AP Biology Exam Review

This set of flashcards covers essential concepts in AP Biology, focusing on chemistry of life, cellular structures, biological processes, and genetics.

What are the four essential elements that make up 96% of the mass of all living things?

Oxygen (O), Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Nitrogen (N).

What is a subatomic particle that is positively charged and found in the nucleus of an atom?

Proton.

What is the chemical bond formed through the transfer of electrons from one atom to another?

Ionic bond.

What term is used to describe the outermost shell of electrons in an atom?

Valence shell.

Which type of covalent bond involves the equal sharing of electrons?

Nonpolar covalent bond.

What property of water explains why it has a high heat capacity?

Hydrogen bonds.

What is the term for a solution that has a pH less than 7?

Acidic solution.

What type of macromolecule are enzymes classified as?

Proteins.

What is the process called where glucose is split during cellular respiration?

Glycolysis.

What structure in mitochondria is responsible for ATP production?

Cristae.

What type of evolution results in unrelated species developing similar traits due to similar environmental pressures?

Convergent evolution.

What are the three types of RNA involved in protein synthesis?

Messenger RNA (mRNA), Ribosomal RNA (rRNA), Transfer RNA (tRNA).

What type of inheritance involves multiple genes influencing a single trait?

Polygenic inheritance.

What is the function of chlorophyll in photosynthesis?

To absorb light energy.

What is a tetrad in meiosis?

A structure formed by homologous chromosomes pairing up during meiosis I, consisting of four chromatids.

What condition must be present for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium to be maintained?

No mutations, random mating, large population size, no immigration/emigration, and no natural selection.

What is the difference between haploid and diploid cells?

Haploid cells have one set of chromosomes, while diploid cells have two sets.

What is the term for the visible characteristics of an organism?

Phenotype.