AP Biology Exam Review Vocabulary

Flashcards covering vocabulary from AP Biology Exam Review lecture notes.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak bond between a proton and an electronegative atom; found between H in one water molecule and O in another, and between nitrogenous bases in DNA.

Polar Molecule

A molecule with an uneven distribution of charge, such as water, due to differences in electronegativity.

Cohesion

The attraction between water molecules due to hydrogen bonding, allowing water to move against gravity up a capillary tube.

Adhesion

The attraction of water molecules to other polar substances, such as the polar components of xylem in plants.

Surface Tension

A property of water resulting from cohesion, where water molecules are attracted to one another, creating a 'surface' allowing water striders to walk on water.

Macromolecules

Large organic molecules essential for life, including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids.

Carbohydrates

Macromolecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, serving as quick energy sources, structural components (chitin and cellulose), and energy storage.

Proteins

Macromolecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (and sometimes sulfur), with diverse functions such as metabolism, support, and transport.

Nucleic Acids

Macromolecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus, including DNA, RNA, and ATP, essential for storing and transmitting genetic information.

Lipids

Macromolecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, functioning as steroids, providing insulation, and forming waxes.

R Group

A variable group attached to the central carbon of an amino acid. Can be polar, nonpolar, or charged, affecting protein folding.

Dehydration Reaction

A chemical reaction where a water molecule is removed to join two subunits, forming a polymer.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction where a water molecule is added to break two subunits apart, breaking down a polymer into monomers.

Glycosidic Bond

The bond between carbohydrate monomers (monosaccharides).

Peptide Bond

The bond between protein monomers (amino acids).

Phosphodiester Bond

The bond between nucleic acid monomers (nucleotides).

Monomer

A molecule that can combine with others to form a polymer.

monosaccharide

The structural component/monomer of carbohydrate.

Amino Acid

The structural component/monomer of a protein; has a central carbon, amino group, carboxyl group, and R group

Nucleotide

The structural component/monomer of a nucleic acid; composed of a phosphate, sugar, and base.

Saturated Fatty Acid

A fatty acid with carbons saturated with hydrogens; a single bond

Unsaturated Fatty Acid

A fatty acid with one double bond causing a kink

Protein Primary Structure

The amino acid sequence forming the polypeptide chain; held together by covalent bonds.

Protein Secondary Structure

Local folding in the polypeptide chain due to interactions between atoms in the backbone; held together by hydrogen bonds.

Protein Tertiary Structure

Overall 3-dimensional shape of the polypeptide due to interactions between R groups of amino acids; held together by Hydrogen bonding, iconic dipole-dipole, london dispersion forces and disulfide bonds.

Protein Quaternary Structure

The structure of multiple polypeptide chains (proteins) come together; held together by same interactions that contribute to tertiary structure.

DNA

A nucleic acid containing deoxyribose, A, T, C, and G, and is traditionally double stranded

RNA

A nucleic acid containing ribose, A, U, C and G, and is traditionally single stranded.

Ribosome

Small round bodies that are made up of ribosomal RNA and prtoeins that can float freely or are attached to the rough endoplasmic reticulum; synthesizes proteins.

Rough ER

A series of membrane segments with ribosomes attached and where proteins are made along with carbohydrates.

Smooth ER

A series of membranes or tubules and sacs called cisternae where lipids, oils, fats, steroids/hormones are created.

Golgi Bodies

The shipping and receiving center, sorts, modifies, and ships proteins.

Mitochondria

An organelle that converts energy stored in food to usable chemical energy called ATP.

Lysosome

Membranous sac of enzymes that digest macromolecules and worn-out organelles and cell parts.

Vacuole

Large vesicles that come from the ER and the golgi apparatus that store food and water.

Chloroplast

Organelle found ONLY in plants and algae and contain green pigment called chlorophyll that is responsible for capturing light energy to convert it to chemical energy stored in food (sugar molecules) during photosynthesis.

Cristae

The inner membrane folds of the mitochondria

Stroma

The Fluid that surrounds the grana.

Thylakoid

The flattened disks where ETC are located.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death.

Selective Permeability

A property of biological membranes that allows some substances to cross more easily than others.

Turgor Pressure

The pressure that water molecules exert against the cell wall

Plasmadesmata

Small holes in the cell wall between plant cells that allow material in and out.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution that has concentration lower than inside the cell.

Hypertonic Solution

A solution that has concentration higher than inside the cell.

Isotonic Solution

A solution that has concentration equal to inside the cell

Passive Transport

The transport of materials across the membrane that requires no energy input; going WITH the concentration gradient.

Active Transport

The transport of materials across the membrane that requires energy input; going AGAINST the concentration gradient.

Concentration Gradient

The area where there is a difference of concentration of a substance between one area and the other.

Endocytosis

The engulfing of material into the cell.

Exocytosis

A vacuole or membrane releases material out of the cell.

Aquaporin

Membrane protein that allows large amount of water to pass through.

ATPase

Enzyme that breaks down ATP so that energy can be used to move the molecule.

Homeostasis

To keep a stable equilibrium which is maintained by physiological processes.

Osmoregulation

To keep an internal balance between the water and dissolved particles regardless of the environmental conditions around it.

Endergonic Reaction

A reaction with an energy input being required.

Exergonic Reaction

A reaction that releases energy

Energy Coupling

The use of an exergonic process to drive an endergonic one.

Autotroph

An organism that obtains organic food molecules without eating other organisms.

Heterotroph

An organism that obtains organic food molecules by eating other organisms or substances derived from them.

Population

A group of individuals of the same species living in an area.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size that a given environment can sustain.

Species Composition

The identity of the different species that make up a community.

Species Diversity

The number and relative abundance of species in a biological community.

Keystone Species

A species that is not necessarily abundant in a community yet exerts strong control on community structure by the nature of its ecological role or niche.

Adaptation

Inherited characteristic of an organism that enhances its survival and reproduction in a specific environment.

Invasive Species

A species, often introduced by humans, that takes hold outside its native range.

Speciation

An evolutionary process in which one species splits into two or more species.

Phylogenetic tree

A branching diagram that represents a hypothesis about the evolutionary history of a group of organisms.

Cladogram

A branching diagram that represents the evolutionary history of a group of organisms, without showing any data.

Evolution

Descent with modification; the idea that living species are descendants of ancestral ones that were different from present-day species; also, the genetic changes in a population from generation to generation.

Natural Selection

A process in which individual that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.

Mutation

A change in nucleotide sequence of an organism's DNA or in the DNA or RNA of a virus.