AP Biology Study Guide

These flashcards cover key concepts and vocabulary from the AP Biology study guide.

AP Biology Exam

A 3-hour end-of-course test with 60 multiple-choice and 6 free-response questions.

Activation Energy

The energy barrier that must be overcome for a reaction to occur.

Cohesion

The tendency of molecules of the same kind to stick together.

Adhesion

The tendency of dissimilar molecules to be attracted to each other.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak bond formed between a proton in one molecule and an electronegative atom of another.

Dehydration Synthesis

A reaction that links monomers together while releasing water.

Hydrolysis

A reaction that breaks down polymers into monomers with the addition of water.

Macromolecules

Large biological molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.

Polypeptide

A chain of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds.

Enzyme

A biological catalyst that speeds up reactions by lowering activation energy.

Photosynthesis

The process by which light energy is converted into chemical energy in glucose.

Cell Cycle

The series of stages that cells go through in order to grow and divide.

Mitosis

The process in which a cell divides to produce two identical daughter cells.

Heredity

The transmission of genetic information from parents to offspring.

Genotype

The genetic constitution of an individual.

Phenotype

The observable physical characteristics of an organism.

Allele

Different forms of a gene that can exist at a specific locus.

Natural Selection

The process by which favorable traits become more common in a population due to reproductive success.

Speciation

The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

Ecology

The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

Biotic Factor

Any living component of an environment that affects other organisms.

Abiotic Factor

Nonliving chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms.

Keystone Species

A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms and their interactions with their environment.

Cell Membrane

A semipermeable phospholipid bilayer that protects and organizes cells.

DNA

The molecule that carries the genetic instructions for life.

RNA

A nucleic acid that plays a central role in the coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes.