AP BIOLOGY

All AP Bio Vocab Terms

Abiotic Factors

Non-living factors of the ecosystem (sunlight, temperature, and wind)

Acetylation

Addition of an acetyl group to a histone which weakens the interaction between DNA and histones

Acetyl CoA

Molecules used in various metabolic processes such as the Krebs Cycle

Activation Energy

The minimum amount of energy required to start a reaction

Action Potential

A rapid change in electrical potential across the cell membrane

Adaptive Radiation

A single ancestral species or small group rapidly diversifies into many descendent species, each adapted to different ecological niches

Adhesion

Water molecules attraction to a surface through the formation of hydrogen bonds

Aerobic Respiration

Production of energy (ATP) through the use of oxygen

Anaerobic Respiration

Production of energy (ATP) without the use of oxygen

Alleles

Different versions of the same gene

Allele Frequency

How often a particular allele appears within a populations gene pool

Allopatric Speciation

A single species evolves into two or more distinct species due to geographic isolation

Allosteric Regulation

Modification of an enzyme’s activity by the binding of a regulatory molecule (effector) to an allosteric site

Allosteric Site

A binding site on a protein that is distinct from the proteins active site

Alternative Splicing

Process that allows a single gene to produce multiple different types of mRNA

Amino Acid

Organic compounds that are the building blocks of proteins (20 amino acids)

A Site

Entry point for charged tRNAs during protein synthesis on a ribosome

Amplification

A process of increasing the number of copies of a specific DNA sequence or gene

Analogous Structures

Similar physical features in different species that evolved independently to serve the same function

Anaphase (Mitosis)

Sister chromatids separate and are pulled by the spindle fibers to opposite poles of the cell

Anaphase 1 (Meiosis)

Homologous chromosomes separate and move to opposite ends of the cell

Anaphase 2 (Meiosis)

Sister chromatids separate at the centromere and move to opposite ends of cells, pulled by spindle fibers

Anticodon

A trinucleotide sequence located at one end of a transfer RNA molecule that is complementary to a corresponding codon in mRNA

Antiparallel Orientation

The opposite directional arrangement of the two strands of DNA, where one strand runs 5' to 3' and the other runs 3' to 5'

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death

Aquaculture

The controlled cultivation of aquatic organism for commercial, recreational, or scientific purposes

Artificial Selection

Humans deliberately choose individuals with specific traits to breed

ATP

Primary energy currency of cells that stores and transports energy

ADP

Combines with a molecule of phosphate to form ATP in order to transfer energy

Autotrophs

Organisms that can produce their own food using natural resources

Behavioral Isolation

Differences in mating behavior prevents different species from successfully interbreeding

Biodiversity

The variety of life of Earth

Biotechnology

The use of biological organisms to develop products that improve society and human health

Biotic Factors

Living factors in an ecosystem (plants, animals, fungi)

Bottleneck Effect

A type of genetic drift that occurs when a populations size is drastically reduced due to a catastrophic event

C6H12O6

The chemical formula of glucose

Calvin Cycle

A process during photosynthesis that uses carbon dioxide and energy from the light reaction to create sugar

CAMP

A second messenger that relays signals from receptors on the cell surface to the interior which triggers events

Cancer Cells

Abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably and can invade tissues

Carbohydrates

Biological molecule that serves as an energy source and structural support in a living organism (glucose, sucrose, frucose)

Carbon

Fundamental element that is the basis of most biological molecules and processe

Carbon Dioxide

Chemical compound that is a reactant in photosynthesis and can easily pass through the cell membrane

Carbonyl Group

A functional group with a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom

Carboxyl Group

A functional group were a carbon atom is bonded both to a hydroxyl group and a carbonyl group

Carnivores

Animals that primarily feed on other animals

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size that an environment can sustainably support

Catalyst

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

CDK-Cyclin Complex

Protein that regulate the cell cycle by phosphorylating target proteins

Cell Communication

The process by which cells interact through signaling molecules which allows them to coordinate their activities

Cell Differentiation

Process where immature cells develop specialized characteristics and functions to become mature cells

Cell Cycle

The series of phases that a cell goes through during its division

Cell Cycle Checkpoints

Regulatory mechanisms that ensure the cell cycle progresses correctly

Cell Division

Process where a parent cell divides into two or more daughter cells

Cell Membrane

Semi-permeable barrier that surrounds all cells, separating the inside of the cell from its external environment

Cell Plate

A disk-shaped structure that forms in dividing plant cells during telophase and cytokinesis

Cell Signaling

Process where cells communicate and coordinate their activities

Cell Signaling Pathway

Series of molecular interactions that transmit signals from a cell's exterior to its interior, leading to a cellular response

Cell Size

How a cells dimensions can influence its function or metabolic rate

Cell Wall

Protective structure that surrounds a plant cell

Cellular Respiration

Process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy (ATP), carbon dioxide, and water

Central Dogma

Theory that describes the flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein

Centrioles

Barrel-shaped organelles that organize microtubules that serve as the cell’s skeletal system

Centrosome

Location of centrioles and organizes microtubules

Channel Protein

Membrane protein that facilitates the passage of specific ions or molecules across the cell membrane

Chargaff’s Rule

In DNA, the amount of cytosine and guanine should be equal and the amount of adenine and thymine should be equal

Charles Darwin

Contributed to the theory of evolution through natural selection

Chemiosmosis

The movement of ions across a selectively permeable membrane down their electron chemical gradient

Chlorophyll

Green pigment used by plants during photosynthesis

Chlorophyll A

Primary pigment responsible for capturing light energy

Chlorophyll B

Accessory pigment and transfer energy to chlorophyll A

Chloroplast

Organelle in plant cells where photosynthesis occurs

Cholesterol

Waxy, fat-like substance found in every cell of the body

CHONPS

Six elements that make up all life on Earth (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur)

Chromatids

One of the two identical halves of a duplicated chromosome formed during DNA replication before cell division

Chromatin

A mixture of DNA and proteins that form chromosomes

Cladograms

Diagram that shows evolutionary relationships among various species based on shared characteristics

Cleavage Furrow

A indentation that forms in the cell membrane during cell division to split the cell into two daughter cells

Climate Change

Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns

Codominance

Both alleles for a trait are fully expressed in a heterozygous individual

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that corresponds to a specific amino acid during protein synthesis

Coevolution

Two or more species reciprocally affect each others evolution

Cohesion

Attraction of water molecules to other molecules through the formation of hydrogen bonds

Commensalism

One species benefits from a relationship with another species, while the other species is neither harmed nor benefited

Common Ancestor

An ancestral organism shared by two or more different lineages in evolutionary history

Compartmentalization

Organization of a cells internal structure into specialized membrane-bound compartments called organelles

Competitive Inhibition

An inhibitor molecule with a similar structure to a substrate bind to the same active site of an enzyme as the substrate

Complementary Base Pairing

Principle that specific nitrogenous bases in DNA and RNA always pair with each other

Compounds

A substance formed when two or more different chemical elements are chemically bonded together

Concentration Gradient

Difference in the concentration of a substance across a space or within a region

Conjugation

A process in bacteria where genetic material is transferred from one cell to another through direct contact

Conservation

Protection of natural resources

Convergent Evolution

Unrelated species independently evolve similar traits due to adapting to similar environments or niches

Corepressors

Small molecules that bind to repressors which enhances their ability to inhibit transcription

Cotransporters

Proteins that simultaneously transport two different molecules or ions from one side of the membrane to the other

Covalent Bonds

Strong bonds that occur between atoms through sharing of electrons

Cristae

Infoldings of inner membrane without a mitochondrion

Crossing Over

Exchange of genetic material between paired homologous chromosomes

Cystic Fibrosis

Inherited disorder that damages the lungs and digestive system through the production of mucus and other fluids that can plug up passage ways

Cytokinesis

Cell’s cytoplasm divides after nuclear division

Cytoplasm

Gel-like fluid inside a cell