AP Biology Vocab

AP Biology vocab words to familiarize yourself with before the school year.

Abiotic

Referring to non-living chemical and physical factors in the environment, such as sunlight, temperature, and mineral soil.

Active transport

The movement of molecules across a cell membrane from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration, requiring energy.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

A nucleotide that serves as the primary energy carrier in all living organisms, storing and providing energy for various cellular processes.

Adhesion

The tendency of molecules to cling to surfaces or other molecules, especially in the context of water molecules adhering to plant cell walls or other polar substances.

Allele

One of the different forms of a gene that can exist at a specific locus on a chromosome, influencing traits in an organism.

Analogous structure

Body parts in different species that have similar functions but evolved independently, indicating convergent evolution.

Aquatic

Relating to water; organisms that live in water environments, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Artificial selection

The process by which humans breed plants and animals for specific traits, selecting individuals with desired characteristics to produce the next generation.

Asexual reproduction

A form of reproduction that involves a single organism producing offspring genetically identical to itself, without the involvement of gametes.

Biology

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

Biome

A large geographic biotic unit defined by climate, geography, and the organisms adapted to those environments.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems, encompassing all living organisms and their interactions with the environment.

Biotechnology

The application of biological systems and organisms to create products and technologies that improve human life and the environment.

Biotic

Relating to living organisms and their interactions within ecosystems.

Carbohydrate

Any organic compound made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, typically in a ratio of 1:2:1. These sugars are essential for energy storage and structural functions in living organisms.

Carnivore

An organism that primarily eats meat from other animals, playing a crucial role in food chains and ecosystems.

Carrier (transport) proteins

Proteins that facilitate the transport of substances across a cell membrane, either by passive or active transport mechanisms.

Catalyst

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without undergoing permanent changes itself. Catalysts lower the activation energy required for reactions to occur.

Cell

The basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms, comprising various organelles and surrounded by a cell membrane.

Cell cycle

The series of events that take place in a cell leading to its division and replication, allowing for growth and tissue repair.

Cell respiration

The process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, releasing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts.

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 conduct photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical energy.

Chromosomal mutation

A change in the structure or number of chromosomes, which can lead to genetic disorders or variations.

Chromosomes

Thread-like structures located in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, composed of DNA and proteins, that carry genetic information.

Cloning

The process of creating a genetically identical copy of an organism or cell. Cloning can occur naturally or be conducted artificially through various techniques.

Codominance

A genetic inheritance pattern where two different alleles for a gene are both fully expressed in the phenotype, without blending, in heterozygous individuals. Both traits are visible.

Cohesion

The sticking together of particles of the same substance, especially in the context of water molecules being attracted to each other through hydrogen bonds.

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Community (ecological)

All the different populations of organisms living and interacting in a particular area.

Competition

An interaction between organisms or species in which both the organisms or species are harmed due to a limited supply of at least one common resource such as food, water, or territory.

Concentration gradient

The difference in the concentration of molecules or ions between two areas.

Consumer (ecological)

An organism that obtains energy by feeding on other organisms.

Crossing over

The exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis, leading to genetic recombination.

Cytokinesis

The cytoplasmic division of a cell at the end of mitosis or meiosis, bringing about the separation into two daughter cells.

Decomposer

An organism, especially a soil bacterium, fungus, or invertebrate, that decomposes organic material.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

A self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.

Diffusion

The net movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

DNA mutation

A change in the nucleotide sequence of a DNA molecule.

DNA replication

The biological process of producing two identical replicas of DNA from one original DNA molecule.

Dominant inheritance

A genetic pattern where one copy of a gene is sufficient to cause a trait to be expressed.

Ecology

The branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Embryology

The branch of biology and medicine concerned with the study of embryos and their development.

Endemic species

A species that is native or restricted to a certain country or area.

Endocytosis

The process by which cells take in substances from outside the cell by engulfing them in a vesicle.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER)

A network of membranes in eukaryotic cells involved in protein and lipid synthesis and transport.

Endosymbiosis

A symbiotic relationship in which one organism lives inside another. The theory of endosymbiosis explains the origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts from prokaryotic cells.

Energy pyramid

A graphical representation showing the flow of energy at each trophic level in an ecosystem. The base is producers, and the top is top consumers.

Enzyme

A protein that acts as a biological catalyst, speeding up chemical reactions without being consumed.

Eukaryote

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

Evolution

The process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth.

Exocytosis

The process by which cells release substances from inside the cell to the outside by fusing vesicles with the plasma membrane.

Extinction

The complete disappearance of a species from Earth.

Extracellular

Situated or occurring outside the cell.

Facilitated diffusion

A type of passive transport that allows substances to cross cell membranes with the assistance of transport proteins.

Food chain

A hierarchical series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food.

Food web

A system of interlocking and interdependent food chains.

Fossils

The preserved remains or traces of organisms from the past, typically found in sedimentary rock.

Founder effect

A reduction in genetic variation that results when a small subset of a large population establishes a new colony.

Frameshift mutation

A genetic mutation caused by insertions or deletions of a number of nucleotides in a DNA sequence that is not divisible by 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

A unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.

Gene recombination

The rearrangement of genetic material, especially by crossing over in chromosomes or by the independent assortment of genes.

Gene splicing

A form of genetic recombination that combines genetic material from two or more different sources.

Gene therapy

The transplantation of normal genes into cells in place of missing or defective ones in order to correct genetic disorders.

Genetic drift

Variation in the relative frequency of different genotypes in a small population, owing to the chance disappearance of particular genes as individuals die or do not reproduce.

Genetic engineering

The deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material.

Genetically modified organism (GMO)

An organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism; the set of genes that an organism carries.

Golgi apparatus

An organelle found in most eukaryotic cells that is involved in packaging proteins and lipids into vesicles for secretion or delivery to other organelles.

Gradualism

A theory that evolution proceeds chiefly by the accumulation of gradual changes rather than by sudden jumps.

Habitat

The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.

Herbivore

An organism that feeds on plants.

Homeostasis

The tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium between interdependent elements, especially as maintained by physiological processes.

Homologous structure

Body parts in different species that are similar in structure but may have different functions, indicating a common evolutionary origin.

Impermeable

Not allowing fluid or gas to pass through.

Incomplete dominance

A genetic inheritance pattern where two different alleles for a gene result in a blended or intermediate phenotype in heterozygous individuals.

Inheritance

The passing on of physical or mental characteristics genetically from one generation to another.

Interphase

The resting phase between successive mitotic divisions of a cell, or between the first and second divisions of meiosis.

Intracellular

Situated or occurring inside the cell.

Isolating mechanisms

Biological differences between species that prevent them from interbreeding.

Limiting factor

A factor that controls a process, such as organism growth or population size.

Lipids

A group of naturally occurring molecules that include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins, monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, and others. Their main biological functions involve energy storage, signaling, and acting as structural components of cell membranes.

Macromolecule

A very large molecule, such as a protein, nucleic acid, or synthetic polymer, composed of many smaller repeating units.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that results in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell, as in the production of gametes and plant spores.

Migration

The seasonal movement of animals from one region to another.

Mitochondrion

An organelle found in large numbers in most cells, in which the biochemical processes of respiration and energy production occur.

Mitosis

A type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, typical of ordinary tissue growth.

Monomer

A molecule that can be bonded to other identical molecules to form a polymer.

Multicellular

Consisting of many cells.

Multiple alleles

Three or more alleles for a particular gene within a population.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit.

Natural selection

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

Niche

The role and position a species has in its environment, including how it meets its needs for food and shelter, how it survives, and how it reproduces.

Nondisjunction

The failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate properly during cell division, resulting in an abnormal number of chromosomes in the daughter cells.

Nonnative species

A species living outside its native distributional range, which has arrived there by human activity, either deliberate or accidental.

Nucleic acid

A complex organic substance present in living cells, especially DNA or RNA, whose molecules consist of many nucleotides linked in a long chain.

Nucleus

The central and most important part of an object, movement, or group, forming the basis for its activity and growth. In biology, the central organelle of a eukaryotic cell containing the genetic material.

Omnivore

An organism that eats both plants and animals.