This key concept stands above discrete facts, such as the role of a particular cytochrome in electron transport. Emphasizing concepts over facts makes the content of a biology course less overwhelming and more meaningful. A biology course has more structure and meaning when the key concepts for each topic are placed in the broader context of unifying themes. AP Biology defines a theme as an overarching feature of biology that applies throughout the curriculum. For example, the theme of energy transfer helps students connect topics as diverse as cellular respiration and ecosystem dynamics.
Concepts are the key ideas, restricted in scope to a certain topic.
Themes cut across the topics. Increasingly, the AP Biology Examination will emphasize the concepts and themes of biology and will place less weight on specific facts. There are eight major themes that recur throughout Advanced Placement Biology. Science, Technology, and Society AP Biology teachers should emphasize the pervasiveness of the themes to assist students in organizing concepts and topics into a coherent conceptual framework. These themes can be applied across the entire curriculum and serve to unify the course.