Correlation of AP Recommended Experiments

Download AP Biology Labs for Your Evaluation

Download the experiments from our biology books for evaluation before you buy the book.

The College Board AP* Biology Course Description booklet (Acorn book) describes 12 recommended laboratory experiments. Data show that student scores on the AP Biology Exam improves with increased time spent doing these experiments.

As shown in the table below, we have correlated the 12 experiments in Advanced Biology with Vernier to the 12 lab experiments recommended by AP in the Acorn booklet.

See AP Biology Correlations for Biology with Vernier and Biology with Computers/Calculators »

Sample PDFs of the computer editions of the labs below do not include essential teacher information, safety tips, or sample data. We recommend that you purchase the book before performing labs.

Advanced Biology with Vernier Experiment	AP Lab and Objectives Met
Experiment 1A: Diffusion	Lab 1: Diffusion and Osmosis Relate osmotic potential to solute concentration and water potential. Measure the water potential of a solution in a controlled experiment. Determine the osmotic concentration of living tissue or an unknown solution from experimental data. Describe the effects of water gain or loss in animal and plant cells.
Experiment 1B: Osmosis
Experiment 2A: Enzyme Action Testing Catalase Activity	Lab 2: Enzyme Catalysis Measure the effects of changes in temperature, pH, and enzyme concentration on reaction rates of an enzyme catalyzed reaction in a controlled experiment. Explain how environmental factors affect the rate of enzyme-catalyzed reactions.
Experiment 3: Mitosis and Meiosis	Lab 3: Mitosis and Meiosis Recognize the stages of mitosis in a plant or animal cell. Calculate the relative duration of the cell cycle stages. Compare and contrast the results of meiosis and mitosis in plant cells. Compare and contrast the results of meiosis and mitosis in animal cells.
Experiment 4B: Photosynthesis	Lab 4: Plant Pigments and Photosynthesis Compare photosynthetic rates at different light intensities. Separate pigments and calculate their R_f values. Describe a technique to determine photosynthetic rates. Explain why the rate of photosynthesis varies under different environmental conditions.
Experiment 5: Cell Respiration	Lab 5: Cell Respiration Calculate the rate of cell respiration from experimental data. Relate gas production to respiration rate. Test the effect of temperature on the rate of cell respiration in non-germinated versus germinated seeds in a controlled experiment.
Experiment 6A: Transformations	Lab 6: Molecular Biology Use plasmids as vectors to transform bacteria with a gene for antibiotic resistance in a controlled experiment. Describe the biological process of transformation in bacteria. Calculate transformation efficiency.
Experiment 6B: Restriction Enzymes and lambda DNA
Experiment 7: Genetics	Lab 7: Genetics of Organisms Investigate the independent assortment of two genes and determine weather the two genes are autosomal or sex-linked using multigeneration experiment. Analyze the data from your genetic crosses using chi-squared analysis techniques.
Experiment 8: Population Genetics	Lab 8: Population Genetics and Evolution Calculate the frequencies of alleles and genotypes in the gene pool of a population using the Hardy-Weinberg formula. Discuss natural selection and other causes of microevolution as deviations from the conditions required to maintain Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
Experiment 9: Transpiration	Lab 9: Transpiration Test the effects of environmental variables on rates of transpiration using a controlled experiment. Make thin sections of stem, identify xylem and phloem cells, and relate the function of these vascular tissues to the structures of their cells.
Experiment 10A: Heart Rate and Physical Fitness	Lab 10: Physiology of the Circulatory System Measure the heart rate and blood pressure in a human volunteer. Describe the effect of changing body position on heart rate. Explain how exercise changes heart rate. Determine a human's fitness index. Analyze cardiovascular data collected by the entire class.
Experiment 10B: Blood Pressure as a Vital Sign
Experiment 11: Animal Behavior	Lab 11: Animal Behavior Describe some aspects of animal behavior, such as orientation behavior, agonistic behavior, dominance display, or mating behavior. Understand the adaptiveness of the behaviors you studied.
Experiment 12A: Dissolved Oxygen in Water	Lab 12: Dissolved Oxygen and Aquatic Primary Production Measure primary productivity based on changes in dissolved oxygen in a controlled experiment. Investigate the effects of changing light intensity on primary productivity in a controlled experiment.
Experiment 12B: Primary Productivity

*AP and Advanced Placement Program are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board, which was not involved in the production of and does not endorse this product.