AP College Biology

• Course Overview

The AP Biology course serves as an introductory, college-level biology curriculum designed for high school students. Throughout the course, learners engage in inquiry-based investigations to deepen their understanding of various biological concepts, including evolution, cellular processes, energy dynamics, communication mechanisms, genetics, information transfer, and ecological interactions.

Course Content

The course is structured around several key concepts, each representing fundamental principles of biology:

• Evolution: Understanding how evolution contributes to the diversity and interconnectedness of life forms.
• Energetics: Exploring how biological systems utilize energy and molecular components for growth, reproduction, and maintaining homeostasis.
• Information Storage and Transmission: Investigating how living organisms store, access, communicate, and respond to essential information.
• Systems Interactions: Examining the complex interactions within biological systems and their emergent properties.

Course Units

1. Chemistry of Life
   • Structure of water and its properties
   • Essential elements for life
   • Introduction to biological macromolecules and their functions
   • Nucleic acids and their roles
2. Cell Structure and Function
   • Overview of cell components
   • Relationship between cell structure and function
   • Plasma membrane properties and transport mechanisms
   • Importance of cell compartmentalization
3. Cellular Energetics
   • Enzyme structure and catalysis
   • Factors affecting enzyme activity
   • Mechanisms of photosynthesis and cellular respiration
4. Cell Communication and the Cell Cycle
   • Mechanisms of cell signaling
   • Signal transduction pathways
   • Regulation of the cell cycle and its significance
5. Heredity
   • Process of meiosis and its contribution to genetic diversity
   • Principles of Mendelian and non-Mendelian genetics
   • Environmental influences on phenotypic expression
6. Gene Expression and Regulation
   • Structure and function of DNA and RNA
   • Processes of replication, transcription, and translation
   • Mechanisms regulating gene expression and the implications for cell specialization
7. Natural Selection
   • Fundamentals of natural selection and its role in evolution
   • Concepts of artificial selection and population genetics
   • Evidence supporting evolution and common ancestry
8. Ecology
   • Organismal responses to environmental changes
   • Energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems
   • Population dynamics and community interactions
   • Biodiversity and ecosystem disruptions