AP Biology

  • AP Biology is a full-year, college-level biology course with a required AP exam in mid-May.  The course is highly molecular in focus, the work load is heavy, and the pace can be intense.  Recommended for students with a strong interest in biology and chemistry, particularly students considering a Biology Major in college.

    The College Board redesigned the curriculum for the 2012-13 school year, and although the amount of material has been reduced, the emphasis on scientific thinking and analysis has increased. The new AP Biology curriculum is structured around four “Big Ideas."

    Big Idea 1: Evolution – the process of evolution drives the diversity and unity of life.

    Big Idea 2: Cellular Processes (Energy and Communication) – biological systems utilize free energy and molecular building blocks to grow, reproduce, and maintain homeostasis.

    Big Idea 3: Genetics and Information Transfer – living systems store, retrieve, transmit, and respond to information essential to life processes.

    Big Idea 4: Interactions – biological systems interact, and these systems and their interactions possess complex properties.

    Become up-to-date on the inner workings of living things!  Very interesting, and well worth the effort!

    Please contact Dr. Smith if you have any questions.

    Please visit Mr. Bonadonna's classroom website for helpful links and useful files.