AP BIOLOGY-A 24-25

Todd Pollard

Course Information

AP Biology is a class designed for students with a strong passion for science and a work ethic to match. The class will be conducted at the college level and students are expected to work accordingly. Students will be successful in AP Biology if they ask lots of questions, complete every assignment with the highest quality possible and if they meet every week with a study group to practice for unit exams. Absences cause gaps in instruction that are difficult to make up so please avoid being gone from class unless absolutely necessary.

Course Objectives:

Unit 1: Chemistry of Life
1.1 Structure of Water and Hydrogen Bonding
1.2 Elements of Life
1.3 Introduction to Biological Macromolecules
1.4 Properties of Biological Macromolecules
1.5 Structure and Function of Biological Macromolecules
1.6 Nucleic Acids
Unit 2: Cell Structure and Function
2.1 Cell Structure – Subcellular Components
2.2 Cell Structure and Function
2.3 Cell Size
2.4 Plasma Membranes
2.5 Membrane Permeability
2.6 Membrane Transport
2.7 Facilitated Diffusion
2.8 Tonicity and Osmoregulation
2.9 Mechanisms of Transport
2.10 Cell Compartmentalization
2.11 Origins of Cell Compartmentalization
Unit 3: Cellular Energetics
3.1 Enzyme Structure
3.2 Enzyme Catalysis
3.3 Environmental Impacts on Enzyme Function
3.4 Cellular Energy
3.5 Photosynthesis
3.6 Cellular Respiration
3.7 Fitness

Unit 4: Cell Communication and Cell Cycle
4.1 Cell Communication
4.2 Introduction to Signal Transduction
4.3 Signal Transduction
4.4 Changes in Signal Transduction Pathways
4.5 Feedback
4.6 Cell Cycle
4.7 Regulation of Cell Cycle
Unit 5: Heredity
5.1 Meiosis
5.2 Meiosis and Genetic Diversity
5.3 Mendellian Genetics
5.4 Non-Mendelian Genetics
5.5 Environmental Effects on Phenotype
Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation
6.1 DNA and RNA Structure
6.2 Replication
6.3 Transcription and RNA Processing
6.4 Translation
6.5 Regulation of Gene Expression
6.6 Gene Expression and Cell Specialization
6.7 Mutations
6.8 Biotechnology
Unit 7: Natural Selection
7.1 Introduction to Natural Selection
7.2 Natural Selection
7.3 Artificial Selection
7.4 Population Genetics
7.5 Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium
7.6 Evidence for Evolution
7.7 Common Ancestry
7.8 Continuing Evolution
7.9 Phylogeny
7.10 Speciation
7.11 Extinction
7.12 Variation in Populations
7.13 Origins of Life on Earth
Unit 8: Ecology
8.1 Responses to the Environment
8.2 Energy Flow Through Ecosystems
8.3 Population Ecology
8.4 Effect of Density of Populations
8.5 Community Ecology
8.6 Biodiversity
8.7 Disruptions to Ecosystems

Grading Policy

• Your grade will be weighted 75% assessments (tests, quizzes, lab reports, projects) and 25% assignments (study guides, worksheets, lab notebook)
• Exams will be written in AP exam format.
• Assignments and labs are due in class on the assigned due date. No late work is accepted.
• Make up work will be accepted for excused absences. Due dates for make up work will be extended by an amount equal to the number of days missed.
• It is the responsibility of the student to determine what was missed during an absence by checking the website, talking to Mr. Pollard, or checking with other students.

Grading Scale

• Grades will be follow this format:
100%-94% = A, 93%-90% = A-, 89% -87% = B +, 87%-84% = B, 83%-80% = B-, 79%-77% = C+,76%-74% = C, 73%-70% = C-, 69%-67% = D+, 66%-60% = D.

School Information

Weekly Announcements | Student Handbook | Bell Schedule | Family Access Skyward | Family Access Canvas

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Weekly Schedule