Big Ideas of AP Biology What are the 4 Big Ideas of AP Biology? How does the CollegeBoard apply these Big Ideas to our Curriculum? What are the key Essential Understanding Elements of each Big Idea?

AP Biology Themes & Big Ideas The AP program mixes, matches and combines the themes from different textbooks into these four, which they now call “Big Ideas” Big Idea #1: The diversity and unity of life can be explained by the process of evolution. A. This is the main theme in the study of life. B. The process of evolution is driven by the process of Natural Selection.

AP Biology Themes & Big Ideas Big Idea #2: Living systems have multiple mechanisms to store, retrieve and transmit information. A. This deals mainly with DNA in cells and all the ways information is perceived and transmitted in organisms.

AP Biology Themes & Big Ideas Big Idea #3: Interdependent relationships characterize biological systems, and these interactions give rise to emergent properties. A. All sorts of systems, involving everything from very small particles to very large continents are operating in the universe.

AP Biology Themes & Big Ideas Big Idea #4: Biological systems utilize energy and molecular building blocks to grow, reproduce and maintain homeostasis. A. This involves things like how plants use sunlight and how we use food like a car uses gas as well as how we keep things like body temperature and blood sugar from getting too high or low.