AP Bio Vocab

Abiotic

referring to non-living chemical and physical factors in the environment, such as sunlight, water, and temperature, that affect ecosystems.

Active Transport

the movement of molecules across a cell membrane from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration, requiring energy.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

a high-energy molecule used by cells to fuel various biochemical processes and perform work.

Adhesion

the tendency of molecules to stick to or bond with other surfaces, often seen in water molecules adhering to plant tissues.

Allele

a variant form of a gene that may produce differing traits.

Analogous structure

a biological feature that has a similar function in different species but evolved independently, often due to convergent evolution.

aquatic

relating to water or living in water; organisms adapted to life in water environments.

Artificial selection

The process by which humans selectively breed individuals with desirable traits to produce offspring with those traits, influencing the evolution of species.

asexual selection

Does not involve the fusion of gametes or change in the number of chromosomes, essentially clones

Biology

The scientific study of life and living organisms, encompassing various fields such as genetics, ecology, and evolution.

Biome

A large geographic biotic unit characterized by specific climate, flora, and fauna.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems, encompassing all living organisms and their environments.

Biotechnology

The use of biological processes, organisms, or systems to develop products and technologies for various applications, such as medicine, agriculture, and environmental management.

Biotic

Relating to or resulting from living organisms.

Carbohydrate

Organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, typically in a ratio of 1:2:1, that serve as a primary energy source and structural component in living organisms.

Carnivore

An organism that primarily feeds on other animals.

Carrier (transport) proteins

Proteins that facilitate the transport of substances across cell membranes by binding and changing shape.

Catalyst

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.

Cell

The basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms, capable of performing all life processes.

Cell cycle

The series of phases that a cell goes through from its formation until it divides into two daughter cells, including stages such as interphase and mitosis.

Cellular respiration

The metabolic process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water, essential for cellular function.

Chlorophyll

A green pigment found in plants that is essential for photosynthesis, allowing plants to absorb light energy.

Chloroplast

An organelle found in plant cells that contains chlorophyll and is the site of photosynthesis, where light energy is converted into chemical energy.

Chromosomal mutation

A change in the structure or number of chromosomes that can lead to genetic variation or disorders in an organism.

Chromosomes

Thread-like structures in cells that carry genetic information and are made of DNA and proteins.

Cloning

The process of creating a genetically identical copy of an organism or cell, often used in research and agriculture.

Co-dominanace

A form of inheritance where both alleles in a gene pair are fully expressed in the phenotype of a heterozygote.

Cohesion

The intermolecular attraction between like molecules, such as water molecules sticking together due to hydrogen bonding.

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Community (ecological)

A group of different species living together in a specific area and interacting with one another.

Competition

The interaction between organisms or species in which both are harmed while vying for the same limited resources, such as food, space, or mates.

Concentration gradient

The amount of a substance in a given volume or mass of another substance, often expressed in terms of molarity or percentage.

Consumer (ecological)

Organisms that obtain energy by feeding on other organisms, including plants and animals.

Crossing-over

The process during meiosis where homologous chromosomes exchange genetic material, leading to genetic diversity in offspring.

Cytokinesis

The final stage of cell division, where the cytoplasm divides, resulting in two separate daughter cells.

Decomposer

Organisms that break down dead or decaying organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

The molecule that carries genetic information in living organisms, composed of two strands forming a double helix.

Diffusion

The process by which molecules spread from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration.

DNA Mutation

A change in the DNA sequence that can affect genetic information, potentially leading to changes in phenotype.

DNA replication

The process by which DNA is copied to produce two identical molecules, essential for cell division and reproduction.

Dominant inheritance

The pattern of inheritance in which an offspring receives a dominant allele from at least one parent, resulting in the expression of a certain trait.

Ecology

The branch of biology that deals with the relationships between living organisms and their environment, including interactions with each other and with physical surroundings.

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment, functioning as a unit.

Embryology

The branch of biology that studies the development of embryos from fertilization to fetal development, examining how organisms develop and differentiate.

Endemic Species

Species that are native to a specific location and found nowhere else.

Endocytosis

The process by which cells internalize substances from their external environment by engulfing them in a membrane-bound vesicle.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

A vital network of membranes within eukaryotic cells, playing crucial roles in protein and lipid synthesis, calcium regulation and detoxification

Endosymbiosis

A symbiotic relationship where one organism lives inside another, often resulting in a mutually beneficial relationship

Energy pyramid

A graphical representation of the amount of energy available at each trophic level in an ecosystem

Enzyme

A protein that acts as a biological catalyst, speeding up chemical reactions in living organisms

Eukaryote

An organism whose cells contain a nucleus and other membrane bound organelles

Evolution

The process by which populations of living organisms change over generations through genetic variation

Exocytosis

A cellular process where a cell transports large molecules out of the cell through the fusion of a vesicle with the plasma membrane

Extinction

The process by which a species ceases to exist

Extracellular

Situated or taking place outside a cell or cells

Facilitated diffusion

A type of passive transport where molecules move across a cell membrane with the help of transport proteins without the cell using energy

Food chain

A linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another

Food web

Illustrates the interconnected feeding relationships within an ecosystem, showing how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another

Fossils

Preserved remains or traces of plants and animals that lived in the past

Founder effect

A type of genetic drift that occurs when a small group of individuals establishes a new population potentially resulting in a different gene pool compared to the original population from which they came

Frame shift mutation

A genetic mutation caused by an insertion or deletion of DNA base pairs that are not in multiples of three

Gamete

A mature haploid male or female germ cell which is able to unite with another of the opposite sex in sexual reproduction to form a zygote

Gene

The basic physical and functional unit of heredity

Gene recombination

the process where DNA segments are exchanged between chromosomes or within a chromosome, resulting in new combinations of genetic material

Gene splicing

A process where a cell modifies a pre-mRNA molecule by removing non-coding sections (introns) and joining the remaining coding sections (exons)

Gene therapy

A medical approach that treats or prevents disease by correcting the underlying genetic problem within a patient’s cell

Genetic drift

A random process that causes changes in the frequency of gene variants (alleles) within a population over time

Genetic engineering

The direct manipulation of an organism’s genome using biotechnology

Genetically modified Organism (GMO)

Any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques

Genotype

An organism’s complete heritable genetic identity

Golgi Apparatus

A cell organelle that function as a processing and packaging center for proteins and lipids, especially those destined for secretion or delivery to other parts of the cell

Gradualism

A ploicy of gradual reform rather than sudden change or revolution

Habitat

The natural environment where a plant, animal, or microorganism lives, providing the resources and conditions it needs to survive and reproduce

Herbivore

An animal that primarily or exclusively eats plants

Homeostasis

The process by which living organisms maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions

Homologous Structure

Body parts in different species that share a common underlying structure, indicating a shared ancestry, even if their functions differ

Impermeable

Not allowing fluid to pass through

Incomplete dominance

A genetic phenomenon where one allele doesn't completely mask the other in a heterozygous individual

Inheritance

The process by which traits are passed from parents to offspring

Interphase

A crucial stage in the cell cycle where the cell prepares for division by growing, replicating its DNA, and carrying out normal metabolic activities

Intracellular

Within the cell

Isolating Mechanisms

biological factors that prevent different species from interbreeding and producing viable, fertile offspring

Limiting factor

Aan environmental condition or resource that restricts the growth, abundance, or distribution of a population within an ecosystem

Lipids

a diverse group of organic compounds that are generally insoluble in water but soluble in nonpolar solvents

Macromolecule

A large, complex molecule composed of smaller subunits, often referred to as monomers, linked together through chemical bonds

Meiosis

A specialized type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in the formation of haploid gametes (sperm and egg cells)

Migration

The seasonal movement of animals from one region to another, often in search of food, better breeding conditions, or more favorable climates

Mitochondrion

A membrane-bound organelle found in most eukaryotic cells

Mitosis

The process where a single cell divides into two identical daughter cells

Monomer

A molecule that can chemically bond with other identical or different molecules to form a larger molecule, called a polymer

Multicellular

An organism having or consisting of many cells

Multiple alleles

The existence of more than two alternative forms (alleles) of a gene within a population

Mutualism

A type of symbiotic relationship where two different species benefit from interacting with each other

Natural selection

A key mechanism of evolution where individuals with advantageous traits survive and reproduce more successfully, passing those traits to their offspring

Niche

Describes the role an organism plays in its ecosystem, encompassing its interactions with other organisms and the environmental conditions it needs to survive and reproduce

Nondisjunction

The failure of chromosomes to separate properly during cell division

Nonnative species

One that has been introduced to an ecosystem outside of its natural range due to human activity, either intentionally or accidentally

Nucleic acid

Large biomolecules, essential in all living cells and viruses, that store and express genetic information

Nucleus

A membrane bound organelle found in eukaryotic cells

Omnivore

An animal or person that eats food of both plant and animal origin