College Board Essential Knowledge
1.A.2.d.IE Human impact variation in other species: IE Overuse of antibiotics.
1.B.2: Phylogenetic trees and cladograms are graphical representations (models) of evolutionary
history that can be tested.
1.B.2.a Phylogenetic trees ad cladograms can represent traits that are either derived or lost due to
evolution.
1.B.2.b Phylogenetic trees and cladograms illustrate speciation that has occurred, in that relatedness
of any two groups on the tree is shown by how recently two groups had a common ancestor.
1.B.2.c Phylogenetic trees and cladograms can be constructed from morphological similarities of living
or fossil species, and from DNA and protein sequence similarities, by employing computer programs
that have sophisticated ways of measuring and representing relatedness among organisms.
1.B.2.d Phylogenetic trees and cladograms are dynamic (i.e., phylogenetic trees and cladograms are
constantly being revised), based on the biological data used, new mathematical and computational ideas,
and current and emerging knowledge.
1.C.3.b.IE Scientific evidence supports the idea that evolution continues to occur. IE:
Mutations for chemical resistance.
1.D.2.a.1 Evidence of life was 3.5 bya.
2.A.1.d.2 Reproduction and rearing of offspring require free energy beyond that used for maintenance
and growth. Different organisms use various reproductive strategies in response to energy availability.
IE. Seasonal reproduction in animals and plants.
2.A.2: Organisms capture and store free energy for use in biological processes.
2.A.2.a Autotrophs capture free energy from physical sources in the environment.
2.A.2.a.1 Photosynthetic organisms capture free energy present in sunlight.
2.A.2.a.2 Chemosynthetic organisms capture free energy from small inorganic molecules
present in their environment, and this process can occur in the absence of oxygen.
2.A.2.b Heterotrophs capture free energy present in carbon compounds produced by
other organisms.
2.A.2.b.1 Heterotrophs may metabolize carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins by hydrolysis as
sources of free energy.
2.A.2.e Photosynthesis first evolved in prokaryotic organisms; scientific evidence supports
that prokaryotic (bacterial) photosynthesis was responsible for the production of an
oxygenated atmosphere; prokaryotic photosynthetic pathways were the foundation of
eukaryotic photosynthesis.
2.B.1.c Cell walls provide a structural boundary, as well as a permeability barrier for some substances to the internal environments.
2.B.1.c.2 Prokaryotes and fungi have cell walls.
2.B.3.c Archaea and Bacteria generally lack internal membranes and organelles and have a
cell wall.
2.C.2.a Organisms respond to changes in their environment through behavioral and physiological
environments IE Chemotaxis in bacteria, sexual reproduction in fungi.
2.D.1.c.IE The stability of populations, communities and ecosystems is affected by
interactions with biotic and abiotic factors. IE. Water and nutrient availability, algal blooms.
2.D.2.c.IE Homeostatic control systems in species of microbes, plants, and animals support
common ancestry. IE Osmoregulation in bacteria
2.E.2.c.IE In fungi, protists, and bacteria, internal and external signals regulate a variety of physiological
responses that synchronize with environmental cycles and cues. IE. Fruiting body formation in fungi,
slime molds and certain types of bacteria; Quorum sensing in bacteria.
2.E.3.b.4.IE Cooperative behavior within or between populations contributes to the survival of the
populations. IE: availability of resources leading to fruiting body formation in fungi and certain types
of bacteria. Mutualistic relationships (bacteria in digestive tracts of animals)
3.A.1.a.2 Noneukaryotic organisms have circular chromosomes, while eukaryotic organisms
have multiple linear chromosomes, although in biology there are exceptions to this rule.
3.A.1.a.3 Prokaryotes, viruses, and eukaryotes can contain plasmids, which are small extra-chromosomal, double stranded circular DNA molecules.
3.A.1.a.6 Genetic information in retroviruses is a special case and has an alternate flow of information; from RNA to DNA, made possible by reverse transcriptase, an enzyme that
copies the viral RNA genome into DNA. This DNA integrates into the host genome into DNA.
This DNA integrates into the host genome and becomes transcribed and translated for the
assembly of new viral progeny.
3.C.1.d.IE Changes in genotype may affect phenotypes that are subject to natural selection.
Genetic changes that enhance survival and reproduction can be selected by environmental
conditions. IE Antibiotic resistance mutations.
3.C.2.b The horizontal acquisitions of genetic information primarily in prokaryotes via transformation (uptake of naked DNA) transduction (viral transmission of genetic
information) conjugation (cell-to cell transfer) and transposition (movement of DNA segments
within and between DNA molecules) increase variation. (DETAILS beyond scope of AP exam)
3.C.3 Viral replication results in genetic variation, and viral infection can introduce genetic
variation into the hosts.
3.C.3.a Viral replication differs from other reproductive strategies and generates genetic
variation via various mechanisms.
3.C.3.a.1 Viruses have highly efficient replicative capabilities that allow for rapid evolution and acquisition of new phenotypes.
3.C.3.a.2 Viruses replicate via a component assembly model allowing one virus to produce
many progeny simultaneously via the lytic cycle.
3.C.3.a.3. Virus replication allows for mutations to occur through usual host pathways.
3.C.3.a.4. RNA viruses lack replication error-checking mechanisms, and thus have higher
rate of mutation.
3.C.3.a.5 Related viruses can combine/recombine information if they infect the same host
cell.
3.C.3.a.6 HIV is a well-studied system where the rapid evolution of a virus within the host
contributes to the pathogenicity of viral infection.
3.C.3.b The reproductive cycles of viruses facilitate transfer of genetic information.
3.C.3.b.1 Viruses transmit DNA or RNA when they infect a host cell. IE Transduction in
bacteria; transposons present in incoming DNA
3.C.3.b.2 Some viruses are able to integrate into the host DNA and establish a latent
(lysogenic) infection. These latent viral genomes can result in new properties for the host
such as increased pathogenicity in bacteria.
4.B.2.a.3 Interactions among cells of a population of unicellular organisms can be similar
to those of multicellular organisms, and these interactions lead to increased efficiency and utilization of energy and matter. IE: bacterial community in the rumen of animals; bacterial community in and around deep sea vents
4.B.3.c.IE Species-specific and environmental catastrophes, geological events, the sudden influx/depletion
of abiotic resources or increased human activities affect species distribution and abundance.
IE: Dutch elm disease.
4.B.4.a.IE Introduction of new diseases can devastate native species: Dutch elm disease, potato blight,
small pox
4.C.2.a.IE Environmental factors influence many traits both directly and indirectly: IE: presense of the
opposite mating type on pheromones production in yeast and other fungi.
4.C.3.a.IE Population ability to respond to changes in the environment is affected by genetic diversity.
Species and populations with little genetic diversity are at risk for extinction. IE: potato blight causing
the potato famine.
1.B.2: Phylogenetic trees and cladograms are graphical representations (models) of evolutionary
history that can be tested.
1.B.2.a Phylogenetic trees ad cladograms can represent traits that are either derived or lost due to
evolution.
1.B.2.b Phylogenetic trees and cladograms illustrate speciation that has occurred, in that relatedness
of any two groups on the tree is shown by how recently two groups had a common ancestor.
1.B.2.c Phylogenetic trees and cladograms can be constructed from morphological similarities of living
or fossil species, and from DNA and protein sequence similarities, by employing computer programs
that have sophisticated ways of measuring and representing relatedness among organisms.
1.B.2.d Phylogenetic trees and cladograms are dynamic (i.e., phylogenetic trees and cladograms are
constantly being revised), based on the biological data used, new mathematical and computational ideas,
and current and emerging knowledge.
1.C.3.b.IE Scientific evidence supports the idea that evolution continues to occur. IE:
Mutations for chemical resistance.
1.D.2.a.1 Evidence of life was 3.5 bya.
2.A.1.d.2 Reproduction and rearing of offspring require free energy beyond that used for maintenance
and growth. Different organisms use various reproductive strategies in response to energy availability.
IE. Seasonal reproduction in animals and plants.
2.A.2: Organisms capture and store free energy for use in biological processes.
2.A.2.a Autotrophs capture free energy from physical sources in the environment.
2.A.2.a.1 Photosynthetic organisms capture free energy present in sunlight.
2.A.2.a.2 Chemosynthetic organisms capture free energy from small inorganic molecules
present in their environment, and this process can occur in the absence of oxygen.
2.A.2.b Heterotrophs capture free energy present in carbon compounds produced by
other organisms.
2.A.2.b.1 Heterotrophs may metabolize carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins by hydrolysis as
sources of free energy.
2.A.2.e Photosynthesis first evolved in prokaryotic organisms; scientific evidence supports
that prokaryotic (bacterial) photosynthesis was responsible for the production of an
oxygenated atmosphere; prokaryotic photosynthetic pathways were the foundation of
eukaryotic photosynthesis.
2.B.1.c Cell walls provide a structural boundary, as well as a permeability barrier for some substances to the internal environments.
2.B.1.c.2 Prokaryotes and fungi have cell walls.
2.B.3.c Archaea and Bacteria generally lack internal membranes and organelles and have a
cell wall.
2.C.2.a Organisms respond to changes in their environment through behavioral and physiological
environments IE Chemotaxis in bacteria, sexual reproduction in fungi.
2.D.1.c.IE The stability of populations, communities and ecosystems is affected by
interactions with biotic and abiotic factors. IE. Water and nutrient availability, algal blooms.
2.D.2.c.IE Homeostatic control systems in species of microbes, plants, and animals support
common ancestry. IE Osmoregulation in bacteria
2.E.2.c.IE In fungi, protists, and bacteria, internal and external signals regulate a variety of physiological
responses that synchronize with environmental cycles and cues. IE. Fruiting body formation in fungi,
slime molds and certain types of bacteria; Quorum sensing in bacteria.
2.E.3.b.4.IE Cooperative behavior within or between populations contributes to the survival of the
populations. IE: availability of resources leading to fruiting body formation in fungi and certain types
of bacteria. Mutualistic relationships (bacteria in digestive tracts of animals)
3.A.1.a.2 Noneukaryotic organisms have circular chromosomes, while eukaryotic organisms
have multiple linear chromosomes, although in biology there are exceptions to this rule.
3.A.1.a.3 Prokaryotes, viruses, and eukaryotes can contain plasmids, which are small extra-chromosomal, double stranded circular DNA molecules.
3.A.1.a.6 Genetic information in retroviruses is a special case and has an alternate flow of information; from RNA to DNA, made possible by reverse transcriptase, an enzyme that
copies the viral RNA genome into DNA. This DNA integrates into the host genome into DNA.
This DNA integrates into the host genome and becomes transcribed and translated for the
assembly of new viral progeny.
3.C.1.d.IE Changes in genotype may affect phenotypes that are subject to natural selection.
Genetic changes that enhance survival and reproduction can be selected by environmental
conditions. IE Antibiotic resistance mutations.
3.C.2.b The horizontal acquisitions of genetic information primarily in prokaryotes via transformation (uptake of naked DNA) transduction (viral transmission of genetic
information) conjugation (cell-to cell transfer) and transposition (movement of DNA segments
within and between DNA molecules) increase variation. (DETAILS beyond scope of AP exam)
3.C.3 Viral replication results in genetic variation, and viral infection can introduce genetic
variation into the hosts.
3.C.3.a Viral replication differs from other reproductive strategies and generates genetic
variation via various mechanisms.
3.C.3.a.1 Viruses have highly efficient replicative capabilities that allow for rapid evolution and acquisition of new phenotypes.
3.C.3.a.2 Viruses replicate via a component assembly model allowing one virus to produce
many progeny simultaneously via the lytic cycle.
3.C.3.a.3. Virus replication allows for mutations to occur through usual host pathways.
3.C.3.a.4. RNA viruses lack replication error-checking mechanisms, and thus have higher
rate of mutation.
3.C.3.a.5 Related viruses can combine/recombine information if they infect the same host
cell.
3.C.3.a.6 HIV is a well-studied system where the rapid evolution of a virus within the host
contributes to the pathogenicity of viral infection.
3.C.3.b The reproductive cycles of viruses facilitate transfer of genetic information.
3.C.3.b.1 Viruses transmit DNA or RNA when they infect a host cell. IE Transduction in
bacteria; transposons present in incoming DNA
3.C.3.b.2 Some viruses are able to integrate into the host DNA and establish a latent
(lysogenic) infection. These latent viral genomes can result in new properties for the host
such as increased pathogenicity in bacteria.
4.B.2.a.3 Interactions among cells of a population of unicellular organisms can be similar
to those of multicellular organisms, and these interactions lead to increased efficiency and utilization of energy and matter. IE: bacterial community in the rumen of animals; bacterial community in and around deep sea vents
4.B.3.c.IE Species-specific and environmental catastrophes, geological events, the sudden influx/depletion
of abiotic resources or increased human activities affect species distribution and abundance.
IE: Dutch elm disease.
4.B.4.a.IE Introduction of new diseases can devastate native species: Dutch elm disease, potato blight,
small pox
4.C.2.a.IE Environmental factors influence many traits both directly and indirectly: IE: presense of the
opposite mating type on pheromones production in yeast and other fungi.
4.C.3.a.IE Population ability to respond to changes in the environment is affected by genetic diversity.
Species and populations with little genetic diversity are at risk for extinction. IE: potato blight causing
the potato famine.