Overview of Pre-AP Biology Units and Enduring Understandings
Unit 1: Ecological Systems (ECO)
- Enduring Understanding ECO-A: Biological systems depend on the cycling of matter within and between Earth's systems.
- Enduring Understanding ECO-B: Most ecosystems rely on the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy for use in biological processes.
- Enduring Understanding ECO-C: The dependence on the availability of abiotic and biotic resources results in complex and dynamic interactions between organisms and populations.
- Enduring Understanding ECO-D: Changes to the environment can alter interactions between organisms.
Unit 2: Evolution (EVO)
- Enduring Understanding EVO-A: The theory of evolution states that all organisms descended from a common ancestor and share some characteristics.
- Enduring Understanding EVO-B: Biological evolution is observable as phenotypic changes in a population over multiple successive generations.
- Enduring Understanding EVO-C: Speciation, extinction, and the abundance and distribution of organisms occur in response to environmental conditions.
Unit 3: Cellular Systems (CELLS)
- Enduring Understanding CELLS-A: Four classes of macromolecules serve as the primary building blocks of biological systems.
- Enduring Understanding CELLS-B: Biological systems have specialized structures that enable specific functions necessary to sustain life.
- Enduring Understanding CELLS-C: Biological systems must respond to changes in internal and external environments in order to maintain dynamic homeostasis.
- Enduring Understanding CELLS-D: In order to sustain complex processes, biological systems must have mechanisms for growth and repair
Unit 4: Genetics (GEN)
- Enduring Understanding GEN-A: The molecular structure of DNA enables its function of storing life's genetic information.
- Enduring Understanding GEN-B: Encoded in DNA is the heritable information responsible for synthesis of RNA, which makes gene expression possible.
- Enduring Understanding GEN-C: Organisms have diverse strategies for passing their genetic material on to the next generation.
- Enduring Understanding GEN-D: Models can be used to illustrate and predict the inheritance of traits.