AP Biology Curriculum Recap

Introduction

• Presenter: Melanie King, Absolute Recap
• Video covers entire AP Biology curriculum (8 units)
• Goal: Identify and prioritize areas for study using the 'triage' method
• Method: Stoplight method for marking topics (green, yellow, red)
• Additional resources available: podcasts, study guides, practice tests

Unit 1: Chemistry of Life

• Water: Polar molecule (H2O), hydrogen bonding
  • Properties: Cohesion, adhesion, surface tension, high specific heat, universal solvent
• Elements: Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur
• Biological Molecules
  • Carbohydrates: (C:H:O ratio 1:2:1), energy storage, structural materials
  • Lipids: Nonpolar, hydrocarbon chains, steroid rings, phospholipid bilayer
  • Proteins: Polypeptides, diverse roles (enzymes, transport, receptors)
  • Nucleic Acids: DNA & RNA, formed from nucleotides
• Reactions: Dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis

Unit 2: Cell Structure and Function

• Cell Types: Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic
  • Surface area to volume ratio importance
• Organelles: Membrane-bound (e.g., ER, Golgi), exceptions (ribosomes, mitochondria, chloroplasts)
• Transport Types: Active (requires ATP), passive (diffusion, osmosis), vesicle transport (endo/exocytosis)

Unit 3: Cellular Energetics

• Enzymes: Protein structure, activation energy, substrate binding
• Photosynthesis: Chlorophyll, light reaction (thylakoid), Calvin cycle (stroma)
• Cellular Respiration: Includes glycolysis, Krebs cycle, electron transport, fermentation
  • Mitochondria: Oxidative phosphorylation
• Fitness: Survival and reproduction in suitable environments

Unit 4: Cell Communication and Cell Cycle

• Cell Signaling: Ligand, signal transduction pathways
  • Feedback: Positive (away from homeostasis) vs. negative (towards set point)
• Cell Cycle: Interphase (G1, S, G2), Mitosis (P, M, A, T), regulated by cyclins and CDKs

Unit 5: Heredity

• Meiosis: Gamete formation, genetic diversity (crossing over, independent assortment)
• Genetic Disorders: Non-disjunction, deletion, inversion
• Genetics: Mendelian (ratios), non-Mendelian (incomplete dominance, codominance), Punnett squares

Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation

• DNA/RNA: Structure, base pairing (A-T/U, C-G)
• Replication and Transcription: Semi-conservative replication, RNA polymerase
  • Translation: Ribosome, codon chart
• Gene Regulation: Operons, transcription factors
• Biotechnology: PCR, gel electrophoresis

Unit 7: Natural Selection

• Evolution: Allele frequency changes, natural and artificial selection
• Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium: Conditions and calculations
• Evidence for Evolution: Fossils, structures, molecular comparisons

Unit 8: Ecology

• Interactions: Organism communication, fitness impacts
• Energy Flow: Trophic levels, energy decrease, population sizes
• Population Growth: Limiting factors, growth equations
• Community Dynamics: Niches, species roles (keystone, invasive), relationship types (predation, competition)
• Human Impact: Ecosystem disruption, habitat modification

Conclusion

• Units covered with varying exam weight
• Study order: Red first, yellow second, green third
• Resources for deeper study available
• Good luck on the AP exam!