Category: My Classroom Material

AP Lecture Guide 01 – Themes in the Study of Life

 

AP Biology: CHAPTER 1
 

 

THEMES IN THE STUDY OF LIFE

 

1. Why do Biology courses build their content around themes and major concepts?

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2. List each major theme and briefly describe.

a. ________________________________________________________________________

b. ________________________________________________________________________

c. ________________________________________________________________________

d. ________________________________________________________________________

e. ________________________________________________________________________

f. ________________________________________________________________________

g. ________________________________________________________________________

h. ________________________________________________________________________

i. ________________________________________________________________________

j. ________________________________________________________________________

3. What is the primary model for regulation?

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4. List and give an example of the three domains.

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5. How does biology account for the unity and diversity of life?

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6. What is meant by the statement that science is a process?

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Alien Invasion

 

Alien Invasion

Help! Aliens have landed on Earth from another planet. Before scientists can release the aliens, they want to identify and classify them. Use the dichotomous key on the next page to identify these creatures.

 

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   A Key to Alien Creatures:

 

1. a. The creature has a large wide head…………………………………….go to 2
b. The creature has a small narrow head……………………………….go to 11
2. a. It has 3 eyes ……………………………………………………………………………..go to 3
b. It has 2 eyes …………………………………………………………………………….go to 7
3. a. There is a star in the middle of its chest………………………….go to 4
b. There is no star in the middle of its chest ………………………go to 6
4. a. The creature has hair spikes ………………………………………..Broadus hairus
b. The creature has no hair spikes…………………………………………..go to 5
5. a. The bottom of the creature is arch-shaped ……………Broadus archus
b. The bottom of the creature is M-shaped ……………….Broadus emmus
6. a. The creature has an arch-shaped bottom ……………….Broadus plainus
b. The creature has an M-shaped bottom……………………Broadus tritops
7. a. The creature has hairy spikes ……………………………………………go to 8
b. The creature has no spikes…………………………………………………go to 10
8. a. There is a star in the middle of its body ………………..Broadus hairystarus
b. The is no star in the middle of its body ………………………..go to 9
9. a. The creature has an arch shaped bottom ……………….Broadus hairyemmus
b. The creature has an M shaped bottom ……………………Broadus kiferus
10. a. The body is symmetrical ………………………………………………Broadus walter
b. The body is not symmetrical……………………………………….Broadus anderson
11. a. The creature has no antennae ……………………………………….go to 12
b. The creature has antennae …………………………………………….go to 14
12. a. There are spikes on the face ………………………………….Narrowus wolfus
b. There are no spikes on the face ………………………………….go to 13
13. a. The creature has no spike anywhere ……………………Narrowus blankus
b. There are spikes on the right leg ………………………..Narrowus starboardus
14. a. The creature has 2 eyes…………………………………………………go to 15
b. The creature has 1 eye……………………………………………Narrowus cyclops
15. a. The creature has a mouth……………………………………………..go to 16
b. The creature has no mouth…………………………………………..go to 17
16. a. There are spikes on the left leg ………………………..Narrowus portus
b. There are no spikes at all ………………………………….Narrowus plainus
17. a. The creature has spikes ………………………………………………go to 18
b. The creature has no spikes ……………………………..Narrowus georginia
18. a. There are spikes on the head …………………………………..go to 19
b. There are spikes on the right leg……………………..Narrowus montanian
19. a. There are spikes covering the face ……………….Narrowus beardus
b. There are spikes only on the outside edge of head ……Narrowus fuzzus

 


Return to Earth

AP Lecture Guide 04 – Carbon & the Molecular Diversity of Life

AP Biology: CHAPTER 4

 

CARBON & THE MOLECULAR DIVERSITY OF LIFE

 

1. Define organic chemistry.

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2. What are the major groups of organic compounds studied in biology?

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3. Describe some of the shapes of carbon skeletons.

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4. Define the following:

a. Isotopes ________________________________________________________________

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b. Geometric isotopes ________________________________________________________

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c. Enantiomers _____________________________________________________________

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5. Why are enantiomers of biological interest?

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6. What is the significance of functional groups?

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7. For each of the functional groups, complete the chart:

Group Formula Properties
Hydroxyl .. .
Carbonyl .. aldehyde
Carbonyl . ketone
Carboxyl . .
Amino . .
Sulfhydryl . .
Phosphate . .

 

 

 

 

Alien Taxonomy Project

 

Alien Taxonomy

 

In the year 2525:

Humans, after hundreds of years of constant effort, have successfully polluted all bodies of water on Earth. As a result, almost all previously known species of plants, animals, and other life forms have become extinct. Through natural selection, genetic engineering, and selective breeding programs, a portion of the Earth has been successfully repopulated. The following organisms are all that remain:

  1. Photosynthetic humanoids with green chlorophyll-containing hair (autotrophs)
  2. Chemosynthetic dolphin-like organisms who derive their energy for food production from the contaminants in the water (autotrophs)
  3. Aquatic humanoids who work on the dolphin’s aquaculture farms (heterotrophic)
  4. Aqua wheat, a heterotrophic crop grown by the dolphins that feeds on bacteria
  5. Legless, photosynthetic humanoid space travelers with arm-like tentacles that visit the Earth every 6 weeks
  6. Anaerobic humanoids designed for space living, but when on Earth for space training, they must wear deoxygenated space suits (heterotrophs)
  7. Cockroach-like organisms that feed on humanoid and dolphin excrement (Decomposers)
  8. Heterotrophic giant squids that feed on humanoids & dolphins
  9. Green-skinned, photosynthetic rats
  10. Parasitic mosquitoes that feed on humanoids

Your Assignment:

As an alien taxonomist, it is your responsibility to classify these existing organisms.

  1. Create Latin-sounding Genus and species names for each organism. Remember that the species name should reflect a characteristic of the organism.
  2. Create a taxonomic scheme for each organism including a kingdom, phylum, and the genus and species name you created. Use only two kingdoms that you create. Be sure to also include the number of the organism with the scheme
  3. Illustrate your interpretation of each organism’s appearance including all the characteristics given to you.  All illustrations should be numbered and colored on a single sheet of unlined paper.
  4. Prepare a dichotomous key using the scientific names for these organisms so that your fellow aliens can also identify them when they come to Earth for summer vacations. 
  5. Make a cover sheet with your name, date, and period and paper clip your sheets together.

 

CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE COPY OF ACTIVITY & WORKSHEET

BACK

 

AP Monthly Calendar

 

 

 

1st Semester AP Biology

 

 

 

AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY

 

The following are approximate dates and are subject to changes that may occur.

   AP Biology
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
15 16 17 18 19
22 23 24 25 26
29 30 31

 

AP Biology
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
1 2
5 6 7 8 9
12 13 14 15 16
19 20 21 22 23
26 27 28 29 30
   

 

AP Biology
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
3  4 5 6 7
   
10 11 12 13 14
17 18 19 20 21
24 25 26 27 28
31

 

AP Biology
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
1 2 3 4
7 8 9 10 11
14 15 16 17 18
21 22 23 24 25
28 29 30

 

AP Biology
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
1 2
5 6 7 8 9
12 13 14 15 16
19 20 21 22 23

Enjoy Your Christmas Vacation!


 

 

2nd Semester Biology 

 

 

AP Biology
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
2 3 4 5 6
9 10 11 12 13
16 17 18 19 20

MLK DAY!
23 24 25 26 27
30 31

 

AP Biology
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
1 2 3
6 7 8 9 10
13 14 15 16 17
20 21 22 23 24
27 28 29

 

AP Biology
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
1 2
5 6 7 8 9
12 16 14 15 16
19 20 21 22 23
BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK
26 27 28 29 30
   

 

AP Biology
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
2 3 4 5 6
9 10 11 12 13
16 17 18 19 20
23 24 25 26 27
30

 

AP Biology
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
1 2 3 4
7 8 9 10 11
14 15 16 17 18
21 22 23 24 25
28 29 30 31