AP Biology

About the Course

Study the core scientific principles, theories, and processes that govern living organisms and biological systems. You’ll do hands-on laboratory work to investigate natural phenomena.

Skills You’ll Learn

• Designing experiments and procedures to test a prediction or theory.
• Collecting and analyzing data.
• Interpreting data to draw conclusions.
• Developing and supporting a scientific claim with evidence.

Equivalency and Prerequisites

College Course Equivalent

A two-semester college introductory biology course for biology majors.

Recommended Prerequisites

High school courses in biology and chemistry.

Course Content

The course content outlined below is organized into commonly taught units of study that provide one possible sequence for the course. Your teacher may choose to organize the course content differently based on local priorities and preferences.

Unit 1: Chemistry of Life

You’ll learn about water’s role as the basis of life and the functions of macromolecules like lipids and proteins.

Unit 2: Cell Structure and Function

You’ll study the makeup of cells and the fundamentals of evolution.

Unit 3: Cellular Energetics

You’ll explore how cells interact with their environment and how fundamental biological processes work at the cellular level.

Unit 4: Cell Communication and Cell Cycle

You’ll learn how cells grow and reproduce, as well as how cells communicate.

Unit 5: Heredity

You’ll learn how traits are passed down from one generation to the next.

Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation

You’ll study how hereditary information passes from parent to offspring and how those traits are expressed.

Unit 7: Natural Selection

You’ll learn about Darwin’s theory, the concept of natural selection, and evolution.

Unit 8: Ecology

You’ll explore biological concepts at a broader organism level and analyze how populations interact within ecosystems.