AP Biology Exam Review: Unit 1

Flashcards for key concepts from AP Biology Exam Review related to the Chemistry of Life.

What property of water is primarily responsible for its ability to support life?

Polarity and hydrogen bonding.

Define a hydrogen bond.

A weak interaction between a hydrogen atom bonded to an electronegative atom and another electronegative atom.

Which macromolecule primarily contains nitrogen?

Proteins and nucleic acids.

What is a phospholipid composed of?

A glycerol backbone, two fatty acid tails, and a phosphate group.

What is dehydration synthesis?

The process of forming a bond between monomers with the removal of a water molecule.

Describe the primary structure of a protein.

The sequence of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.

What does the term 'directionality' refer to in a nucleic acid?

The orientation of the strand from 5' to 3'.

What type of bond holds nucleotides together in a DNA strand?

Phosphodiester bonds.

How do R groups in amino acids influence protein structure?

The polarity of R groups affects how the protein folds and its interactions with other molecules.

What are the three components of a nucleotide?

A pentose sugar, a nitrogenous base, and a phosphate group.

Describe three properties of water caused by hydrogen bonds.

Cohesion, adhesion, and high surface tension.

What distinguishes DNA from RNA structurally?

DNA has deoxyribose sugar and thymine, while RNA has ribose sugar and uracil.

Define hydrolysis.

The process of breaking a bond between monomers using water.

What is the functional group of all amino acids?

An amine group, carboxyl group, and R group.

Identify one function of lipids in living organisms.

Energy storage, insulation, or forming cell membranes.

What are the two types of structural forms found in proteins?

Alpha helix and beta-pleated sheet.

What is the bond between carbohydrate monomers called?

Glycosidic bond.

How does the structure of water molecules contribute to its properties?

The polarity of water creates hydrogen bonds leading to cohesion, adhesion, and high specific heat capacity.

What is Chargaff’s rule in nucleotide pairing?

Adenine pairs with thymine and cytosine pairs with guanine.

What is the difference in function between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?

Saturated fatty acids are solid at room temperature and do not contain double bonds, while unsaturated fatty acids are liquid and contain one or more double bonds.