Advanced Placement Biology


Course Outline: Advanced Placement Biology
Instructor: Jeremy Fuller
Length of course: 180 days, 45 minutes per day

General outline:
Advanced Placement Biology is a course designed to let students earn college credit and or advanced placement in college above the introductory level. It aims to provide students with the conceptual framework, knowledge, and analytical skills necessary to deal critically with the rapidly changing science of biology. Emphasis is given on the application of biological knowledge and critical thinking to environmental and social concerns. The course is organized into three major topic areas (I. Molecules and Cells, II. Genetics and Evolution, III. Organisms and Populations).  These three major topic areas emphasize the eight major themes of biology they include Science as Process, Evolution, Energy and Transfer , Continuity and Change, Relationship of Structure to Function, Regulation, Interdependence in Nature, and Science, Technology, and Society.  

Text: Biology: Eighth Edition, Campbell and Reece; Benjamin and Cummings: Copyright 2008

Lab Manual:  College Board Advanced Placement Biology Lab Manual: Copyright 2001

Instructional Strategies: The following instructional strategies are used to foster student understanding of the eight major biological themes. These strategies include but are not limited to: Lecture, laboratory investigations, laboratory demonstrations, online labs, videos, projects, presentations, discussions, current event reading, formative assessments, and summative assessments. Approximately 25 percent of the class is devoted to hands on laboratory work. All labs listed are student conducted unless otherwise noted.

Core Competencies:
  1. Students are to complete the following labs recommended by the College Board and described in the AP Biology Lab Manual: Diffusion and Osmosis, Enzyme Catalysis, Mitosis and Meiosis, Plant Pigments and Photosynthesis, Cell Respiration, Molecular Biology, Genetics of Organisms, Population Genetics and Evolution, Transpiration, Physiology of the Circulatory System, and Dissolved Oxygen and Aquatic Primary Productivity
  2. Receive a 65% or higher grade average on all course assignments.

Content outline:
Part I Molecules and Cell: Major biological themes covered: Science as Process, Evolution, Energy and Transfer, Continuity and Change, Relationship of Structure to Function, Regulation, and Science, Technology, and Society.  

Unit I: Molecules 4 Weeks
A. Chemistry:
1.   Power point lecture notes on basic chemistry (atomic structure and bonding) and water
  1. Readings in text
a.       Chapter 2 The chemical context of life (Page 26 – Page 40) Chapter Questions
b.      Chapter 3 Water and the fitness of the environment (Page 41 – Page 51) Chapter Questions
  1. Classwork
    1. Essay on the chemistry of water

  1. Quiz
    1. Basic Chemistry
    2. Water
          
B. Biochemistry
1. Power point lecture notes on carbon, the four main organic macromolecules,  
    functional groups, enzyme structure and function, and reaction rates.
       2. Readings in text
a.       Chapter 4 Carbon and the molecular diversity of life (Page 52 – Page 61) Chapter Questions
b.      Chapter 5 The structure and function of macromolecules (Page 62 – Page 86) Chapter Questions
c.       Chapter 6 An introduction to metabolism (Page 87 – 105) Chapter Questions
3. Classwork
a.       Worksheets on carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
4. AP Lab #2 Enzymes
5.  Quiz
    1. Four main organic macromolecules
    2. Enzymes
6.  Unit Test

Unit II: Cell Structure and Function 4 Weeks
A.    The Cell:
1. Power point lecture notes on membrane structure and function, cell wall structure and function, cell transport, cell organelles, and the evolution of eukaryotic cells.
      2. Readings in text
a.       Chapter 7 A tour of the cell (Page 108 – Page137) Chapter Questions
b.      Chapter 8 Membrane structure and function (Page 138 – Page154) Chapter Questions
      c.   Chapter 11 Cell Communication (Page 197 – Page 214) Chapter Questions 

3. Classwork
            a. Student Project: Cell Catalog
            b. Worksheets on active and passive transport, and animal and plant cell
                 structure.
4. AP Lab # 1 Diffusion and Osmosis
5. Quiz
           a. Cell transport
           b. Cell Organelles
6. Unit Test

Unit III: Bioenergetics 4 Weeks
A. Respiration
      1. Powerpoint lecture notes on respiration (glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and electron
          transport chain) and ATP.
      2. Readings in text
    1. Chapter 9 Cellular respiration: harvesting chemical energy (Page 155 – Page 175) Chapter Questions
      3. Classwork
                  a. Worksheets on fermentation and aerobic respiration
      4. AP Lab # 5 Cell Respiration
      5. Quiz
            a. Respiration

B.     Photosynthesis
1. Powerpoint lecture notes on photosynthesis (light reaction and the Calvin cycle)
2. Readings in text
       a. Chapter 10 Photosynthesis (Page 176 – Page 196) Chapter Questions
      3. Classwork
                   a. Worksheets on the light reaction and Calvin cycle
      4. AP Lab # 4Plant Pigments and Photosynthesis
5. Quiz
                 a. Photosynthesis
      6. Unit Test

Part II Genetics and Evolution: Major biological themes covered: Science as Process, Evolution, Energy and Transfer, Continuity and Change, Relationship of Structure to Function, Regulation, Interdependence in Nature, and Science, Technology, and Society.  

Unit IV: Molecular Genetics 2 Weeks
  1. Powerpoint lecture notes on DNA and RNA structure, discovery of DNA replication, transcription, translation, and mutation.
  2. Readings in text
a.       Chapter 16 The molecular basis of life ( Page 287 – Page 301) Chapter Questions
b.      Chapter 17 From gene to protein (Page 303 – Page 327) Chapter Questions
c.       Chapter 18 Microbial models: the genetics of viruses and bacteria ( Page 328 – Page 353) Chapter Questions
d.      Chapter 19 The organization and control of eukaryotic genomes (Page 354 – 374) Chapter Questions
  1. Classwork
a.       Worksheets on replication, transcription, and translation
b.      Video on replication, transcription, and translation
  1. Quiz
    1. DNA, transcription, and translation
    2. Bacterial genome
  2. Unit Test

Unit V: Heredity 3 Weeks
1. Powerpoint lecture notes on the cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis (including nondisjunction), Mendelian genetics, probability, independent assortment, segregation, co dominance, incomplete dominance, sex-linked traits, autosomal linkages, and Chi square analysis.
2. Readings in text
a.       Chapter 12 The cell cycle (Page 215 – Page 231) Chapter Questions
b.      Chapter 13 Meiosis and sexual life cycle ( Page 234 – Page 246) Chapter Questions
c.       Chapter 14 Mendel and the gene idea (Page 247 – Page 268) Chapter Questions
d.      Chapter 15 The chromosomal basis of inheritance (Page 269 – Page 286) Chapter Questions
       3. Classwork
                  a. Worksheets on mitosis, meiosis, genetics, chi square analysis
                  b. Journal reading and questions on cancer.
                  c. Genetics problem set (mono and dihybrid crosses)
                  d. Virtual fruit fly lab
      4.   AP Lab # 3 Mitosis and Meiosis
AP Lab # 7 Genetics of Organisms (6 days over 4 weeks)
5.  Quiz
    1. The cell cycle and mitosis
    2. Meiosis
    3. Mendelian crosses
6.   Unit Test

Unit VI: Genetic Technology 3 Weeks
1.   Power point lecture notes on bacterial transformations, gel electrophoresis PCR,
      and RFLP analysis.  
2.   Readings in text
a.       Chapter 20 DNA  technology (Page 375 – Page 401) Chapter Questions
b.      Chapter 21 The genetic basis of development (Page 402 – Page 425) Chapter Questions
      3.   Classwork
                  a.    Ethics paper on genetic screening and the social concerns with this 
                         technology.

4.   AP Lab # 6 Molecular Biology
            Bio-Rad protein extraction and purification lab
5.   Quiz
a.   Transformation
b.   Gel electrophoresis
6.    Unit Test

Unit VII: Evolution 3 Weeks
  1. Power point lecture notes on Darwins voyage, evidence of evolution, Hardy Weinberg equilibrium, natural selection, micro evolutionary events, variation, speciation, pre and post zygotic mechanisms, allopatric and sympatric speciation   and origin of life.
  2. Readings in text
a.       Chapter 22 Decent with modification (Page 428 – Page 444) Chapter Questions
b.      Chapter 23 The evolution of populations ( Page 445 – Page 463) Chapter Questions
c.   Chapter 24 The origin of species ( Page 464 – Page 483) Chapter  
      Questions
      d.   Chapter 26 Early earth and the origin of life (Page 510 – Page 525)  
            Chapter Questions
  1. Classwork
    1. Hardy Weinberg problem sheet
    2. Why Sex? Video
    3. Origin of life Video
  1. AP Lab # 8 Population Genetics and Evolution
  2. Quiz
    1. Decent with modification and evolution of populations
    2. Speciation
    3. Origin of life
  1. Unit Test

Part III: Organisms and Populations: Major biological themes covered: Science as Process, Evolution, Energy and Transfer, Continuity and Change, Relationship of Structure to Function, Regulation, Interdependence in Nature, and Science, Technology, and Society

Unit VIII: Taxonomy, Bacteria, and Protists 2 Weeks
  1. Power point lecture notes on classification(important terms used in classification, bacteria, and protists.
  2. Readings in text
a.       Chapter 25 Phylogeny and systematics (Page 484 – Page 507) Chapter Questions
b.      Chapter 27 Prokaryotes and the origins of metabolic diversity ( Page 526 – 543) Chapter Questions
c.       Chapter 28 The origins of eukaryotic diversity ( Page 545 – 574) Chapter Questions
  1. Classwork
    1. Journal article reading on antibiotics and the evolution of resistance.
    2. Worksheets on classification, gram staining, bacterial diseases, and protozoan diseases.
  1. Lab
    1. Gram staining unknown bacterial samples
  2. Quiz
    1. Bacteria
    2. Protista
  3. Unit Test

Unit IX: Plants Their Diversity, Anatomy, and Physiology 4 Weeks  
  1. Power point lecture notes on plant evolution and life cycles, structure and function, fertilization, seeds, flowers, fruit, transport, nutrition, and communication.
2.  Readings in text
a.       Chapter 29 Plant diversity I: how plants colonized land (Page 575 – Page 596) Chapter Questions
b.      Chapter 30 Plant diversity II: The evolution of seed plants (Page 597 – Page 615) Chapter Questions
c.       Chapter 35 Plant structure and growth (Page 720 – Page 747) Chapter Questions
d.      Chapter 36 Transport in plants ( Page 748 – Page 766) Chapter Questions
e.       Chapter 37 Plant nutrition ( Page 767 – Page 781) Chapter Questions
f.       Chapter 38 Plant reproduction and biotechnology ( Page 783 – 801) Chapter Questions
g.      Chapter 39 Plant responses to internal and external signals (Page 802 – Page 831) Chapter Questions
3.   Classwork
            a. Worksheets on bryophytes, plant life cycles, xylem, phloem, seeds, fruits,  
                 flowers, stem structure, root structure, and transpiration
4.   Fern lab
AP Lab # 9 Transpiration
Flower dissection
Fruit dissection
     5.   Quiz
                 a. Plant evolution
                 b. Flower, seed, fruit structure
                 c. Plant hormones
     6.    Unit Test

Unit X: Ecology 3 Weeks
  1. Powerpoint lecture notes on the major biomes aquatic and terrestrial, population ecology, succession, tropic structure, productivity, human impact.
  2. Readings in text
a.       Chapter 50 An introduction to ecology and the biosphere (Page 1092 – Page 1120) Chapter Questions
b.      Chapter 51 Behavioral biology (Page 1121 – Page 1150) Chapter Questions
c.       Chapter 51 Population ecology ( Page 1151 – Page 1173) Chapter Questions
d.      Chapter 53 Community ecology ( Page 1174 – Page 1197) Chapter Questions
e.       Chapter 54 Ecosystems (Page 1198 – Page 1223) Chapter Questions
f.       Chapter 55 Conservation biology ( Page 1224 – Page 1247) Chapter Questions
  1. AP Biology Lab # 12 Dissolved oxygen and aquatic primary productivity
  2. Unit Test

Unit XI: Exam Review 2 Weeks
1.      Power point lecture notes on test taking strategies, review of the eight major biological themes.
       2.   Students will take two old AP exams scoring themselves using the AP rubrics.

Unit XII: Animals Their Diversity Anatomy and Physiology 4 Weeks
  1. Lecture notes on invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology, circulatory system, nervous system, immune system, endocrine system, muscular system, digestive system, and reproductive system (including: embryological development and evolutionary similarities between other organisms)
  2. Readings in text
a.       Chapter 32 Introduction to animal evolution (Page 633 – Page 645) Chapter Questions
b.      Chapter 33 Invertebrates (Page 646 – Page 677) Chapter Questions
c.       Chapter 34 Vertebrate evolution and diversity ( Page 678 – Page 717) Chapter Questions
d.      Chapter 40 An introduction to animal structure and function ( Page 834 – Page 849) Chapter Question
e.       Chapter 41 Animal nutrition (Page 850 – Page 870)
f.       Chapter 42 Circulation and gas exchange ( Page 871 – Page 899)
g.      Chapter 43 The bodies defense ( Page 900 – Page 924)
h.      Chapter 44 Regulating the internal environment (Page 925 – Page 954)
i.        Chapter 45 Chemical signals in animals (Page 955 – Page 974)
j.        Chapter 46 Animal reproduction ( Page 975 – Page 997)
k.      Chapter 47 Animal development ( Page 998 – Page 1021)
l.        Chapter 48 Nervous system ( Page 1022 – Page 1056)
m.    Chapter 49 Sensory and motor mechanisms (Page 1057 – Page 1089)
  1. Classwork
      a. Student power point presentation on an inner tidal zone animal
  1. AP Lab # 10 Physiology of the circulatory system
AP Lab # 11 Animal behavior
Frog Dissection
Intertidal zone field trip
      5.   Unit Test

Class Information:
1.      Homework typically includes chapter reading, vocabulary, chapter review questions, lab report writing, test and quiz preparation. Usually 5 nights a week.
2.      Formal lab report must include a title, purpose, hypothesis, procedure, data section, analysis and conclusion section. They will be graded with a lab report rubric.
3.      Tests are always announced and structured reviews are conducted.
4.      A mid term is given which counts for 10 percent of  your final grade
5.      A final is given which counts for 10 percent of your final grade.
6.      Help sessions after schools are available weekly by appointment.

Requirements:
1.      Treat others with respect.
2.      Come to class on time and be prepared, bring notebook ( 2 inch, 3 ring binder), text, assignments, something to write with, and the attitude to have some fun with your learning.
3.      Make up work should be completed within one week. Late work looses 7 points (one grade) for each day late. All work should have neat, professional appearance with attention to complete sentences, spelling, and punctuation. Missing work receives a zero and can not be made up after the marking period. Nothing hurts your average more than a zero. I do not give extra credit assignments. I do not drop the lowest grade(s) on quizzes, tests or labs.
4.      Work safely and appropriately in the lab. Lab reports are generally due two class days after we finish collecting data.
5.      It is required you keep a binder for all your labs, tests, and notes. This will be invaluable to study for your final and mid term.

Method of evaluation:
1.      Attendance and participation…………………………………required
2.      Homework……………………………………………………10%
3.      Quizzes……………………………………………………….10%
4.      Lab reports…………………………………………………...30%
5.      Tests………………………………………………………….50%


Weighted averages may be shifted slightly depending on the number of tests, quizzes, and labs, performed during a quarter. The activities and content reflected here are offered as guidelines and are subject to modification based on the progress of the students in the class. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at the school.

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