ADVANCED PLACEMENT BIOLOGY

(418) Full year course: four credits

Open to 11-12

Prerequisite: "B" or better in BIOLOGY and CHEMISTRY

(FROM AP ACORN BOOKLET)

"This course is designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory biology course usually taken by biology majors during their first year. After showing themselves to be qualified on the AP Examination, some students, as college freshmen, are permitted to undertake upper-level courses in biology or to register for courses for which biology is a prerequisite. Other students may have fulfilled a basic requirement for a laboratory science course and will be able to undertake their courses to pursue their majors."

RATIONALE:

The purpose of this course is to provide students with a challenging second year biology course using a college text book and doing labs equivalent to those done by college students. For those students who take the AP exam it lets them know how they stand relative to others in the country, and as mentioned in the description it allows them greater latitude in college course selections.

COURSE OUTLINE

I. Molecules and Cells

A. Chemistry of Life

Water

Organic molecules in organisms

Free energy changes

Enzymes

B. Cells

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

Membranes

Sub cellular organization

Cell cycle and its regulation

C. Cellular Energetics

Coupled reactions

Fermentation and cellular respiration

Photosynthesis

II Heredity and Evolution

A. Heredity

Meiosis

Eukaryotic chromosomes

Inheritance patterns

B. Molecular Genetics

RNA and DNA structure and function

Gene regulation

Mutation

Viral structure and replication

Nucleic acid technology and applications

C. Evolutionary Biology

Early evolution of life

Evidence for evolution

Mechanics of evolution

III. Organisms and Populations

A. Diversity of Organisms

Evolutionary patterns

Survey of diversity of life

Phylogenetic classification

Evolutionary relationships

B. Structure and Function of plants and Animals

Reproduction, growth, and development

Structural, physiological, and behavioral adaptations

Response to environment

C. Ecology

Population dynamics

Communities and ecosystems

Global issues

METHODS

This course is taught using the traditional college approach of lecture, lab, and discussion. The course is limited to 24 students as facilities can not accommodate more. For labs that are more chemical in nature, the facilities of the chem lab are used. Tests are given at the completion of a unit.

EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS

Students are expected to do all the assigned readings, prepare for lab and when necessary come in for a 7:30 start of lab. Work is expected to be completed in a timely fashion

SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED

Students are expected to continue to develop critical and analytic skills necessary to deal with biology in particular and science in general. Students are encouraged to think and challenge ideas and concepts presented, and keep an open mind. It is a challenge in itself to keep up with the daily advances that are occurring in this field.

Text: Biology Campbell 2nd edition

Lab Manual: Biology in the Laboratory Doris R. Helms 2nd edition

SUPPLEMENTARY READING

From time to time articles may be assigned from Journals or publications such as Scientific American.

OTHER MATERIALS

When applicable video tapes are used. There is also the opportunity to go to City lab in Boston to use their equipment in doing labs such as gel electrophoresis.

SAMPLE ASSIGNMENTS

Assignments are given on a long term basis. The reading is given and the approximate test date (subject to tests in other areas). Labs are due the following week.

ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS

The evaluation of students is based on the following

tests

lab reports