AP Biology Summer Assignment (2008)

Welcome to AP Biology! The purpose of the AP Biology summer assignment allows us to get a head start on the year in order to cover required concepts prior to the test in May. Otherwise we will be stressing out in March and April to race through material that we haven’t covered. The assignment is due the first day of school Follow the instructions below:

1. Email me at in order to let me know that you received the summer assignment. Email me at any time if you have questions about the assignment. This assignment is also posted on my AP Biology website.

2. Buy your textbook as soon as you are able to do so. However, you do not need to have your book to do the entire summer assignment.

Required Materials (bring to class everyday):

  • Textbook: Solomon, Eldra, Linda Berg, and Diana W. Martin. Biology. Independence, KY; Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning. 7th edition, 2006.
  • Laptop computer
  • 1-2” binder or folder for notes, handouts, labs.
  • Pencil/pen
  • Calculator

Optional Materials:

  • 4-5” folder to hold cumulative course materials for the year.
  • Test prep study guide. I recommend Cliff’s AP Biology, 2nd edition, Philip Pack, Ph.D. ISBN 0764586823. You can buy it at any bookstore or on Amazon.com

3. Complete the following items

  • Complete the article summaries as described on the next page. Be prepared to discuss your article in the first week of class
  • Read Chapters 1-3 once you buy your textbook.
  • Answer the reading questions on the next page for chapters 1 and 2. These answers may be typed. Do not exchange answers with each other. This is an individual assignment! For chapter 3, you do not have any reading questions but you should outline it or highlight it as we will be talking about that chapter in the first week.
  • Learn the word roots and their meanings. It is important to learn word roots throughout the year to help you remember vocabulary.

4. Regularly check my assignments page over the summer for updates.

Go onto the next page for the actual assignment!

Article Summaries:

1. Select two biology based articles of your choice from either the Scientific American or Discover Magazine . Search around on both sites for an article of interest to you that you would like to discuss with the group. There are tons of articles on all kinds of biology topics. The article should be recent- no earlier than May 2008.

2. Read the article

3. Create a summary of the article using the following guidelines:

  • Your Name, title and web address at the top.
  • Describe your reason for choosing the article.
  • Summarize the main points (who, why, what, when, where, and how)
  • Describe and unusual terminology or further questions you may have.
  • Do some additional research from other sites to further insight or to answer questions from the bullet above.

4. Print off your summaries, and then send me your article web links via email before the first day of class.

Chapter 1 Reading Questions (Due the first day of class):

1. What characteristics distinguish a living organism from a non-living organism?

2. What would be the consequence to an organism if its homeostatic mechanism failed?

3. What are the levels of organization within an organism?

4. What are the levels of ecological organization?

5. Why is DNA important?

6. Give an example of cell signaling.

7. What is the binomial system of nomenclature? Provide an example.

8. Summarize the 4 main principles of the theory of natural selection. Provide examples of each.

9. How do producers, consumers and decomposers depend on one another?

10. What is meant by a “controlled” experiment?

11. What are the characteristics of a good hypothesis?

Chapter 2 Reading Questions (Due the first day of class):

1. Compare and contrast elements and compounds and provide some examples of each.

2. Name the four elements essential to life that make up 96% of living matter. Name four elements that make up most of the remaining 4%.

3. Describe the structure of an atom. Include significant subatomic particles and their charges. Make a diagram of an atom of your choice.

4. Distinguish between atomic number, mass number, atomic weight and valence.

5. What is an isotope? Give some examples. Why are radioactive isotopes important to biologists?

6. Compare and contrast ionic, polar covalent, and nonpolar covalent bonds. Provide examples of each.

7. Why are weak bonds important to living organisms?

8. Sketch a few molecules of water. Indicate their polarity and where the H bonds form between molecules. Label your diagram.

9. What are some properties of water that result from hydrogen bonding? Provide examples of how these properties contribute to the role of water as an essential component of organisms.

10. Contrast acids and bases and discuss their properties.

11. What is the basis for the pH scale?

12. Why are acids and bases referred to as electrolytes?

Chapter 3: Please read the chapter prior to the first day of class. Outline or highlight if you wish.

Word Roots and Meanings:

You can easily translatethe meaning of complex words in biology by learning their Greek or Latin roots. Below are common roots to vocabulary of the first few chapters of the text with examples. You need to learn these roots and meanings by the first day of class.

AP Biology Summer Assignment (2008)

Chapters 1 & 2:

bio- = life (biology)

eu- = true (eukaryotic cells have a true nucleus)

-ell = small (organelle)

pro- =before (prokaryotic cells don’t have a nucleus)

karyo- = nucleus

an- = not (anion)

co- = together

-valent = strength (covalent bonds)

electro- = electricity (electronegativitiy)

iso- = equal (isomer, isotope)

neutr- = neutral (neutron)

hydro- = water (hydrocarbon)

-philos = loving (hydrophobic)

-phobic = fearing (hydrophilic)

kilo- = thousand (kilocalorie)

Chapter 3

carb- = coal (hydrocarbon, carboxyl group)

enanti- =opposite (enantiomer)

sulf- = sulfur (sulfhydryl)

thio- = sulfur (thiol)

con- = together (condensation reaction)

di- = two (disaccharide)

glyco- = sweet (glucose)

-lyse = to break apart (hydrolysis)

macro- = large (macromolecule)

meros- = part (polymer)

mono-single (monosaccharide)

poly-many (polysaccharide)

tri-=three (triacylglycerol)