AP Biology Chapters 10 & 11 Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards for AP Biology Chapters 10 and 11 covering organelle structure, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, surface area ratio, and the cell cycle.

Cristae

Deep inward folds of the inner mitochondrial membrane that increase the surface area available for Electron Transport Chain (ETC) complexes and ATP synthase enzymes, allowing more protons to be pumped and more ATP to be synthesized per unit of time.

Golgi Apparatus

An organelle that modifies, sorts, packages, and routes proteins and lipids received from the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) into vesicles for transport inside or outside the cell.

Cis Face of Golgi

The receiving side located near the ER where transport vesicles fuse to deliver raw cargo.

Trans Face of Golgi

The shipping side where modified and sorted products bud off into targeted vesicles.

Chemiosmosis

The process where energy stored in a proton ($H^+$) gradient across a membrane drives ATP synthesis via ATP Synthase.

Proton Motive Force

A proton gradient created by the electron transport chain pumping $H^+$ ions into the intermembrane space.

Cellular Respiration

Process that breaks down glucose in the presence of oxygen to produce ATP, $CO_2$, and $H_2O$ across three main stages: Glycolysis, Pyruvate Oxidation & Citric Acid Cycle, and Oxidative Phosphorylation.

Glycolysis

An anaerobic process occurring in the cytosol with a net yield per glucose molecule of 2 Pyruvate, 2 net ATP (via substrate-level phosphorylation), and 2 NADH.

Final Electron Acceptor

Oxygen ($O_2$) in aerobic cellular respiration, which combines with electrons and free $H^+$ ions to form water ($H_2O$).

Light-Dependent Reactions

Reactions occurring in the thylakoid membranes that convert solar energy into chemical energy (ATP and NADPH) while splitting $H_2O$ to release $O_2$ gas as a byproduct.

Calvin Cycle

Light-independent reactions occurring in the stroma consisting of Carbon Fixation (catalyzed by RuBisCO), Reduction (uses ATP & NADPH to form G3P), and Regeneration of the $CO_2$ acceptor (RuBP).

Surface-Area-to-Volume Ratio

A ratio where a higher value allows cells to exchange materials (nutrients, wastes, gases) across the cell membrane at a much higher and more efficient rate.

$G_1$ Phase

Cell cycle phase dedicated to cell growth and metabolic activity.

$S$ Phase

Synthesis phase of the cell cycle during which cellular DNA is replicated.

$G_2$ Phase

Cell cycle phase of final preparation and growth for cell division (mitosis).

Key Cell Cycle Checkpoints

Control mechanisms in the cell cycle including $G_1$ (restriction point), $G_2$, and $M$ (spindle assembly) checkpoints.