ap bio

Atomic Structure

The composition of an atom, including protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Photosynthesis

The process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose.

Mitosis

A type of cell division that results in two genetically identical daughter cells.

Natural Selection

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

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms along with their physical environment interacting as a system.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms along with their physical environment interacting as a system.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal conditions in an organism despite changes in the external environment.

Cell Membrane

A biological membrane that separates and protects the interior of all cells from the outside environment.

Enzyme

A protein that acts as a catalyst to accelerate a chemical reaction in a living organism.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic information in living organisms.

Species

A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Chromosome

A thread-like structure made of DNA and protein that carries genetic information.

Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence that can lead to variations in traits among organisms.

Biodiversity

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

Eukaryotic Cell

A cell that has a nucleus enclosed within membranes, unlike prokaryotic cells.

Hypothesis

A proposed explanation for a set of observations, which can be tested through experiments.

Cell Theory

A fundamental concept in biology that states that all living things are composed of cells, and that cells are the basic unit of life.

Photosystem

A cluster of pigment molecules and proteins in plant cells that capture light energy for photosynthesis.

Osmosis

The passive movement of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration.

Transcription

The process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA, which occurs in the nucleus before the RNA is translated into protein.

Translation

The process where ribosomes synthesize proteins using the information carried by mRNA.

Cell Cycle

The series of phases that a cell goes through from its formation to its division, including interphase and mitosis.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism, represented by its alleles.

Phenotype

The observed physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, determined by its genotype.

Karyotype

A photograph or diagram of the chromosomes in a cell, arranged in pairs and used to assess chromosomal abnormalities.

Allele

Different versions of a gene that can exist at a specific locus on a chromosome.

Fossil Record

The collection of fossils which provides evidence of past life forms and evolutionary changes over time.

Symbiosis

A close and long-term interaction between two different species, which may be beneficial, neutral, or harmful to one or both.

Energy Flow

The transfer of energy through a food web, starting from primary producers to various consumer levels.

Trophic Levels

The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, and so forth.

Population Dynamics

The study of how populations change over time in terms of size, density, and age distribution.

Cell Specialization

The process by which generic cells change into specific cells meant to do different tasks within an organism.

Chromatin

A complex of DNA and protein found in eukaryotic cells, which condenses to form chromosomes during cell division.

Gene

A segment of DNA that encodes a functional product, usually a protein.

Phenotypic Plasticity

The ability of an organism to change its phenotype in response to environmental conditions.

Genetic Drift

A mechanism of evolution that involves random changes in allele frequencies within a population.

Homologous Structures

Anatomical features in different species that share a common ancestry, even if they serve different functions.

Analogous Structures

Features in different species that perform similar functions but do not share a common ancestor.

Stomata

Tiny openings on the surfaces of leaves that allow for gas exchange in the process of photosynthesis and respiration.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four genetically diverse gametes.

Zygote

The fertilized egg that results from the union of a sperm and an ovum, which will develop into a new organism.

Lysosome

An organelle in eukaryotic cells containing digestive enzymes that break down waste materials and cellular debris.

Microtubules

Hollow tubes made of protein that help support the cell, provide structure, and play important roles in cell division.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death, a process that helps eliminate unnecessary or damaged cells.

Endosymbiosis

A symbiotic relationship where one organism lives inside another, leading to the evolution of eukaryotic cells from prokaryotic cells.

Vesicle

A small membrane-bound sac that transports materials within the cell.

Phospholipid Bilayer

A double layer of phospholipids that makes up the cell membrane, providing a barrier to most water-soluble substances.

Exocytosis

The process by which cells expel materials in vesicles that fuse with the plasma membrane.

Endocytosis

The process by which cells take in substances, enclosing them in vesicles formed from the plasma membrane.

Nucleotide

The basic building block of DNA and RNA, composed of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

ATP Synthase

An enzyme that creates ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate during cellular respiration.

Transgenic Organism

An organism that has been genetically modified to contain a gene or genes from another species.

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

A technique used to amplify small segments of DNA, generating millions of copies of a specific sequence.

Clone

An organism or cell produced from a single ancestor, genetically identical to that ancestor.

Bioluminescence

The production and emission of light by living organisms, often used for communication, camouflage, or attracting mates.

Trophic Cascade

A series of changes in the size of populations of organisms at different trophic levels in a food web.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can sustainably support.

Invasive Species

Non-native species that, when introduced to a new environment, can disrupt local ecosystems and biodiversity.

Ecological Succession

The process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, leading to a more stable community.

Hormones

Chemical messengers produced by glands that regulate various physiological processes and behaviors.

Vaccination

A method of inducing immunity to a disease by introducing a vaccine into the body, stimulating the immune response.

Phenotype Ratio

The ratio of different phenotypes that appear in the offspring of a genetic cross.

Allele Frequency

The relative frequency of an allele at a genetic locus in a population, expressed as a proportion or percentage.

Community

A group of different species that interact with each other in a shared environment.