Organs
Organ Systems
Animal Nutrition
Comparison of several invertebrates with vertebrates
Human Nutrition and Digestive System
Animal Circulation and Gas Exchange
Comparison of several invertebrates with vertebrates
Human Cardiovascular System
Human Respiratory System
AP Lab – Physiology of the Circulatory System
The Body’s Defenses
Non – Specific vs. Specific Immunity
Human Immune System
Regulating the Internal Environment
Homeostasis in invertebrates vs. vertebrates
Regulation of Temperature
Water Balance and Waste Disposal
Excretory Systems
Comparison of invertebrates and vertebrates
Human Excretory System – Function of Kidney
Chemical Signals in Animals
Human Endocrine System
Response to the Environment
Animal Reproduction and Development
Comparison of Asexual and Sexual Reproduction
Internal and External Fertilization
Human Reproductive System
Contraception
Stages of Embryonic Development]
Frog Development
Human Development
Cellular and Molecular Basis of Development
Nervous Systems
Evolution of Nervous Systems, invertebrates to vertebrates
Neurons
Human Brain and Nervous System
Response to the Environment
Sensory Organ – Eye, Ear, Chemoreceptors
Movement and Locomotion
Muscular and Skeletal Systems of Vertebrates, including
Humans
11. Ecology
Campbell, Chapters 50 – 55
The Scope of Ecology
Factors Affecting the Distribution of Organisma
Aquatic and Terrestrial Biomes
Behavioral Biology
Learning
Animal Cognition
Social Behavior and Sociobiology
Population Ecology
Characteristics of Populations
Life Histories
Population Growth
Limiting Factors
Human Population Growth
Community Ecology
Community Structure and Interactions
Disturbance
Biogeographic Factors Affecting Biodiversity
Ecosystems
Primary Productivity
Secondary Production
Cycling of Chemical Elements
Human Impact on Ecosystems and the Biosphere –Global Issues
Conservation Biology
Biodiversity Crisis
Extinction
Restoration in the Environment
AP Biology Lab # 12: Dissolved Oxygen and Primary Productivity
12. Review for Advanced Placement Biology Exam
List of Labs
The following laboratory exercises are carried out by all students in AP Biology.
1. Science: A process. A study of scientific method using reaction time experiments.
2. Microscope Usage: Use of the microscope and preparation of “wet mount” slides.
3. Elodea Leaf Lab: Observation of plant cells and factors affecting cytoplasmic streaming.
4. Cell Division and Mitosis: A comparison of relative duration of stages in mitosis.
5. Population Genetics: Use of PTC Taste Test and a “mating” lab to demonstrate Hardy- Weinberg Law.
6. Limnology: An extensive study of water quality and environment at sites near the school.
7. Organic Molecules Lab: Identification of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. Identification of an unknown organic substances using the technique used.
8. Calories in Food: Use of Temperature Probe, Lab Pro, and Graphing Calculators for Data Collection.
9. Factors Affecting Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: Students design and carry out experiments to investigate these factors.
10. Diffusion and Osmosis: Effect of solute concentration and size on the rate of diffusion and osmosis in living cells.
11. Water Potential: Potato cells are used to calculate water potential.
12. Genetics of Drosophila and analysis of Chi Square: Either fruit flies or a computer simulation program is used to study various crosses of drosophila.
13. Molecular Biology: Gene Transformation. Insertion of a resistance plasmid.
14. Molecular Biology: Gel Electrophoresis of DNA samples and determination of fragment size.
15. Enzyme Catalysis: Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide using catalase. Effects of pH, Temperature, and Enzyme Concentration are studied.
16. Animal Behavior: students will design and carry out experiments to investigate habitat selection in Sow Bugs.
17. Heart Rate vs. Temperature in Daphnia: The effects of temperature change on the heart rate of Daphnia are studied.
18. Cell Respiration: The effects of temperature and germination/non-germination on cell respiration in peas.
19. Plant Pigments and Photosynthesis: Use of paper chromatography to separate plant pigments.
20. Measure of the Hill Reaction of Photosynthesis using Spectrophotometers.
21. Transpiration: Effects of environmental variables on the rate of transpiration in plants.
22. Plant Histology: Prepared slides used to study plant histology.
23. Lactase and Lactose Intolerance: A study of the enzyme lactase and the sugar in milk.
Chapter 2 of Campbell, The Chemical Context of Life, a review of general chemistry and relationship to living things. Topics include atomic structure, bonding, weak interactions, relationship of biological function to shapes of molecules, and chemical reactions.