AP Bio Unit 1

Biology

The scientific study of life and living organisms.

Cell Theory

The theory that all living things are composed of cells and that all cells come from pre-existing cells.

Homeostasis

The process by which living organisms maintain a stable internal environment.

Metabolism

The set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water.

Prokaryotic Cell

A simple cell without a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, e.g., bacteria.

Eukaryotic Cell

A complex cell that contains a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Organelles

Specialized structures within a cell that perform specific functions.

Plasma Membrane

The outer boundary of a cell that regulates what enters and leaves.

Nucleus

The membrane-bound organelle that contains the cell's genetic material.

Cytoplasm

The gel-like substance within a cell, excluding the nucleus.

Ribosome

The cellular structure responsible for protein synthesis.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

A network of membranes involved in protein and lipid synthesis.

Golgi Apparatus

An organelle that modifies, sorts, and packages proteins for secretion.

Lysosome

An organelle containing digestive enzymes that break down waste materials.

Mitochondria

Organelles that generate ATP, the energy currency of the cell.

Chloroplast

Organelles in plant cells that conduct photosynthesis.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

The molecule that carries genetic information in organisms.

RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)

A molecule involved in protein synthesis and gene expression.

Gene

A segment of DNA that contains the instructions for synthesizing a protein.

Chromosome

A structure made of DNA and proteins that contains genes.

Allele

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

Phenotype

The observable physical characteristics or traits of an organism.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism, typically referring to specific alleles.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Evolution

The change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.

Ecology

The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat.

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Biomes

Large geographical areas characterized by distinct climates and ecosystems.

Symbiosis

A close biological interaction between two different biological organisms.

Hydrophilic

Substances that interact well with water.

Hydrophobic

Substances that do not interact well with water.

Macromolecules

Large, complex molecules necessary for the structure and function of living organisms.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, used for energy.

Proteins

Large molecules made up of chains of amino acids that perform various functions.

Lipids

Fats and oils that are hydrophobic and store energy.

Nucleic Acids

Molecules that store and transmit genetic information (DNA and RNA).

pH

A measure of how acidic or basic a solution is.

Atoms

The basic units of matter that make up all substances.

Molecules

Groups of two or more atoms bonded together.

Ionic Bond

A chemical bond formed between two ions with opposite charges.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak bond between two molecules resulting from an electrostatic attraction.

Organic Compounds

Compounds that contain carbon and are found in living organisms.

Inorganic Compounds

Compounds that do not primarily consist of carbon-hydrogen bonds.

Enzymes

Proteins that act as catalysts to speed up chemical reactions in the body.

Substrate

The reactant on which an enzyme works.

Activation Energy

The minimum amount of energy required to start a chemical reaction.

Catalyst

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed.