AP Biology Unit 1 - Main Terms & Concepts

What atoms create water, and what type of bond connects them?

2 hydrogen, 1 oxygen, covalent bonds

Is water polar or non polar?

Water is polar due to unequal distribution of electrons

If water bonds with another water molecule, what is this called, and what type of bond is it?

Cohesion, hydrogen bond

If water bonds with a different molecule, what is this called and what type of bond is it?

Adhesion, hydrogen bond

Capillary action is the result of what 3 traits of water?

Adhesion, Cohesion, and Surface Tension

Where is energy stored?

Chemical Bonds

What do carbon skeletons allow for?

The creation of large, complex molecules which other molecules can attach to

What does nitrogen build?

Nucleic acids and proteins

What does phosphorus build?

Nucleic acids and lipids

What does carbon build?

Nucleic Acids, Proteins, Lipids, and Carbohydrates

What is the monomer of nucleic acids

Nucleotides

What are nucleotides made of?

Phosphate group, 5 carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base

What are the nitrogenous bases?

Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, Thymine (DNA), and Uracil (RNA)

What's the differences between DNA and RNA sugars?

DNA is made of Deoxyribose sugar, RNA is made of ribose. Deoxyribose sugars have an H atom, whereas ribose sugars have a hydroxyl group (OH) atoms in the same spot.

What are the monomers of proteins?

Amino Acids

What determines the folding of Proteins?

The R groups of amino acids and whether they're hydrophobic, hydrophilic, or ionic.

What connects amino acids to create proteins? What are the bonds called?

Polypeptide chains connect amino acids, peptide bonds create the chains

What are the monomers of carbohydrates?

Monosaccharides (sugars), like glucose, fructose (and any other -ose)

How do different monosaccharides affect carbohydrates?

Differently structured monosaccharides change the function of carbohydrates.

What are the monomers of lipids?

Lipids have no true monomer, but are made of fatty acids.

What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?

Saturated fatty acids only have 1 hydrogen bond between carbon molecules, where unsaturated fatty acids can have more than one bond (Double bonding leads to a "kinked" structure)

What are phospholipids and what do they create?

A special type of lipid that features a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail, which together create the phospholipid bilayer in cell membranes.

A change in typically results in a change in .

Structure, Function

What is a hydroxyl group?

Oxygen and Hydrogen

What type of bonds make up the backbone of DNA?

Covalent

DNA has a linear structure of ___ with a 3' _ end and a 5' __ end.

Nucleotides, hydroxyl, phosphate

Why is the 3' end called the 3' end?

There's a hydroxyl group attached to the 3' carbon of the 5 carbon sugar.

Why is the 5' end called the 5' end?

There's a phosphate group attached to the 5' carbon of the 5 carbon sugar.

What shape is DNA?

An antiparallel helix, where 5' is Across from 3'

During DNA synthesis, what sides are nucleotides added to?

3' end, to 5' end

What types of bonds connect nucleotides in DNA?

Weaker hydrogen bonds connect nucleotides, whereas stronger covalent bonds make up the backbone of DNA.

What nucleotide groups are pairs and how many bonds do they have?

Adenine pairs with Thymine via 2 hydrogen' bonds
Guanine pairs with Cytosine via 3 hydrogen bonds

What is the primary structure of proteins?

The linear sequence of amino acids that makes up the polypeptide chain.

What is the secondary structure of proteins?

The spatial arrangement of the polypeptide chain into an alpha helix or beta pleated sheet.

What is the tertiary structure of proteins?

The 3d, folded form of the polypeptide chain into a structure determined by the R group and polarity of Amino Acids.

What is the quaternary structure of proteins?

The interaction/connection of multiple polypeptide chains.

What is the difference between polar and non-polar?

Polar is an uneven distribution of electrons and is typically hydrophilic, whereas nonpolar is an even distribution of electrons and is typically hydrophobic.

What are macromolecules?

Molecules that are larger and more complex, and are built out of smaller molecules, and are often polymers

What are monomers?

Smaller molecules that are the building blocks of polymers and macromolecules. (Nucleotides, amino acids, fatty acids, or monosaccharides)

Covalent vs Hydrogen bond

Covalent bonds are usually weaker and connect individual atoms together (But covalent bonds do connect monomers together to form polymers)
Hydrogen bonds are stronger and connect molecules together to form larger macromolecules and polymers

What is transpiration?

A process where plants release water into the atmosphere in order to conserve energy.

What is hydrolysis?

The process where water is added to an existing polymer to split it up into two separate monomer molecules.

What is dehydration synthesis?

The process where water is removed from two connected molecules in order to create a polymer.

Amphipathic

A molecule or protein that has both a hydrophobic and hydrophilic region. Ex. - Phospholipids

What does it mean when something Denatures?

The process where a nucleic acid or protein unfolds and loses its tertiary structure due to environmental changes. (Like temperature, pH, or chemical composure)