AP Biology Curriculum Recap

Introduction

• Presented by Melanie King from Absolute Recap
• Covers all 8 units of the AP Biology curriculum
• Aimed at helping students prioritize their study efforts using a triage method
• Introduces the stoplight method for identifying topics:
  • Green: Fully understood
  • Yellow: Partially understood
  • Red: Not understood

Unit 1: Chemistry of Life

• Water: Polar molecule H2O forms hydrogen bonds
  • Properties: cohesion, adhesion, surface tension, high specific heat, universal solvent
• Elements: Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur
• Biological Molecules:
  • Carbohydrates: C-H-O ratio, energy storage, structural materials
  • Lipids: Nonpolar, hydrocarbon chains, fatty acids
  • Proteins: Polypeptides, amino acids, diverse functions
  • Nucleic Acids: DNA and RNA, nucleotide monomers
• Reactions: Dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis

Unit 2: Cell Structure and Function

• Cell Types: Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic
• Surface Area to Volume Ratio: Important for material exchange
• Organelles: Membrane-bound vs. non-membrane-bound
• Transport:
  • Active transport: Requires ATP
  • Passive transport: Diffusion, osmosis
  • Vesicular transport: Endocytosis and exocytosis

Unit 3: Cellular Energetics

• Enzymes: Proteins that decrease activation energy
• Photosynthesis: Chlorophyll, light reactions, Calvin cycle
• Cellular Respiration: Glycolysis, Krebs cycle, electron transport chain
• Fermentation: Anaerobic process
• Mitochondria: ATP production through oxidative phosphorylation

Unit 4: Cell Communication and Cell Cycle

• Communication: Autocrine, paracrine, endocrine signaling
• Signal Transduction Pathways: Reception, transduction, response
• Feedback Mechanisms: Positive and negative feedback
• Cell Cycle: Interphase, mitosis, cytokinesis, checkpoints

Unit 5: Heredity

• Meiosis: Process of forming unique gametes
• Genetic Diversity: Crossing over, independent assortment
• Inheritance Patterns: Mendelian and non-Mendelian genetics
• Genetic Disorders: Non-disjunction, deletion, inversion, translocation

Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation

• DNA and RNA: Structure and functions
• Protein Synthesis: Transcription and translation processes
• Gene Regulation: Operons, transcription factors
• Biotechnology: PCR, gel electrophoresis

Unit 7: Natural Selection

• Evolution: Genetic variation, survival, and reproduction
• Artificial Selection: Human impact
• Genetic Changes: Mutation, gene flow
• Evidence of Evolution: Fossils, biogeography, molecular comparisons

Unit 8: Ecology

• Energy Flow: Through food webs and trophic levels
• Population Dynamics: Growth models, carrying capacity
• Community Relationships: Predation, competition, symbiosis
• Human Impact: Habitat modification, ecosystem disruption

Conclusion

• Triage study strategy:
  • Red first
  • Yellow second
  • Skip green
• Additional resources available for deeper study
• Wishing students good luck on their exams