AP Biology Review

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and definitions relevant to AP Biology, aiding in the understanding of core concepts.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, typically in a 1:2:1 ratio.

Monosaccharide

The simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of a single sugar molecule, like glucose.

Disaccharide

A carbohydrate composed of two monosaccharides linked together, such as sucrose or lactose.

Glycosidic Linkage

The bond formed between two monosaccharides during a dehydration reaction.

Amino Acid

The building blocks of proteins, consisting of a central carbon atom bonded to an amino group, carboxyl group, hydrogen atom, and R group.

Peptide Bond

The covalent bond that links amino acids together in a protein.

Nucleic Acid

Polymers made up of nucleotide monomers; include DNA and RNA.

Phosphodiester Linkage

The bond between the phosphate group of one nucleotide and the hydroxyl group of the sugar of another nucleotide.

Endocytosis

The process by which cells internalize substances from their external environment through the formation of vesicles.

Exocytosis

The process of vesicles fusing with the plasma membrane to release their contents outside the cell.

Hypertonic Solution

A solution with a higher solute concentration compared to the inside of the cell causing water to leave the cell.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution with a lower solute concentration compared to the inside of the cell causing water to enter the cell.

Isotonic Solution

A solution in which the solute concentration is equal inside and outside of the cell, resulting in no net water movement.

Gibbs Free Energy

A thermodynamic quantity used to predict the spontaneous direction of a process, with spontaneous processes having a negative change in Gibbs Free Energy.

Enzyme

A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy.

Transcription

The process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA template.

Translation

The process of synthesizing polypeptides (proteins) from mRNA templates.

Natural Selection

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

Speciation

The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship in which both parties benefit.

Predation

Interaction where one organism (the predator) hunts and eats another organism (the prey).