AP Bio Vocab Sem 1 2025-26

Dr Fuhhhhhhhh im scared of ap exam. Do i even take it ... Update I am!!

alternative hypothesis

a statement that says the independent variable DOES affect the dependent variable

null hypothesis

a statement that says the independent variable does NOT affect the dependent variable

theory

an explanation of something supported by evidence

standard deviation

represents the spread of your data away from the mean

standard error of mean

represents how accurately your sample mean represents the (whole) population mean

accuracy

how close a measured value is to the actual value

precision

how close the measured values are to each other

Calculate

mathematical steps to find a solution from data, including units and sig figs

Construct/Draw

create a graph or diagram, ALWAYS include labels

atom

smallest unit of matter that retains all of its properties

neutron

subatomic particle with neutral charge in the nucleus, same mass as proton

proton

subatomic particle with positive charge in the nucleus, charge equal in magnitude to e-, same mass as neutron

electron

subatomic particle with negative charge, “orbits” around nucleus, very very small mass

covalent bond

bond that occurs when an electron is shared by 2 atoms, very strong

cohesion

property of water where water molecules stick to each other

adhesion

property of water where water molecules stick to other polar molecules

surface tension

property of liquid’s surface area to contract and minimize the area it has from the inward attraction of molecules

solution

mixture of 2(+) evenly distributed substances

solvent

dissolving agent, larger mass within solution

solute

dissolved substance, smaller mass

hydrophillic

attracted to water, water soluble, POLAR

hydrophobic

repels water, insoluble in water, NONPOLAR

acid

a compound that gives up/loses protons, pH = 0-6

base

a compound that gains/accepts protons, pH = 8-14

pH scale

scale that measures acidity (7 is neutral)

buffer

compounds that act as either an acid or base to keep pH constant in solutions

amino acid

monomer of proteins

monosaccharide

monomers of polysaccharides

polysaccharide

complex carbohydrate, polymer

triacylglycerol

lipid for long term energy

saturated fat

fatty acids with no double bonds, solid at room temperature

unsaturated fat

fatty acids with one double carbon bond C=C, liquid at room temperature

steroid hormone

lipid used for cell communication

phospholipid

lipid used for cell membranes

protein/polypeptide

macromolecule with MANY functions

primary structure (10)

sequence/order of amino acids, held together by peptide/covalent bonds

secondary structure (20)

bends, H-bonds cause a bend in the protein

tertiary structure (30)

bonding between the R groups; H-bonds, hydrophobic interactions, disulfide bridges, ionic bonds

quaternary structure (40)

when 2(+) polypeptides unite (w/ the 4 bonds) to form a function protein

dehydration synthesis

process that builds polymers by removing water, creates covalent bond

hydrolysis

process that breaks polymers into monomers by adding water

monomer

building block of a polymer, usually made of several atoms

polymer

many units bound together to make a larger macromolecule

nucleotide

monomer of a nucleic acid

nucleic acid

macromolecule that passes genetic info from parent to offspring

Describe

provide relevant characteristics

Determine

decide or conclude after reasoning, observation or applying mathematical calculations

protocell

the first cell

prokaryote

single celled organism

eukaryote

single or multicellular organism w/ DNA contained in the nucleus

nucleus

organelle that stores and protects DNA

rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER)

organelle in control of protein synthesis, folding, and modification

smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER)

organelle that makes lipids and detoxifies the cell

golgi apparatus

organelle that sorts and packages proteins

ribosomes

structure that makes proteins

lysosome

organelle that has a low pH, breaks down waste

peroxisome

organelle with pH close to 7, digests lipids, gets rid of toxins caused by oxygen metabolism

cytoskeleton

made up of many different proteins, provides strength and stability

flagellum

tail-like appendage that enables cells to move

cell wall

structural layer that surrounds plant cells, rigid and protective

chloroplast

plants only, uses energy from sun to make carbohydrates

central vacuole

large organelle in plant cells that stores water, nutrients, and waste products

extracellular matrix (ECM)

mixture of proteins and carbs that surrounds cell, provides structural and biochemical support

cell junctions

specialized protein structures that connect cells

nucleolus

synthesizes ribosomal RNA (rRNA), found in nucleus

mitochondria

plants and animals, uses carbohydrates to make ATP (cellular energy)

cytoplasm

liquid-jelly like substance that surrounds genetic material, facilitates chemical reactions

nucleoid region

region that contains majority of cell’s genetic material

capsule

protective structure that encloses and shields genetic material from external environment

plasmid

small circular DNA molecule, separate from chromosomal DNA, replicates independently

vesicle

little sacks that move proteins/lipids between RER, SER, golgi apparatus, and cell membrane

pilius

hair-like appendage on many bacteria and archaea, allows for adhesion to surface and genetic material transfer

chromatin

material of which chromosomes are composed, complex of DNA and proteins

centriole

cylindrical organelle, involved in development of spindle fibers in cell division

cell membrane

semi-permeable membrane surrounding cytoplasm of cell, provides structure and protection

cell membrane

boundary between cell and its environment, regulates what enters/leaves

selectively permeable

barrier that determines what substances enter/exit the cell

fluid mosaic model

different molecules can move laterally through the cell membrane, cell membranes composed of multiple macromolecules

integral protein

proteins that stick into the lipid bilayer, often spanning the membrane

peripheral protein

proteins loosely attached to inner surface of membrane

transport protein

provide a hydrophilic channel through membrane

diffusion

type of passive transport, movement of solute from high to low concentration, no energy needed

equilibrium

equal ratio of solute and water molecules on both sides

passive transport

movement with concentration gradient, high to low, no energy needed

osmosis

diffusion of water

isotonic

equal concentration

hypertonic

higher concentration of solute

hypotonic

lower concentration of solute

facilitated diffusion

movement from high to low concentration through a protein channel/transport protein

active transport

movement against concentration gradient, low to high, requires energy

exocytosis

transport of very large or large amounts of materials OUT of the cell, uses ATP, vesicles, associated proteins

endocytosis

transport of very large or very large amounts of molecules INTO the cell, uses ATP, vesicles, accessory proteins

water potential

difference in potential energy of a solution and pure water

catabolic reaction

complex reactants are broken down into simpler products

anabolic reaction

simpler products are joined to create more complex molecules

exergonic reaction

reactions that release energy

endergonic reaction

reactions that absorb energy

activation energy

chemical reactions require this to start

ATP (adenosine triphosphate)

source of energy for the cell

enzyme

biological catalysts that lower Ea (not used up in a chem reaction)