AP Biology exam review Unit 1

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts in AP Biology, focusing on the chemistry of life, properties of water, biological macromolecules, and nucleic acids.

Polarity

Uneven distribution of charge throughout a molecule, leading to partial positive and negative regions.

Hydrogen Bonding

The attraction between a hydrogen atom bonded to N, O, or F and a nearby N, O, or F atom of another molecule.

Cohesion

Attraction between water molecules due to hydrogen bonding, leading to high surface tension.

Adhesion

Attraction between water molecules and other polar molecules, also via hydrogen bonding.

Specific Heat

The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a substance, which is high for water.

Evaporative Cooling

Process where the highest energy (hottest) molecules evaporate first, cooling the remaining liquid.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; main functions are energy storage and structure.

Lipids

Hydrophobic macromolecules primarily composed of C and H; functions include energy storage, membrane structure, and signaling.

Proteins

Macromolecules made of amino acids that perform various functions including catalysis, structure, and signaling.

Nucleic Acids

Biological macromolecules (DNA and RNA) that store and transmit genetic information through nucleotides.

Dehydration Synthesis

A reaction that joins two monomers into a polymer by removing a water molecule.

Hydrolysis

A reaction that adds a water molecule to break covalent bonds in polymers, cleaving them into monomers.

Monosaccharides

Simple sugar molecules that are the monomers of carbohydrates.

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates made up of long chains of monosaccharides joined by glycosidic bonds.

Triglycerides

A type of lipid composed of three fatty acids and glycerol, serving as energy storage.

Phospholipids

Lipids comprising two fatty acids, glycerol, and a phosphate group, essential for cell membranes.

Peptide Bond

Covalent bond formed between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another.

Levels of Protein Structure

The organization of proteins into primary (sequence of amino acids), secondary (folding), tertiary (3D shape), and quaternary (multi-chain) structures.

Antiparallel

Referring to the opposite orientation of the two strands in a DNA double helix.

Nitrogenous Bases

Molecules that can pair in DNA (adenine with thymine and cytosine with guanine) and RNA (adenine with uracil) to create genetic information.