AP BIOLOGY FINAL EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
emergent properties - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅new properties that emerge with each step upward in the
hierarchy of life, owing to the arrangement and interactions of parts as complexity increases
negative feedback - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a mechanism of response in which a stimulus initiates
reactions that reduce the stimulus
positive feedback - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a physiological control mechanism in which a change in a
variable triggers mechanisms that amplify the change
inductive reasoning - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅reasoning based on observed patterns
polymer - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅large compound formed from combinations of many monomers
hydrolysis - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a chemical process in which a compound is broken down and
changed into other compounds by taking up the elements of water
enzyme - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅protein that acts as a biological catalyst
phospholipids - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a molecule that is a constituent of the inner bilayer of biological
membranes, having a polar, hydrophilic head and a nonpolar, hydrophobic tail
cellular respiration - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅process that releases energy by breaking down glucose and
other food molecules in the presence of oxygen
phosphorylation - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅the transfer of a phosphate group, usually from ATP, to a
molecule. Nearly all cellular work depends on ATP energizing other molecules by phosphorylation
chemiosmosis - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a process for synthesizing ATP using the energy of an
electrochemical gradient and the ATP synthase enzyme.
,fermentation - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅the process by which cells break down molecules to release
energy without using oxygen
gametes - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅reproductive cells, have only half the number of chromosomes as
body cells
meiosis - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a process in cell division during which the number of chromosomes
decreases to half the original number by two divisions of the nucleus, which results in the production of
sex cells
somatic cell - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅cell that makes up all of the body tissues and organs, except
gametes
crossing over - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅the interchange of sections between pairing homologous
chromosomes during the prophase of meiosis
transcription - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅process in which part of the nucleotide sequence of DNA is copied
into a complementary sequence in mRNA
codons - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a three-nucleotide sequence of DNA or mRNA that specifies a particular
amino acid or termination signal; the basic unit of the genetic code.
RNA splicing - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅process by which the introns are removed from RNA transcripts
and the remaining exons are joined together
mutations - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅random errors in gene replication that lead to a change in the
sequence of nucleotides; the source of all genetic diversity
repetitive DNA - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅nucleotide sequences, usually noncoding, that are present in
many copies in a eukaryotic genome.
transposons - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅small mobile DNA segments
, homeobox - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅one of various similar homeotic genes that are involved in bodily
segmentation during embryonic development
genome project - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Research and technology development effort aimed at
mapping and sequencing some or all of the genome of human beings and other organisms
adaptations - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅the behaviors and physical characteristics that allow organisms to
live successfully in their environments
natural selection - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅process by which individuals that are better suited to their
environment survive and reproduce most successfully
vestigial structures - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅remnant of a structure that may have had an important
function in a species' ancestors, but has no clear function in the modern species
convergent evolution - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅process by which unrelated organisms independently
evolve similarities when adapting to similar environments
protists - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅single-celled or simple multicellular eukaryotic organisms that
generally do not fit in any other kingdom
diatoms - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅unicellular algae that have a unique glass-like wall made of hydrated
silica embedded in an organic matrix
ciliates - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a group of protozoans that move by waving tiny, hair-like organelles
called cilia
amoeba - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A type of protist characterized by great flexibility and the presence of
pseudopodia
emergent properties - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅new properties that emerge with each step upward in the
hierarchy of life, owing to the arrangement and interactions of parts as complexity increases
negative feedback - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a mechanism of response in which a stimulus initiates
reactions that reduce the stimulus
positive feedback - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a physiological control mechanism in which a change in a
variable triggers mechanisms that amplify the change
inductive reasoning - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅reasoning based on observed patterns
polymer - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅large compound formed from combinations of many monomers
hydrolysis - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a chemical process in which a compound is broken down and
changed into other compounds by taking up the elements of water
enzyme - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅protein that acts as a biological catalyst
phospholipids - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a molecule that is a constituent of the inner bilayer of biological
membranes, having a polar, hydrophilic head and a nonpolar, hydrophobic tail
cellular respiration - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅process that releases energy by breaking down glucose and
other food molecules in the presence of oxygen
phosphorylation - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅the transfer of a phosphate group, usually from ATP, to a
molecule. Nearly all cellular work depends on ATP energizing other molecules by phosphorylation
chemiosmosis - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a process for synthesizing ATP using the energy of an
electrochemical gradient and the ATP synthase enzyme.
,fermentation - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅the process by which cells break down molecules to release
energy without using oxygen
gametes - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅reproductive cells, have only half the number of chromosomes as
body cells
meiosis - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a process in cell division during which the number of chromosomes
decreases to half the original number by two divisions of the nucleus, which results in the production of
sex cells
somatic cell - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅cell that makes up all of the body tissues and organs, except
gametes
crossing over - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅the interchange of sections between pairing homologous
chromosomes during the prophase of meiosis
transcription - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅process in which part of the nucleotide sequence of DNA is copied
into a complementary sequence in mRNA
codons - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a three-nucleotide sequence of DNA or mRNA that specifies a particular
amino acid or termination signal; the basic unit of the genetic code.
RNA splicing - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅process by which the introns are removed from RNA transcripts
and the remaining exons are joined together
mutations - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅random errors in gene replication that lead to a change in the
sequence of nucleotides; the source of all genetic diversity
repetitive DNA - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅nucleotide sequences, usually noncoding, that are present in
many copies in a eukaryotic genome.
transposons - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅small mobile DNA segments
, homeobox - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅one of various similar homeotic genes that are involved in bodily
segmentation during embryonic development
genome project - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Research and technology development effort aimed at
mapping and sequencing some or all of the genome of human beings and other organisms
adaptations - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅the behaviors and physical characteristics that allow organisms to
live successfully in their environments
natural selection - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅process by which individuals that are better suited to their
environment survive and reproduce most successfully
vestigial structures - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅remnant of a structure that may have had an important
function in a species' ancestors, but has no clear function in the modern species
convergent evolution - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅process by which unrelated organisms independently
evolve similarities when adapting to similar environments
protists - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅single-celled or simple multicellular eukaryotic organisms that
generally do not fit in any other kingdom
diatoms - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅unicellular algae that have a unique glass-like wall made of hydrated
silica embedded in an organic matrix
ciliates - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅a group of protozoans that move by waving tiny, hair-like organelles
called cilia
amoeba - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅A type of protist characterized by great flexibility and the presence of
pseudopodia
