AP Biology Summer Assignment Vocab

Abiotic

non-living factors in an ecosystem

Active Transport

Cellular process that requires energy (usually ATP) to move molecules against their concentration gradient across a cell membrane

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

A molecule used by cells to store and transfer energy within the cell.

Adhesion

The tendency of water molecules to stick to other surfaces

Allele

variant of a gene controlling the same trait

Amino acid

Building blocks of protein

Analogous structure

Body parts that share a common function, but not structure

Aquatic

organism associated with a water environment

Artificial selection

selective breeding of plants and animals by humans to promote the occurrence of desirable traits in offspring

Asexual reproduction

A reproductive process that involves only one parent and produces offspring that are identical to the parent.

Biology

The study of life

Biomass

renewable organic material that comes from plants and animals

Biome

A large ecological region characterized by specific climate, vegetation, and animal life (e.g., tropical rainforest, desert).

Biosphere

The sum of all ecosystems on Earth, including the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere.

Biotechnology

The use of biological processes, organisms, or systems to develop or create useful products or applications.

Biotic

Pertaining to living organisms or their interactions within an ecosystem.

Carbohydrate

Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, including sugars and starches.

Carnivore

An organism that primarily consumes other animals

Carrier (Transport) Proteins

Membrane proteins that facilitate the movement of specific molecules across cell membranes.

Catalyst

A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.

Cell

The basic unit of life, containing genetic material and performing essential functions.

Cell Cycle

The sequence of events in a cell's life, including growth, replication, and division.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into ATP, releasing energy.

Chlorophyll

The green pigment in chloroplasts that captures light energy during photosynthesis.

Chloroplast

Organelle in plant cells where photosynthesis occurs.

Chromosomal Mutation

Changes in the structure or number of chromosomes, such as deletions, duplications, or inversions.

Chromosomes

Thread-like structures in the cell nucleus that carry genetic information (DNA).

Cladogram

A branching diagram showing evolutionary relationships among species.

Co-dominance

When both alleles of a gene are expressed equally in a heterozygous individual (e.g., blood type AB).

Cohesion

Water molecules sticking to each other due to hydrogen bonding

Community (Ecological)

All the interacting populations of different species in a specific area.

Competition

Interaction between organisms competing for limited resources.

Concentration Gradient

Difference in solute concentration between two regions

Consumer (Ecological)

Organisms that obtain energy by consuming other organisms.

Cytokinesis

The process of cell division where the cytoplasm is divided into two daughter cells after mitosis or meiosis.

Decomposer

An organism that breaks down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients in ecosystems.

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

The genetic material in cells, containing instructions for protein synthesis.

Diffusion

The movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

DNA Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence, which can lead to genetic variation.

DNA Replication

The process of copying DNA during cell division.

Dominant Inheritance:

When one allele masks the expression of another allele in a heterozygous individual.

Ecology:

The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms and their physical environment.

Embryology

The study of the development of embryos.

Endocytosis

The process by which cells take in substances by engulfing them with their cell membrane.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

An organelle involved in protein synthesis and lipid metabolism.

Endosymbiosis

The theory that eukaryotic cells evolved from symbiotic relationships with prokaryotic cells.

Energy Pyramid

A graphical representation of energy flow in an ecosystem, showing trophic levels.

Enzyme

A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions.

Eukaryote

An organism with cells containing a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Evolution

The process of gradual change in species over time.

Exocytosis

The process of releasing substances from a cell by fusing vesicles with the cell membrane.

Exponential Growth

Rapid population growth under ideal conditions.

Extinction

The complete disappearance of a species.

Extracellular

Outside the cell.

Facilitated Diffusion

Passive transport of molecules across a cell membrane with the help of transport proteins.

Food Chain

A linear sequence of organisms in an ecosystem, showing energy transfer.

Food Web

A complex network of interconnected food chains.

Fossils

Preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms.

Founder Effect

Genetic variation resulting from a small group of individuals colonizing a new area.

Frame-Shift Mutation

A mutation caused by the insertion or deletion of nucleotides, altering the reading frame.

Gamete

A sex cell (sperm or egg) involved in sexual reproduction.

Gene

A segment of DNA that codes for a specific trait or protein.

Gene Recombination

The shuffling of genetic material during meiosis.

Gene Splicing

The process of combining DNA from different sources.

Genetic Drift

Random changes in allele frequencies in a population.

Genetic Engineering

Manipulating genes to produce desired traits.

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

An organism with altered genes through genetic engineering.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism, represented by its alleles for specific traits.

Golgi Apparatus

An organelle involved in modifying, sorting, and packaging proteins for secretion.

Gradualism

A theory of evolution suggesting that changes occur slowly and gradually over time.

Habitat

The specific environment where an organism lives and interacts with other biotic and abiotic factors.

Herbivore

An organism that primarily consumes plants or plant-based material.

Homeostasis

The ability of an organism to maintain stable internal conditions despite external changes.

Homologous Structure

Similar structures in different species due to shared ancestry (e.g., the forelimbs of mammals).

Impermeable

Not allowing the passage of substances (e.g., an impermeable membrane).

Incomplete Dominance

When heterozygotes exhibit an intermediate phenotype between the two homozygous phenotypes.

Inheritance

The passing of genetic information from one generation to the next.

Interphase

The phase of the cell cycle when a cell grows, replicates DNA, and prepares for division.

Intracellular

Inside the cell.

Isolating Mechanisms

Factors that prevent gene flow between populations, leading to speciation.

Limiting Factor

An environmental factor that restricts the growth or distribution of a population.

Lipids

Organic molecules including fats, phospholipids, and steroids, important for energy storage and cell membranes.

Logistic Growth

Population growth that levels off due to limiting factors.

Macromolecule

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

Meiosis

Cell division that produces gametes (sperm and egg cells) with half the chromosome number.

Migration

The movement of individuals from one region to another.

Mitochondrion

Organelle responsible for cellular respiration and ATP production.

Mitosis

Cell division resulting in two identical daughter cells.

Monomer

The building block unit of a polymer (e.g., amino acids for proteins).

Monosaccharide

A simple sugar molecule (e.g., glucose, fructose).

Multicellular

Composed of multiple cells working together as an organism.

Multiple Alleles

More than two possible alleles for a single gene (e.g., ABO blood group system).

Natural Selection

The process by which advantageous traits become more common in a population over time.

Niche

The specific role and position of an organism within its ecosystem.

Nondisjunction

An error in meiosis where chromosomes fail to separate properly, leading to abnormal gametes.

Nonnative Species

Organisms introduced to an ecosystem where they are not naturally found.

Nucleic Acid

Biological molecules like DNA and RNA, involved in genetic information storage and expression.

Nucleotide

The monomer unit of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous base.

Nucleus

The central organelle containing genetic material in eukaryotic cells.