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AP Biology Unit 7 — Natural Selection

One-page sprint review

Ten pages on Darwinian language, Hardy-Weinberg calculations, evidence for evolution, phylogeny, and the speciation modes that appear on the exam every year.

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Exam Weight
13–20%
MCQs
8–12
FRQ Appearance
Every Year
Sprint Time
~2.5 hours

Quick Glance — all topics in this unit

Priority, exam format, and the trap that most often costs the point. Transcribed from page 1 so this content is searchable.

TopicPriorityFormatKey trap / must-know
7.1–7.3 Natural & Artificial Selection★★★MCQ, FRQNEVER write Lamarckian language. Populations evolve; individuals are selected.
7.4 Population Genetics★★★MCQ, FRQGenetic drift is random and strongest in small populations. Bottleneck and founder effects.
7.5 Hardy-Weinberg★★★Calc, FRQAlways start from q² (recessive phenotype). HWE is a null model — deviation = evolution.
7.6–7.8 Evidence & Continuing Evolution★★★MCQ, FRQHomologous = analogous. Antibiotic resistance is pre-existing variation selected, NOT created.
7.9 Phylogeny & Cladograms★★★MCQ, DataAll tips are equally evolved. Nodes = MRCA.
7.10 Speciation★★★MCQ, FRQGene flow PREVENTS speciation. Know all pre- vs post-zygotic isolation modes.
7.11–7.12 Variation & Origins of Life★★MCQRNA world: first informational + catalytic molecule.

Topic-by-topic visual review

Nine pages, one topic each. Open the PDF for print quality, or scroll to study on screen.

Cover: Unit 7 overview — highest-weight unit on the exam (13–20%). Hardy-Weinberg calculations and Darwinian language are the absolute must-masters.
Cover  ·  Unit 7 overview — highest-weight unit on the exam (13–20%). Hardy-Weinberg calculations and Darwinian language are the absolute must-masters.
7.1 Natural Selection: Darwin's four postulates: variation, heritable, overproduction, differential reproduction.
7.1 Natural Selection  ·  Darwin's four postulates: variation, heritable, overproduction, differential reproduction.
7.2 Artificial Selection & Patterns: Directional, stabilizing, and disruptive selection patterns with example fitness curves.
7.2 Artificial Selection & Patterns  ·  Directional, stabilizing, and disruptive selection patterns with example fitness curves.
7.4 Population Genetics & Drift: Genetic drift, bottleneck effect, founder effect — and why small populations evolve fastest.
7.4 Population Genetics & Drift  ·  Genetic drift, bottleneck effect, founder effect — and why small populations evolve fastest.
7.5 Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium: p + q = 1 and p² + 2pq + q² = 1 with the five HWE conditions.
7.5 Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium  ·  p + q = 1 and p² + 2pq + q² = 1 with the five HWE conditions.
7.5 Hardy-Weinberg Worked Examples: Calculating allele frequencies from phenotype counts — the canonical AP Bio FRQ pattern.
7.5 Hardy-Weinberg Worked Examples  ·  Calculating allele frequencies from phenotype counts — the canonical AP Bio FRQ pattern.
7.6 Evidence for Evolution: Fossil record, comparative anatomy, embryology, biogeography, molecular sequence evidence.
7.6 Evidence for Evolution  ·  Fossil record, comparative anatomy, embryology, biogeography, molecular sequence evidence.
7.9 Phylogeny & Cladograms: Reading cladograms, identifying MRCA, why all tips are equally evolved.
7.9 Phylogeny & Cladograms  ·  Reading cladograms, identifying MRCA, why all tips are equally evolved.
7.10 Speciation: Allopatric vs sympatric speciation; pre-zygotic vs post-zygotic reproductive isolation.
7.10 Speciation  ·  Allopatric vs sympatric speciation; pre-zygotic vs post-zygotic reproductive isolation.
7.11–7.12 Origins of Life: RNA world hypothesis, Miller-Urey, and the order of self-replicating systems.
7.11–7.12 Origins of Life  ·  RNA world hypothesis, Miller-Urey, and the order of self-replicating systems.
Final Review — Traps + Checklist: Darwinian language quick-fix list, HWE shortcut steps, and the pre-exam Unit 7 self-check.
Final Review — Traps + Checklist  ·  Darwinian language quick-fix list, HWE shortcut steps, and the pre-exam Unit 7 self-check.

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