AP Bio Unit 1 Review

Polarity

Water molecules exhibit polarity, with hydrogen atoms carrying a slight positive charge and the oxygen atom carrying a slight negative charge.

Hydrogen Bonding

The ability of water molecules to form hydrogen bonds results in unique properties such as high surface tension and the ability to dissolve many substances.

Cohesion

Water molecules stick to each other due to hydrogen bonding, contributing to surface tension and water transport in plants.

Adhesion

The attraction of water molecules to other surfaces, facilitating processes like capillary action in plants.

High Specific Heat

Water's high specific heat capacity allows it to absorb significant amounts of heat without a large change in temperature, vital for stable environmental conditions.

Universal Solvent

Water's ability to dissolve a wide range of polar and ionic substances makes it essential for biochemical reactions and cellular processes.

Ice Floats

The crystalline structure of ice makes it less dense than liquid water, allowing it to float and insulate aquatic environments during cold weather.

Covalent Bonds

Carbon can form four covalent bonds, allowing it to create diverse and complex molecules essential for life.

Organic Molecules

Carbon is the fundamental building block of organic molecules, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Functional Groups

Various functional groups can attach to carbon chains, altering their chemical properties and reactivity.

Isomerism

Carbon compounds can exist as isomers, leading to different properties despite having the same molecular formula.

Macromolecules

Carbon's ability to form long chains and rings allows for the creation of macromolecules essential for biological functions.

Carbohydrates

Composed of monosaccharides, they provide energy and structural support, with examples like starch and cellulose.

Lipids

Made from fatty acids and glycerol, lipids store energy, provide insulation, and form cell membranes.

Proteins

Composed of amino acids, proteins serve as enzymes, structural components, and transport molecules.

Nucleic Acids

Made from nucleotides, nucleic acids store and transmit genetic information, including DNA and RNA.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction that forms bonds between molecules by removing water, crucial for macromolecule formation.

Hydrolysis

A reaction that breaks bonds by adding water, essential for the breakdown of macromolecules.

Primary Structure

The sequence of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds to form a polypeptide chain.

Secondary Structure

Local folding patterns of the polypeptide chain, stabilized by hydrogen bonds between the backbone atoms.

Tertiary Structure

The three-dimensional shape of a single polypeptide chain, resulting from interactions between amino acid side chains.

Quaternary Structure

Exists in proteins that consist of more than one polypeptide chain, with subunits interacting through various forces.

Enzymes

Proteins that act as catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions without being consumed.

Active Site

The specific region of the enzyme where the substrate binds, facilitating the conversion of substrates into products.

Induced Fit Model

The enzyme undergoes a conformational change upon substrate binding, enhancing the fit and likelihood of a reaction.

Enzyme Regulation

Enzymes can be regulated by inhibitors or activators, allowing for fine-tuning of metabolic pathways.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions occurring within an organism, encompassing both anabolic and catabolic pathways.

Anabolic Pathways

Pathways that build complex molecules from simpler ones, such as in photosynthesis.

Catabolic Pathways

Pathways that break down complex molecules to release energy, such as in cellular respiration.

ATP

The primary energy carrier in cells, releasing energy when hydrolyzed to ADP, driving various cellular processes.

Functional Group

A specific group of atoms within a molecule that gives that molecule its characteristic chemical properties, influencing its reactivity and biological function.

Trace Elements

Essential elements required by organisms in very small amounts, such as iron (Fe), iodine (I), and zinc (Zn).

Nonpolar Covalent Bond

A type of covalent bond in which electrons are shared equally between two atoms, resulting in no significant charge difference across the molecule.

Polar Covalent Bond

A covalent bond in which electrons are shared unequally, resulting in partial positive and negative charges on different ends of the molecule.

Capillary Action

The movement of liquid in narrow spaces against gravity due to cohesion and adhesion.

Glycerol

A three-carbon molecule that serves as the backbone of lipids like triglycerides and phospholipids.

Organic Compounds

Molecules primarily composed of carbon and hydrogen, including oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, found in living organisms.

Inorganic Compounds

Chemical compounds that do not contain carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds, such as water (H₂O), salts, and minerals.

Glycosidic Linkage

A covalent bond formed between two monosaccharides during a dehydration reaction to create disaccharides or polysaccharides.

Carboxyl Group (-COOH)

A functional group found in organic acids, consisting of a carbonyl (C=O) and hydroxyl (-OH) group.

R-group

A variable chemical side chain in amino acids that determines the properties and function of the amino acid.

Dipeptide

A molecule consisting of two amino acids joined by a peptide bond.

Chaperone Proteins

Proteins that assist in the proper folding and assembly of other proteins, preventing misfolding.

Triglycerides

Lipids composed of one glycerol molecule and three fatty acids, serving as a major form of stored energy.

Phospholipids

Lipids that contain a glycerol backbone, two fatty acid tails, and a phosphate group, making up cell membranes.

Polyunsaturated

Fatty acids with two or more double bonds in their hydrocarbon chain, often found in healthy plant oils.

Amphipathic Molecule

A molecule that has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, such as phospholipids.