AP Biology Review Flashcards

Flashcards to help review key vocabulary and concepts in AP Biology. These flashcards aim to test your understanding of biological terms and processes through definitions.

Interphase

90% of the cell life cycle where the cell performs its everyday job, produces RNA, and synthesizes proteins in preparation for duplication.

G1 Phase

The first gap phase in interphase where the cell performs its everyday job and grows.

S Phase

The DNA synthesis phase in interphase where chromosomes are copied.

G2 Phase

The second gap phase in interphase where the cell prepares for division by growing more and producing organelles, proteins, and membranes.

Mitosis

The division of a cell's DNA between two daughter nuclei.

Prophase

The first phase of mitosis where chromatin condenses into visible chromosomes, centrioles move to opposite poles, and the nuclear membrane breaks down.

Metaphase

The phase of mitosis where chromosomes align along the middle of the cell (metaphase plate).

Anaphase

The phase of mitosis where sister chromatids separate at kinetochores and move to opposite poles.

Telophase

The final phase of mitosis where chromosomes arrive at opposite poles, daughter nuclei form, and cytokinesis begins.

Cytokinesis

The division of the cytoplasm to form two separate daughter cells.

Kinetochore

Protein structure on chromatids where microtubules attach during cell division.

Centromere

The region of a chromosome to which the microtubules of the spindle attach, via the kinetochore, during cell division.

ATP

Main energy currency of the cell; produced during cellular respiration.

Anaerobic Respiration (Fermentation)

Process that allows the production of a small amount of ATP without oxygen.

Lactic Acid Fermentation

An anaerobic process where pyruvic acid is broken down to lactic acid and energy is released.

Alcohol Fermentation

An anaerobic process where pyruvic acid is broken down to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide.

Glycolysis

The breakdown of glucose by enzymes, releasing energy and pyruvic acid.

Aerobic Respiration

Respiration using oxygen.

Oxidation

Loss of electrons, releasing energy (exergonic).

Reduction

Gain of electrons, storing energy (endergonic).

Autotroph

An organism that is able to form nutritional organic substances from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide.

Heterotroph

An organism deriving its nutritional requirements from complex organic substances.

Photorespiration

A respiratory process in many higher plants by which they take up oxygen in light and give out some carbon dioxide, contrary to the general pattern of photosynthesis.

C3 Plants

Plants where the initial fixation of carbon occurs via RuBisCO, forming a three-carbon compound (3-PGA).

C4 Plants

Plants that minimize photorespiration by physically separating carbon fixation from the Calvin cycle; store carbon in 4C compounds.

CAM Plants

Plants that separate carbon fixation from the Calvin cycle by time of day; fix carbon during the night and perform the Calvin cycle during the day.

Transpiration

Evaporation of water from the leaves of a plant.

RuBisCo

Enzyme involved in the Calvin cycle that fixes carbon by bonding it to RuBP.

Stomata

Pores in the leaf of a plant that allow gas exchange (CO2 in, O2 out).

PEP Carboxylase

Enzyme used by C4 plants to fix CO2 in mesophyll cells, forming a 4-carbon compound.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; function as fast energy, energy storage, and structural materials. Monomer is sugars.

Lipids

Organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with long hydrocarbon chains; include fats, phospholipids, and steroids. Function in long-term energy storage, insulation, and as structural components.

Proteins

Macromolecules with diverse functions including enzymes, structure, transport, cell communication, defense, movement, and storage. Monomer is amino acids.

Nucleic Acids

Macromolecules responsible for storing and transferring genetic information; DNA and RNA. Monomer is nucleotides.

Hydrolysis

Breakdown of polymers by using water to cleave off one monomer at a time.

Dehydration Synthesis

Process that joins monomers by removing water, forming a covalent bond.

Enzyme

Biological catalysts usually composed of proteins (or RNA) that reduce activation energy and increase the rate of biological reactions.

Active Site

Region of an enzyme where the substrate binds and catalysis occurs.

Substrate

Reactant that binds to an enzyme.

Competitive Inhibitor

Inhibitor molecules that bind to the active site of an enzyme, preventing substrate binding.

Non-Competitive Inhibitor

Inhibitor molecules that bind to a site other than the active site (allosteric site), causing a conformational change in the enzyme and reducing its activity.

Cell Membrane

Separates the inside of the cell from the outside environment; controls what enters and leaves the cell.

Lysosome

Organelle responsible for digesting food, cleaning up, and recycling waste within the cell.

Mitochondria

Organelle where ATP energy is made from cellular respiration (sugar + O2 → ATP).

Chloroplast

Organelle in plant cells where ATP and sugar are made from sunlight via photosynthesis (sunlight + CO2 → ATP & sugar).

Nucleus

Control center of the cell; protects DNA and controls cell activity.

Ribosome

Organelle that builds proteins, reading instructions from DNA.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

Network of membranes involved in protein processing (rough ER) and lipid synthesis (smooth ER).

Golgi Apparatus

Organelle that finishes, sorts, labels, and ships proteins.

Centrioles

Organelles that help coordinate cell division (only in animal cells).

Prokaryote

A type of cell lacking a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.

Eukaryote

A type of cell with a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.

Diffusion

The movement of a substance from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration across a semi-permeable membrane.

Hypotonic

A solution with more solvent (less solute) compared to another solution.

Hypertonic

A solution with less solvent (more solute) compared to another solution.

Isotonic

When two solutions have the same concentration of solutes.

Natural Selection

Differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype. It is a key mechanism of evolution, the change in the heritable characteristics typical of a population over successive generations.

Cohesion

The property of water molecules to be cohesive, sticking to each other.

Adhesion

The clinging of one substance to another, such as water to plant cell walls.

Surface Tension

A measure of how difficult it is to stretch or break the surface of a liquid.