1. AP BIOLOGY THEMES
The AP Biology Curriculum Emphasizes Science as a PROCESS. Students will focus on experimental design, data analysis and use of models to communicate scientific phenomena to solve scientific problems.

2. AP BIOLOGY FOCUSES ON 4 MAJOR THEMES
*Note: The 4 theme system will start in The four were condensed from the original 8.

3. BIG IDEA #1: The process of Evolution drives the diversity and UNITY of life.
Evolution is a change in the genetic makeup of a population over time, with natural selection as its major driving mechanism.
Scientific evidence (mathematical, anatomical, biochemical, geological) supports the idea that both speciation and extinction have occurred throughout Earth’s history and that life continues to evolve within a changing environment.
All domains of life (archae, Bacteria and Eukarya) share a common ancestry in that all utilize DNA and RNA as their hereditary carrier and the code of this language is universal.
LINK TO EVOLUTION DISCUSSION:

4. BIG IDEA #2 Biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, to reproduce and to maintain dynamic homeostasis.
All living systems require constant input of free energy and matter to maintain order.
Free energy can be obtained from electromagnetic radiation(light) or from chemical bonds of food. (photosynthesis,chemiosynthesis,cell respiration).
Changes in free energy availability can change a population size or change an entire ecosystem.
Organisms maintain an ordered internal environment different from their external environment. In doing so, organisms create an increase in entropy(disorder) of their surroundings.
What is life?
Entropy and living systems video: (Just know that it takes energy to start reactions)
(Make notes - Discussion to follow)

5. Big Idea #3: Living systems store, transmit and respond to information essential to life processes.
Genetic information provides continuity of life and is passed via DNA and/or RNA. This is true of all living things.
Expression of genetic information involves both cellular mechanisms (cell components or “machines”) and molecular mechanisms (specific molecules).
Expression of genetic information controls cell products. Expression can be controlled by both external and internal factors.
Genotype influence phenotype. (Genes control physical and chemical characteristics. Any change in genotype essentially changes the organism.
Changes in genotype drive evolution.
Example 1: DNA replication
Example 2: Rhodopsin in eye responds to light
Example 3: Using Rhodopsin gene in nerve cells in brain:

6. Big Idea #4: Biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties.
“As far as the current mass extinction is concerned, it isn’t the loss of large animals but the loss of the unseen complex relationships that is of major concern.”
All biological systems are composed of parts that interact with each other. These interactions result in characteristics not found in the individual parts alone. In other words, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” All biological systems from the molecular level to the ecosystem level exhibit properties of biocomplexity and diversity. Together, these two properties provide robustness to biological systems, enabling greater resiliency and flexibility to tolerate and respond to changes in the environment. Biological systems with greater complexity and diversity often exhibit an increased capacity to respond to changes in the environment.
Example:
Example: