APBiologySyllabus

CurricularRequirements Page(s)
CR1Studentsandteachersusearecentlypublished(withinthelast10years)
collegelevelbiologytextbook.
3
CR2Thecourseisstructuredaroundtheenduringunderstandingswithinthebigideas
asdescribedintheAPBiologyCurriculumFramework.
2,3,5,6,7,8,9
CR3aStudentsconnecttheenduringunderstandingswithinBigIdea1(theprocessof
evolutiondrivesthediversityandunityoflife)toatleastoneotherbigidea.
4,6,7,8
CR3bStudentsconnecttheenduringunderstandingswithinBigIdea2(biological
systemsutilizefreeenergyandmolecularbuildingblockstogrow,toreproduce,andto
maintaindynamichomeostasis)toatleastoneotherbigidea.
4,5,9
CR3cStudentsconnecttheenduringunderstandingswithinBigIdea3(livingsystems
store,retrieve,transmit,andrespondtoinformationessentialtolifeprocesses)toat
leastoneotherbigidea.
5,8
CR3dStudentsconnecttheenduringunderstandingswithinBigIdea4(biological
systemsinteractandthesesystemsandtheirinteractionspossesscomplex
properties)toatleastoneotherbigidea.
5,6,7,8,9
CR4aThecourseprovidesstudentswithopportunitiesoutsideofthelaboratory
investigationstomeetthelearningobjectiveswithinBigIdea1
4,5,6,7
CR4bThecourseprovidesstudentswithopportunitiesoutsideofthelaboratory
investigationstomeetthelearningobjectiveswithinBigIdea2.
4,5
CR4cThecourseprovidesstudentswithopportunitiesoutsideofthelaboratory
investigationstomeetthelearningobjectiveswithinBigIdea3.
8
CR4dThecourseprovidesstudentswithopportunitiesoutsideofthelaboratory
investigationstomeetthelearningobjectiveswithinBigIdea4.
4,6,9
CR5Thecourseprovidesstudentswithopportunitiestoconnecttheirbiologicaland
scientificknowledgetomajorsocialissues(e.g.,concerns,technologicaladvances,
innovations)tohelpthembecomescientificallyliteratecitizens.
4,5,6,7,8,9
CR6Thestudentdirectedlaboratoryinvestigationsusedthroughoutthecourseallow
studentstoapplythesevensciencepracticesdefinedintheAPBiologyCurriculum
Frameworkandincludeatleasttwolabexperiencesineachofthefourbigideas.
4,5,6,7,8,9
CR7Studentsareprovidedtheopportunitytoengageininvestigativelaboratorywork
integratedthroughoutthecourseforaminimumof25percentofinstructionaltime.
2
CR8Thecourseprovidesopportunitiesforstudentstodevelopandrecordevidenceof
theirverbal,writtenandgraphiccommunicationskillsthroughlaboratoryreports,
summariesofliteratureorscientificinvestigations,andoral,written,orgraphic
presentations.
2,3

CourseOverview

AdvancedPlacementBiologyispartofanationwideprogrambasedonthebeliefthatmanystudentsare
readyforcollegeworkwhilestillinhighschool,andtheirabilitiesshouldberecognized,encouragedand
rewarded.Asacollegelevelcourse,theamountofmaterialcoveredaswellasthecomplexityofthetopics
willbehigh.Itistheresponsibilityofthestudenttocometoclasseachdayunderstandingtheprevious
day'smaterial.Anongoingunstatedassignment,therefore,istolearnthematerialasitispresented.
Studentsmustbecertainthattheyarewillingtoacceptthischallengeandbecommittedtokeepupwith
thework.

APBiologyisstructuredaroundfourBigideasdescribedintheCurriculumFramework,whichencompassthe
corescientificprinciples,theories,andprocessesgoverninglivingorganismsandbiologicalsystems.Atleast
oneoftheBigideaswillbeincorporatedineverylessonthroughoutthecourse.[CR2]

ThefourBigideasare:

Bigidea1:Theprocessofevolutiondrivesthediversityandunityoflife.
Bigidea2:Biologicalsystemsutilizefreeenergyandmolecularbuildingblockstogrow,to
reproduceandtomaintaindynamichomeostasis.
Bigidea3:Livingsystemsstore,retrieve,transmitandrespondtoinformationessentialtolife
processes.
Bigidea4:Biologicalsystemsinteract,andthesesystemsandtheirinteractionspossess
complexproperties.

Classdiscussionsmaybebasedonanimationsfromvarioussources(textbook,CDs,Internet,etc.)tohelpthe
studentsvisualizewhattheyhaveread.Quizzesareinterspersedthroughouttheunitandinformhow
instructionmayneedtobeadjustedtoimprovestudentlearning.Onlinequizzes,administeredthroughedmodo
canhelpstudentsselfevaluatetheirprogress.Lecturesmaybeprovidedonlineinsomecases,unitsmaybe
flippedsothatmoreclasstimecanbedevotedtolaboratoryanddiscussion.

ThetwomaingoalsofAPBiologyaretohelpstudentsdevelopaconceptualframeworkformodernbiology
andtohelpstudentsgainanappreciationofscienceasaprocess.Theongoinginformationexplosionin
biologymakesthesegoalsevenmorechallenging.Studentsareencouragedtofocusonunderstanding
importantrelationships,processes,mechanisms,andpotentialextensionsandapplicationsofconcepts.
Thecourseprovidesopportunitiestoconnectscientificknowledgetomajorsocialissuestohelpstudents
becomescientificallyliteratecitzens.[CR5]

Technologyisusedextensivelythroughoutthecourse,andstudentsarerequiredtoparticipateinasynchronous
discussions,developmentofanonlineportfolio,anddevelopothereducationalartifactssuchasconceptmaps
orwebpagesthatillustratetheirunderstandingoftopics.[CR8]

Handsonlabswillconstituteatleast25%ofinstructionaltime[CR7].Studentswillhavetheopportunityto
completeatleasttwolabexperiencesineachofthefourbigideas.[CR6]Manyoftheselabsareinquiry
based,andemphasizecollaboration,developmentofhypotheses,datacollection,analysisandpresentation.
Studentswillmaintainalaboratorynotebookthatdocumentstheirinvestigationsthroughouttheyear.This
notebookwillbedigitallyformattedandstoredonline.Inadditiontothelabnotebook,afinalreflectiveessaywill
berequired.[CR8]
2

SciencePractices{SP}*seepage10forlistofstudentdirectedlabsandpracticesaddressed

1.Thestudentcanuserepresentationsandmodelstocommunicatescientificphenomenaandsolve
scientificproblems.
2.Thestudentcanusemathematicsappropriately.
3.Thestudentcanengageinscientificquestioningtoextendthinkingortoguideinvestigationswithinthe
contextoftheAPcourse.
4.Thestudentcanplanandimplementdatacollectionstrategiesappropriatetoaparticularscientific
question.
5.Thestudentcanperformdataanalysisandevaluationofevidence.
6.Thestudentcanworkwithscientificexplanationsandtheories.
7.Thestudentisabletoconnectandrelateknowledgeacrossvariousscales,conceptsand
representationsinandacrossdomains.

*Studentsarerequiredtokeepalabnotebook,and/orwriteshortsummariesofobservations[CR8]

TEXTBOOKANDOTHERRESOURCES

Biology,8thEditionSylviaMader[CR1]

AdditionalTexts:StiffbyMaryRoach.

APBiologyInvestigativeLabs:AnInquiryBasedApproach,TheCollegeBoard,2012

Classroomwebsite:www.biologycorner.com
Othersites:Edmodo.com,Eduweblabs,LabBench,

COURSESCHEDULE

Unit1:TheNatureofScienceandtheChemistryofLife[CR2]~3weeks
Readings:Chapter1,2,3,6
BigIdeasandEnduringUnderstandingstobeaddressed2.A,3A4A,4B

BigIdea1istiedtoBigIdea4inthisintroductoryunit,thecomplexityoflife,propertiesoflivingorganismsand
howevolutionistheunifyingtheoryofbiology

OverviewofLectureandDiscussionTopics

Scientificmethodandexperimentaldesign
Explainwhatismeantbyscientifictheory
Practicewithdatacollection,analysis,andpresentation
Addressproblemsinresearch,suchasconfirmationbias
Emphasisonevidencecollecting,whyevolutionisconsideredaunifyingtheory

ChemistryofLife
3
Identifybasicelementsoflivingorganisms
Distinguishbetweeninorganicandorganiccompounds
Describewatersuniqueproperties
Describethestructureoforganiccompounds
UnderstandthepHscale,redoxreactions,andhydrolysis/condensation

Applythelawsofthermodynamicstobiologicalsystems
Explainhowlifemaintainsahighdegreeoforganization
Investigateenzymestructureandfunction

Unit1Activities

1.Designandconductanexperiment,createandrevisehypotheses,organizedata,presentfindings{SP}
2.Leadclassdiscussiononexperimentaldesignbyexplainingthedesignprocessandidentifyingcontrolsand
variables{SP}
3.ConductanexperimenttodeterminetheoptimalpHandtemperatureoftheenzymecatalase[CR4d]
4.Developconceptmapsanddiagramscomparingprotostomesanddeuterostomestogainanunderstanding
ofhowtaxonomyhelpsmanagethediversityoflife[CR8]
5.Participateinasynchronousdiscussionwherestudentssubmitarecentnewsarticlefordiscussionon
techniquesused,andimplicationsforscienceandsociety[CR5]
6.ChromatographyLab[CR6]
7.Watch/readexcerptsfromJudgmentDay:IntelligentDesignonTrial,summarizethejudgesreasoningin
theoutcomeofthecase[CR8]and[CR4a]

Unit2:CellularProcesses[CR2]~4weeks
Readings:Chapter4,5,7,8
Enduringunderstandingstobeaddressed:1BD2A,2B4A

BigIdeas:BigIdea2isaddressedinthisunitandtiedtoBigIdea1withregardtothediversityoflife
BigIdea2isalsotiedtobigidea4inshowinghowcomplexprocessesmaintainhomeostasis

OverviewofLectureandDiscussionTopics

Reviewbasiccellularcomponents,constructmodelscomparingdifferencesbetweenprokaryote,eukaryote,
animal,andplantcells
Explaintheconceptofselectivelypermeableasitappliestothecellmembrane,distinguishbetweenactiveand
passivetransport
Definehomeostasisandillustratehowtransportisusedtomaintainaninternalenvironment
Understandthetheprocessbywhichthecelltheorywasdeveloped
UnderstandtheEndosymbiosistheoryanditsconnectiontoevolution[CR3A]and[CR3B]
Understandtheroleofphotosynthesisandcellularrespirationinmaintaininghomeostasis

Unit2Activities

1.DiffusionandOsmosisLab[CR6]
4
2.Createcellmodelsusingpostitnotes[CR4B]
3.MicroscopyLabandComparingPlantandAnimalCells[CR6]
4.CellularRespirationLab[CR6]
alsoconnectsBigIdea2toBigIdea4[CR3B]and[CR3D]
5.PhotosynthesisLab[CR6]
6.TranspirationLabalsoconnectsBigIdea2toBigIdea4[CR3B]and[CR3D]
7.GroupPresentationsonMembraneTransport
*LearningObjective2.11Studentconstructsmodelsconnectingthemovementofmoleculesacross
membranes,thisiscompletedasapresentationtotheclass,wheregroupsareassignedatypeoftransport[
CR4B]
8.DiscussionoftheEndosymbiosisTheorywhichincludesasummaryessay[CR3B]&[CR4B]

Unit3:EvolutionandPhylogeny[CR2]~3weeks
Bigideas:1,3,4Readings:Chapter17,18,19,32

Connectedtoenduringunderstandings:

1.AChangeinthegeneticmakeupofapopulationovertimeisevolution.
1.BOrganismsarelinkedbylinesofdescentfromcommonancestry.
1.CLifecontinuestoevolvewithinachangingenvironment.
1.DTheoriginoflivingsystemsisexplainedbynaturalprocesses.
3.AHeritableinformationprovidesforcontinuityoflife.
3.CTheprocessingofgeneticinformationisimperfectandisasourceofgeneticvariation.
4.CNaturallyoccurringdiversityamongandbetweencomponentswithinbiologicalsystemsaffects
interactionswiththeenvironment

OverviewofLectureandDiscussionTopics

1.Hownaturalselectionservesasamechanismforevolution
2.Scientificevidencesupportingevolution
3.HardyWeinbergequilibrium
4.OriginofLifeFossilRecords,Conceptsofspeciation
5.Currenteventsinevolution,resistancetoantibiotics,pesticides,artificialselection

Activities

1.SexandtheSingleGuppylaboratorysimulationwherestudentsexploresexualselection
tiesBigIdea1toBigIdea3[CR3A]and[CR3C]
2.EvolutionofGrabberssimulation,mutationsandselectionstrength
tiesBigIdea1toBigIdea3,enduringunderstanding3.C(geneticvariation)toBigIdea1and4
[CR3A]and[CR3C]
3.Discussiononhowevolutionrelatestocurrentscienceandbiotechnology[CR5]
*LearningObjective1.5Studentisabletoconnectevolutionarychangesinapopulationovertimetochange
intheenvironmentbutobtainingnewsarticlesandprovidingasummaryandleadingaclassdiscussion
[CR4a]
4.Conceptmaponevolution,showingtheprocessesthatleadtoitsestablishmentasatheory,usingPBS
videosDarwinsDangerousIdeaandWhatDarwinNeverKnew.[CR4a]
5
5.Constructacladogramandphylogenetictree[CR4a]
6.Reconstructafossilrecordtofurtherunderstandgeologictimeandextinction[CR4a]

Unit4:OrganismFormandFunction[CR2]~2weeks
BigIdeas:1,2,4Readings:Chapters344,StiffbyMaryRoach

Inthisunit,comparativeanatomyisstronglyemphasized,andincludesthedissectionofamammal,suchasa
rattocomparetohumananatomy.BigIdea1istiedtoBigIdea4ascomparativeanatomyemphasizesthe
relationshipsbetweenorganismsandsimilaritiesthatimplycommondescent.[CR3A]and[CR3D]

1.BOrganismsarelinkedbylinesofdescentfromcommonancestry.
2.AGrowth,reproductionandmaintenanceoftheorganizationoflivingsystemsrequirefreeenergyand
matter.
2.COrganismsusefeedbackmechanismstoregulategrowthandreproduction,andtomaintain
dynamichomeostasis.
2.DGrowthanddynamichomeostasisofabiologicalsystemareinfluencedbychangesinthesystems
environment.
2.EManybiologicalprocessesinvolvedingrowth,reproductionanddynamichomeostasisinclude
temporalregulationandcoordination.
3.ETransmissionofinformationresultsinchangeswithinandbetweenbiologicalsystems.
4.AInteractionswithinbiologicalsystemsleadtocomplexproperties.

OverviewofLectureandDiscussionTopics

1.Feedbackcontrolloopsinanimals
2.Thermoregulationinanimals
3.Energyallocationanduseinanimals
4.Examplesoffunctioningunitsinmammalsystems(alveoliinlungs,nephronsinkidneys)
5.Structureandfunctioninbodysystems(nervous,digestive,skeletal,urinary)
6.Comparativeanatomy(mammals,amphibians,humans)
7.Advancesinmedicine[CR4C]&[CR5]

Activities

1.Dissectionoftheratandcomparativeanatomy[CR6]
2.Explorationofthekidney[CR4d]
3.Dissectionofasheepbrain,virtualexplorationofahumanbrain[CR4a]
4.Comparingrat,horseandhumanskeletons
5.DaphniaLab[CR6]

Unit5:Pathology[CR2]~4weeks
BigIdeas:1,2,4
EnduringUnderstandings

1.C:Lifecontinuestoevolvewithinachangingenvironment.
6
2.B:Growth,reproductionanddynamichomeostasisrequirethatcellscreateandmaintaininternal
environmentsthataredifferentfromtheirexternalenvironments.
4.B:Competitionandcooperationareimportantaspectsofbiologicalsystems.
4.C:Naturallyoccurringdiversityamongandbetweencomponentswithinbiologicalsystemsaffects
interactionswiththeenvironment.

OverviewofLectureandDiscussionTopics

1.AnatomyofBacteria
2.DiseasescausedbyViruses,Protists,andBacteria
3.ViralandBacterialEvolution
4.Vaccines&Antibiotics
5.SocialIssuesindiseasetransmission[CR5]

Activities

1.BacteriaLabwithGramStains[CR6]
2.GroupPresentationonaPathogen[CR8]whichincludesfinalessayonemergingdiseases,pathogens
andtheirhosts.ThisconnectsBigIdea4(interactions)andenduringunderstanding4.B(competition)toBig
Idea1(evolution)[CR3d]and[CR3a]
3.HIVandImmunology,howtofindacureforarapidlyevolvingvirus[CR4a]
tiesBigIdea1toBigIdea4[CR3d]and[CR3a]

Unit6:Inheritance[CR2]~4weeks
BigIdeas:1,2,3,4Readings:Chapters912

EnduringUnderstandings

3.AHeritableinformationprovidesforcontinuityoflife
3.BExpressionofgeneticinformationinvolvescellularandmolecularmechanisms.
3.CTheprocessingofgeneticinformationisimperfectandisasourceofgeneticvariation.
3.DCellscommunicatebygenerating,transmittingandreceivingchemicalsignals.
4.CNaturallyoccurringdiversityamongandbetweencomponentswithinbiologicalsystemsaffects
interactionswiththeenvironment.

OverviewofLectureandDiscussionTopics

1.MitosisandMeiosis,andtheCellCycle
2.Whatiscancer?
3.Mendeliangenetics(LawofSegregation,IndependentAssortment,Dominance)
4.Mathematicalpredictions(punnettsquares)andChiSquareAnalysis
5.ChromosomalPatternsofInheritance(sexlinkage)
6.HumanGeneticDisorders

Activities

7
1.Modelingofthecellcycle[CR4c]
2.Microscopeobservationsofmitosisandmeiosis[CR6]
3.FruitFlyLab[CR6]
4.DihybridCornwithchisquareanalysis[CR6]
5.Practicegeneticproblems[CR4c]
6.HardyWeinbergProblemSet,surveyofhumantraits[CR4c]
thisalsotiesBigIdea1,enduringunderstanding1.AtoBigIdea4(interactions)[CR3a]and[CR3d]
7.ChromosomeSimulationusingbeadsandpipecleaners,demonstratelinkagegroupsandinheritance
patterns[CR4c]
8.GeneticDisordersPresentation[CR4c]
*LearningObjective3.13:Thestudentisabletoposequestionsaboutethical,social,ormedicalissues
surroundinghumangeneticdisorders.

Unit7:MolecularGenetics[CR2]~3weeks
BigIdeas:1,2,3,4Readings:Chapters1316

EnduringUnderstandings

1.AChangeinthegeneticmakeupofapopulationovertimeisevolution
2.COrganismsusefeedbackmechanismstoregulategrowthandreproduction,andtomaintain
dynamichomeostasis.
2.EManybiologicalprocessesinvolvedingrowth,reproductionanddynamichomeostasisinclude
temporalregulationandcoordination.
3.AHeritableinformationprovidesforcontinuityoflife.
3.BExpressionofgeneticinformationinvolvescellularandmolecularmechanisms.
3.CTheprocessingofgeneticinformationisimperfectandisasourceofgeneticvariation.
4.AInteractionswithinbiologicalsystemsleadtocomplexproperties.

OverviewofLectureandDiscussionTopics

1.DNAisthegeneticmaterial(historicalexperiments,DNAstructureandfunction,DNAreplication)
2.Flowofgeneticinformation(geneticcode,roleofotherpolymers,transcription,translation)
3.Mutations
4.Geneexpression(operonsystemsinprokaryotes,eukaryoticgeneexpression)
5.Restrictionenzymes,plasmids,transformation
6.DNAtechnology(howgelelectrophoresisworksandapplicationsofthistechnology)[CR5]
7.Biotechnology:stemcells,syntheticbiology,geneticallymodifiedfoods[CR5]

Activities

1.RecombinantDNAsimulation[CR4c]
2.BacterialTransformation[CR6]
alsotiesBigIdea3toBigIdea1[CR3A]and[CR3C]
3.DNAConceptMap[CR4c]
4.DNAModeling,showingtranscriptionandtranslation[CR4c]
5.GelElectrophoresis[CR6]
6.Classdiscussionsonbiotechnology,studentleaddiscussions[CR5],
8

Unit8:EcologyandBioethics[CR2]~4weeks
BigIdeas:1,2,3,4
Readings:Chapters4449,selectedarticleschosenbystudents

EnduringUnderstandings

1.AChangeinthegeneticmakeupofapopulationovertimeisevolution.
1.CLifecontinuestoevolvewithinachangingenvironment.
2.AGrowth,reproductionandmaintenanceoftheorganizationoflivingsystemsrequirefreeenergyand
matter.
2.COrganismsusefeedbackmechanismstoregulategrowth,reproductionanddynamichomeostasis.
2.DGrowthanddynamichomeostasisofabiologicalsystemareinfluencedbychangesinthesystems
environment.
2.EManybiologicalprocessesinvolvedingrowth,reproductionanddynamichomeostasisinclude
temporalregulationandcoordination.
3.ETransmissionofinformationresultsinchangeswithinandbetweenbiologicalsystems.
4.AInteractionswithinbiologicalsystemsleadtocomplexproperties.
4.BCompetitionandcooperationareimportantaspectsofbiologicalsystems.
4.CNaturallyoccurringdiversityamongandbetweencomponentswithinbiologicalsystemsaffects
interactionswiththeenvironment

Unit8OverviewofLectureandDiscussionTopics

1.PopulationsandCommunities
2.Populationgrowthmodels
3.BiodiversityandSustainability
4.BiomesandEcosystems
5.Energyflowandchemicalcycling
6.Primaryproductivity

Activities

1.BiomeProjectstudentpresentsabiome,discussingitscharacteristicsandchallenges[CR5]
alsotiesBigIdea4toBigidea2,[CR3B]and[CR3D]
2.Studentleaddiscussionsonenvironmentaltopics,studentsharerelevantarticlesandleadclass
discussions[CR5]
3.MeettheTreesstudentscollectinformationabouttrees,posttoProjectNoah[CR5]
4.DissolvedOxygenandPrimaryProductivityLab[CR6]
5.HumanDemographyStudycalculatingbirthanddeathrates[CR4d]
6.AnimalBehaviorLab[CR6]
7.DandelionPopulationsLaboutdoorsurveyandmathematicalanalysis
*LearningObjective4.19Thestudentisabletousedataanalysistorefineobservationsandmeasurements
regardingtheeffectofpopulationinteractionsonpatternsofspeciesdistributionandabundance.
LaboratoryExperiencesandScientificPractices
9

SciencePracticesMatrixforMajorLabs

SP1
Use
represent
ations
and
models
SP2

Use
mathematics
SP3

Engagein
scientific
questionin
g
SP4

Planand
implement
datacollection
strategies
SP5

Perform
data
analysis
and
evaluationof
evidence
SP6

Workwith
scientific
explanation
s/theories
SP7

Connect
andrelate
knowledge
ScientificMethod,
Crickets
X X X X X X
EnzymeLab X X X X X
Osmosisand
Diffusion
X X X X X X X
Chromatography X X X X X
Transpiration X X X X X X
Cellular
Respiration
X X X X X X X
MicroscopyLab X X X X
SexandtheSingle
Guppy
X X X X X X X
DaphniaLab X X X X X
Dissection X X X X
MicrobiologyLab X X X X X X
FruitFlyLab X X X X X X X
HardyWeinberg
Activity
X X X X X X X
Gel
Electrophoresis
X X X X X X
DNASimulations X X X X
AnimalBehavior X X X X X
Populations
Studies
X X X X X X X

10

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