AP Bio Cell Test

10/6/25

Origin of Life is 

CHNOPS 

Abiogenesis 

life from no life 

Proto cell 

transitional step between non-living matter and the first cells, membrane barrior forms around macromolecules , forms bubble of chemistry: CHNOPS 

1st living cell 

Simple prokaryotic cell, Self replicating RNA + RNA based, simple membrane 

Characteristics that make something alive

Reproduction, Metablize, Grow + Develop, response to environment, Homeostasis (Barrier)

Prokaryotic Cell

SImple, unicellular, has a cell wall, no membrane bound organnelles, lacks a distinct, membrane-bound nucleus, has RNA + Circular DNA 

Endosymbiosis

Explains the origin of eukaryotic cells ( engulfing the other cell )

What does endosymbiosis provide

Symbiotic relationship, protection, ATP due to aerobic cellular respiration 

Endosymbiotic theory 

Mitochondria and chloroplasts (Plastids) evolved in eukaryotic cells after endosymbiosis and contain their own circular DNA and Ribosomes which are seen in modern day plant cells. 

Eukaryotic cells

Membrane bound nucleus that holds genetic material, membrane bound organelles ( ER, lysosome, etc), lipid membrane, complex 

Nucleus

Houses DNA and directs synthesisi of proteins + lipids

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

Synthesizes lipids

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

Synthesizes proteins ( has ribosomes)

Golgi Apparatus 

“Warehouse, package & ship”, process and transport molecules like lipids and proteins 

Mitochondria 

Power house of the cell, performs cellular respiration 

Lysosome

Digest food and breaks down waste

peroxisome

Oxidize + break down fatty acids and amino acids

Vacuoles

Storage

Central Vacuole

Stores water in plant cells

Chloroplast

performs photosynthesis to produce ATP

Translation

the process where genetic information encodid in mRNA is used to synthesize protein.

Transcription

The process where genetic info from a specific segment of DNA is copied into a mRNA molecule ( matches with top strand of DNA ) 

mRNA

messanger RNA - carries genetic info from nucleus to cytoplasm 

tRNA

Transfer RNA - delivers during translation

Ribosomes

builds proteins by translating mRNA into sequences amino acid.

osmosis 

The diffusion of free water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane 

What is this form? 

Phospholipid bi-layer 

Hypertonic solution

causes cell to lose water

Hypotonic solution

causes cell to gain water

Isotonic solution

doesnt lose or gain water

Cytoskeleton

maintains cell shape & provides mechanical strength

cyanobacteria 

microrganisms related to bacteria but can photosynthesis 

Archae

Single-celled prokaryotes - extremist

aerobic cellular respiration

metabolic process that breaks down nutrients (glucose) in the presence of oxygen to provide large amounts of ATP

What was present on primitive earth

Amino acids, nucleus, simple carbohydrates, and free standing liquid water were present on the primitive Earth.

what makes eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells common ancestors 

have ribosomes = Comman ancestor

DNA, RNA Cell membrane +  ribosomes