AP BIOLOGY 1 SYLLABUS (SBS21-22XA)

INSTRUCTOR: H. PAO

GRADING POLICY:
65% Tests/Quizzes
25% Homework
10% Final Exam

Your goal: NOT rote memorization. Rather, you want to be able conceptualize and visualize the
processes and apply them to completely new/foreign circumstances. Additionally, for writing, you
need to be very careful about wording. If you cannot do these two things, you will likely fail the
exams.

Homework policy:
Homeworks will be emailed to you. You must complete the homework by the due date listed by
9am, Eastern Standard Time (US). You will get at least 1 homework assignment per unit (or
more). Please do not wait until the last minute to complete them!

The homework assignments are structured the way the tests will be structured. Treat it like the
test, and try not to look at the book or use your notes (but if you are really stumped, then do so).
The homeworks are graded for accuracy.

NOTE: If you miss too many homework assignments, I reserve the right to refuse helping you
prepare for the exam. If you have a time issue, let me know and we will work it out. The
homework is meant to help you memorize the information.

Powerpoints that should correspond with the chapters (these are 7th Ed. Ppts though)
http://www.biologyjunction.com/ap_powerpoints_7th.htm

PLEASE CHECK THIS LINK FOR VIDEOS AND OTHER RESOURCES:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uOcAcu73QHPypNtHixJIa9hTdkU1d5xFJRfDJbFYtSc/edit

Tips on Explaining

What is meant by "Explain your answer?"

On tests & problem sets students are often asked to explain the reasoning behind their answers.
They are often frustrated and/or confused by “explain.” What & why are they supposed to
explain? Here is one answer:
It isn't enough to get the right answer -- you have to be able to explain how you got it. To be sure
you get enough practice at explaining yourself, it pays to discuss the questions with your fellow
students and/or to write out explanations of your reasoning. You need to both
(1) Include the right facts, principles, etc., AND
 (2) Explain the logic that you used to solve the problem. How did you get from the facts to
the answer?
It is not sufficient to pile up unselected facts (even if they are correct), OR just to state the facts
(even if they are the right ones), without explaining how they relate to the problem at hand, OR to
just explain the logical train of thought (even if it is correct), without any specifics.
That's what you shouldn't do. What should you aim for??
Try to explain as if you were talking to a fellow student in the class who is generally intelligent,
prepared, etc., but can't figure out this particular question. In other words, explain your
reasoning step by step. Don't just repeat all the related facts in the book or notes--try to pick out
the important, relevant points, put them in logical order, and explain (or diagram) how one leads
to the next. (In other words, pretend you are writing a simple* answer key.)

How to Get the Most out of Explaining

When you explain things to yourself, or to others, try not to use pronouns. Use nouns instead.
This may sound silly, but it really helps you to be sure that you understand what you are saying. If
you use pronouns or vague terms you can fool yourself into thinking you understand when you
really don't. An example: Suppose you say "The gene is transcribed and it goes to the cytoplasm
and is translated, which uses tRNA and mRNA." What do you mean by it and/or which? Is it the
gene or the mRNA? Does which refer to translation or transcription? Sometimes you know, and
you are just using shorthand. But sometimes you don't know, and you don't even realize it until
you are forced to pick the right terms to replace "it" and "which." So try to be as specific as
possible instead of as vague and as general as possible. Being specific has multiple advantages. It
helps you to learn, it helps listeners understand what you are saying, and it helps graders on
exams know that you really understand what you are talking about.

Due Date: Unit Topics/chapters in Campbell 9th Ed.

6/15/16 1--Scientific Independent variable, dependent variable, positive control, negative

Time: 1 Method control, constants, graphing data
Day

6/16/16 EXAM 1

6/22/16 2--Biochemistry Note: If you are not very familiar with chemistry, please read chapter
Time: 6 2 for the following terminology. I am not going to necessarily
Days specifically test chapter 2 but you should know them.
- Matter
- Element
- Compound
- Atom
- Neutron, proton, electron, atomic nucleus
- Atomic number
- Mass number, atomic mass
- Isotope
 - Radioactive isotope
- Energy, potential energy
- Electron shells
- Valence electrons, valence shell
- Orbitals
- Chemical bonds (covalent, single, double, ionic)
- Molecule
- Electronegativity
- Polar vs nonpolar covalent bonds
- Ion
- Cation
- Anion
- Weak chemical bonds (hydrogen bonds--NOT COVALENT!, van
der Waals interactions)
- Chemical reactions, reactants, products
- Chemical equilibrium

Campbell 3.2--Know the difference between hydrophilic and

hydrophobic, and the definitions of cohesion, surface tension, specific
heat.
- Why is water’s high specific heat important?
Campbell 4.1--
- Miller/Urey experiment--purpose? general procedure?
results?
Campbell 4.2--everything. ​Emphasis on the chemical
groups--hydroxyl, carbonyl, etc.
Campbell 5--VERY IMPORTANT! EMPHASIS ON THIS CHAPTER.
LEARN EVERYTHING IN THIS CHAPTER. But you don’t have to
memorize all amino acids, just whether they’re
nonpolar/hydrophobic, polar/electrically charged/hydrophilic
etc. Be able to draw hydrolysis and dehydration synthesis
reactions.
Campbell 8.1--general concepts, you don’t have to read in depth too
much but know general definitions of words and laws of
thermodynamics
Campbell 8.2--general concepts, what is free energy, exergonic vs
endergonic (these are NOT the same as exothermic/endothermic!!)
Campbell 8.3--Important. Learn everything.
Campbell 8.4--Important. Learn everything. Memorize the
pictures.
Campbell 8.5--Important.

6/23/16 EXAM 2

6/29/16 3--Cell Campbell 6.1-- cell fractionation only

Time: 6 Campbell 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7--everything
days Campbell 7--everything
Chapter 36.2--learn the water/solute potential stuff. You could get a
math question on this.
Chapter 11--everything
6/30/16 EXAM 3

7/4/16 4--Respiration + Campbell 9.1--general concepts. This serves as an introductory

Time: 4 photosynthesis summary to the chapter. If you don’t want to read it, it’s fine, just
days know redox reactions because the rest of the chapter will tell you
details.
- What is a redox reaction and the components, reduction and
oxidation?
- Anaerobic respiration vs aerobic respiration vs fermentation.
- NAD+
- Types of phosphorylation.
Campbell 9.2--You do not have to memorize all the names or
enzymes, but you should know reactants and products of
glycolysis, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, phosphofructokinase,
and pyruvate, amounts of NAD+/NADH, ATP, things like that.
Also, where does glycolysis occur?
Campbell 9.3--Again, you don’t have to memorize all names or
enzymes, but you should know reactants and products, amounts
of NAD+/NADH, FAD/FADH_2, CO2, acetyl CoA and the pyruvate
dehydrogenation. Also, where does Krebs Cycle occur?
Campbell 9.4--Most important are the diagrams on P174-175.
Read from “Chemiosmosis: The energy coupling mechanism” to
the end of the section. Know ATP synthase, chemioosmosis,
proton motive force, you don’t need to memorize names of
carrier complexes. Where in the mitochondria is ATP
synthesized? Which way does ATP synthase point, into the
intermembrane space or mitochondrial matrix?

Great summary of respiration on page 176! Memorize that

diagram!

Campbell 9.5, 9.6: Memorize everything.

Campbell 10.1--leaf structure, read through the experiment but I
won’t test you on it. Know general concepts such as
photophosphorylation, NADP+, again that’s a summary of the chapter
and you will get more details on it in the sections that come after.
Campbell 10.2--
- General concepts on all the “light” stuff and chlorophylls
- Know details for photosystems, light-harvesting complex,
types of electron flow
- Great diagram on P197, please memorize it.
Campbell 10.3--
- Know the three general phases of the calvin cycle--carbon
fixation, reduction, regeneration. NO need to memorize
names but be aware of reactants and products.
Campbell 10.4--
- Know all the adaptations.
7/5/16 EXAM 4

7/13/16 5-Cell Cycle, Learn the entirety of ​Chapter 12, 13

Time: 8 Meiosis, Chapter 14: Learn everything up to 14.4. In 14.4, learn pedigrees
days mendelian only.
genetics Chapter 15: Learn everything up to 15.5. In 15.5, learn the
definition of genomic imprinting, and inheritance of organelle
genes.
You could get a χ​2​ analysis question: Be ready to solve this type
of problem. Please check the resources google doc and work
through the problem sets. I’m not going to check but it’s in our
best interest.

7/14/16 EXAM 5

7/22/16 6-Molecular Campbell 16:

Time: 8 Genetics - 16.1: Know the major genetics experiments, DNA
days structure, Chargaff’s Rules.
- 16.2: Theoretical modes of DNA replication. For DNA
replication, this is a good video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZXT2uOcD2w
Know the general concept behind telomeres
- 16.3: ​Everything.
Campbell 17:
- 17.1: Basic concepts starting at “Basic principles of
transcription and translation”
- 17.2, 17.3, 17.4, 17.5, 17.6: Learn everything
Campbell 18:
- General concepts.
- Know the lac and trp operon , alternative splicing, protein
degradation, and very generally, cytoplasmic
determinants/development
- Concentrate on concepts and learning the diagrams but I won’t
ask you very specifically on the things other than trp/lac
operon, alternative splicing, protein degradation, maybe
cytoplasmic determinants/development
- Read cancer if you’re interested
Chapter 20: ​LEARN PLASMID MAPPING AND GEL
ELECTROPHORESIS, RESTRICTION FRAGMENTS, BASIC
RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY.

7/23/16 EXAM 6

7/30/16 Midyear (units 1-6)

8/7/16 7- Evolution Chapter 22.2--Natural selection, adaptation, descent with
Time: 8 modification
days Chapter 22.3--Whole thing (evidence for evolution).
Chapter 23--General concepts, learn all terminology. Hardy
Weinberg--very important
Chapter 24--General concepts--learn all terminology
Chapter 26--Memorize Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order,
Family, Genus, Species. LEARN HOW TO DRAW THE
PHYLOGENETIC TREES. What do the branch points mean?
Emphasis on 26.3--monophyletic, paraphyletic, polyphyletic. You
could get a question like the diagram on Page 543. Ingroups,
outgroups, maximum parsimony. Ignore 26.4, 26.5. For 26.6:
What is horizontal gene transfer?

8/8/16 EXAM 7

8/14/16 8- Plants (Unrelated, but you should study Chapters 32.1, 32.)
Chapter 35--Know all terminology and general concepts. Skip
Time: 6 35.5
days 36--VERY GENERAL CONCEPTS. For example, diagrams on P765,
773, 774, 775, 780, 781. 36.4--Just know that stomata control the
rate of transpiration.
38.1 all diagrams and terminology up to P809
39.2--Learn everything.

8/15/16 EXAM 8

8/29/16 9- Physiology Learn everything in Chapters 41.2, 41.3, 41.5, chapter 42, 43
Time: 14 (but 43.4, general concepts).
days Chapter 44-
- 44.2 general concepts
- 44.3--Everything
- 44.4--General Concepts
- 44.5--General Concepts
Chapter 45-
- General Concepts but memorize all the hormones and
where they come from.
- Skip 45.4
Chapter 46.3, 46.4--Learn everything
Chapter 48-
- Neuron structure
- Diagrams on P1052, P1054, P1055
- CNS vs PNS
- Epinephrine, norepinephrine, acetylcholine
- membrane potential
- nodes of Ranvier, saltatory conduction, myelination
8/30/16 EXAM 9

9/5/16 10-Ecology Basic animal behavior--you will be given a sheet “Animal

Time: 6 Behavior Homework”. You don’t have to do the questions but it’s
days a good summary.
Chapter 52--abiotic vs. biotic, abiotic factors vs biotic factors
Chapter 53--Food webs, biomass, trophic structures, food chain,
invasive species, symbiotic relationships, herbivory, succession,
growth models and curves
Chapter 55--Diagrams on P1228-1229

9/6/16 EXAM 10

9/13/16 FINAL EXAM Units 1-10