AP Midterm Review - Google Docs

Gradient

A change in concentration or pressure in space.

Homeostasis

State of dynamic stability of internal conditions in an organism.

Negative feedback

A biological response that slows or stops a reaction to maintain homeostasis.

Positive feedback loop

A process that enhances or amplifies changes, exemplified by childbirth or milk letdown.

Cell

The functional basic unit of all living organisms; the smallest unit of life.

Transverse plane

A plane that separates the body into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) parts.

Frontal plane

A plane that separates the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) parts.

Sagittal plane

A plane that separates the body into left and right halves.

Midsagittal

The median plane that separates the body into equal left and right halves.

Superficial

Closer to the surface of the body.

Deep

Closer to the bone or inner body.

Cation

An atom that has lost one or more electrons and has a positive charge.

Anion

An atom that has gained one or more electrons and has a negative charge.

Hydrogen bonds

Weak intermolecular bonds that occur between molecules like fluorine, oxygen, and nitrogen.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that increase the rate of chemical reactions by lowering activation energy.

Organic compound

A substance that contains both carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Inorganic compound

A substance that lacks carbon and hydrogen atoms.

Covalent bond

A chemical bond formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.

Kinetic energy

The energy of motion.

Synthesis Reaction

A chemical reaction where two or more substances combine to form a new compound.

Dehydration Synthesis

The process in which monomers are joined to form polymers by removing water.

Hypotonic solution

A solution with lower concentration of solutes compared to the cell it surrounds, causing swelling.

Nucleus

The largest organelle that contains DNA.

Cytoskeleton

A network of fibers that maintains the structural integrity of the cell.

Genome

The complete set of genetic information in an organism.

Proteome

The entire repertoire of proteins produced by an organism.

Transcription Factors

Proteins that influence gene expression by inducing or repressing expression.

Catabolic Reaction

A chemical process that breaks down molecules and releases energy.

Anabolic Reaction

A process that builds up molecules and requires energy, typically in the form of ATP.

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, producing ATP and NADH.

Translation

The process of synthesizing proteins from mRNA, involving initiation, elongation, and termination.