AP Biology Topic Outline
AP Biology 414
The following
is an outline and a list of topics that we are expected to cover. The numbers refer to the weight of the topic
ON THE AP EXAM (percent) and the number in parentheses refers to the approximate
number of days we will spend on the topic (not including progress tests).
I. Molecules and Cells................................................ 25% (35 days)
A.
Chemistry of Life............................................... 7% (10 days, split in two units)
Water; Organic molecules in organisms .................... (6 days, in unit 1)
Free energy changes; Enzymes ................................. (4 days, in unit 3)
B.
Cells................................................................ 10% (14 days)
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Membranes
Subcellular organization
Cell cycle and regulation
C. Cellular Energetics.............................................. 8% (11 days, in unit 3)
Coupled reactions
Fermentation and cellular
respiration
Photosynthesis
II. Heredity and Evolution.......................................... 25% (35 days)
A.
Heredity............................................................ 8% (11 days)
Meiosis and gametogenesis
Eukaryotic chromosomes
Inheritance patterns
B.
Molecular Genetics............................................. 9% (13 days)
RNA and DNA structure and function
Gene regulation
Mutation
Viral structure and replication
Nucleic acid terminology and
applications
C.
Evolutionary Biology.......................................... 8% (11 days)
Early evolution of life
Evidence for evolution
Mechanisms of evolution
III. Organisms and Populations................................... 50% (73 days)
A. Diversity of Organisms........................................ 8% (11 days)
Evolutionary patterns
Survey of the diversity of life
Phylogenetic classification
Evolutionary relationships
B.
Structure and Function of Plants and Animals...... 32%* (48
days)
Reproduction, growth and development
Structural, physiological, and
behavioral adaptations
Response to the environment
*Note: Structure and Function of Plants and Animals
will be divided as follows:
Unit 9 (Animal physio I):.............................................. 14 days
Unit 10 (Animal physio II):........................................... 14 days
Unit 11 (Plant physio):................................................. 17 days
C.
Ecology........................................................... 10% (14 days)
Population dynamics
Communities and ecosystems
Global issues
d
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