AP Biology Final Exam Review 2024
Questions and Answers
emergent properties
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
a mechanism of response in which a stimulus initiates reactions that reduce the stimulus
positive feedback
a physiological control mechanism in which a change in a variable triggers mechanisms that amplify
the change
inductive reasoning
reasoning based on observed patterns
polymer
large compound formed from combinations of many monomers
hydrolysis
a chemical process in which a compound is broken down and changed into other compounds by
taking up the elements of water
enzyme
protein that acts as a biological catalyst
phospholipids
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
process that releases energy by breaking down glucose and other food molecules in the presence of
oxygen
phosphorylation
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
a process for synthesizing ATP using the energy of an electrochemical gradient and the ATP synthase
enzyme.
fermentation
the process by which cells break down molecules to release energy without using oxygen
,gametes
reproductive cells, have only half the number of chromosomes as body cells
meiosis
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
cell that makes up all of the body tissues and organs, except gametes
crossing over
the interchange of sections between pairing homologous chromosomes during the prophase of
meiosis
transcription
process in which part of the nucleotide sequence of DNA is copied into a complementary sequence in
mRNA
codons
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
process by which the introns are removed from RNA transcripts and the remaining exons are joined
together
mutations
random errors in gene replication that lead to a change in the sequence of nucleotides; the source of
all genetic diversity
repetitive DNA
nucleotide sequences, usually noncoding, that are present in many copies in a eukaryotic genome.
transposons
small mobile DNA segments
homeobox
one of various similar homeotic genes that are involved in bodily segmentation during embryonic
development
genome project
Research and technology development effort aimed at mapping and sequencing some or all of the
genome of human beings and other organisms
, adaptations
the behaviors and physical characteristics that allow organisms to live successfully in their
environments
natural selection
process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most
successfully
vestigial structures
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
process by which unrelated organisms independently evolve similarities when adapting to similar
environments
protists
single-celled or simple multicellular eukaryotic organisms that generally do not fit in any other
kingdom
diatoms
unicellular algae that have a unique glass-like wall made of hydrated silica embedded in an organic
matrix
ciliates
a group of protozoans that move by waving tiny, hair-like organelles called cilia
amoeba
A type of protist characterized by great flexibility and the presence of pseudopodia
gastrula
an embryonic stage in animal development encompassing the formation of three layers: ectoderm,
mesoderm, and endoderm
cephalization
the concentration of nerve tissue and sensory organs at the anterior end of an organism
symmetry
the way an animal's body parts match up around a point or central line
coelom
fluid-filled body cavity lined with mesoderm
sustainable agriculture
farming method that preserves long-term productivity of land and minimizes pollution
Questions and Answers
emergent properties
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
a mechanism of response in which a stimulus initiates reactions that reduce the stimulus
positive feedback
a physiological control mechanism in which a change in a variable triggers mechanisms that amplify
the change
inductive reasoning
reasoning based on observed patterns
polymer
large compound formed from combinations of many monomers
hydrolysis
a chemical process in which a compound is broken down and changed into other compounds by
taking up the elements of water
enzyme
protein that acts as a biological catalyst
phospholipids
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
process that releases energy by breaking down glucose and other food molecules in the presence of
oxygen
phosphorylation
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
a process for synthesizing ATP using the energy of an electrochemical gradient and the ATP synthase
enzyme.
fermentation
the process by which cells break down molecules to release energy without using oxygen
,gametes
reproductive cells, have only half the number of chromosomes as body cells
meiosis
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
cell that makes up all of the body tissues and organs, except gametes
crossing over
the interchange of sections between pairing homologous chromosomes during the prophase of
meiosis
transcription
process in which part of the nucleotide sequence of DNA is copied into a complementary sequence in
mRNA
codons
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
process by which the introns are removed from RNA transcripts and the remaining exons are joined
together
mutations
random errors in gene replication that lead to a change in the sequence of nucleotides; the source of
all genetic diversity
repetitive DNA
nucleotide sequences, usually noncoding, that are present in many copies in a eukaryotic genome.
transposons
small mobile DNA segments
homeobox
one of various similar homeotic genes that are involved in bodily segmentation during embryonic
development
genome project
Research and technology development effort aimed at mapping and sequencing some or all of the
genome of human beings and other organisms
, adaptations
the behaviors and physical characteristics that allow organisms to live successfully in their
environments
natural selection
process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most
successfully
vestigial structures
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
process by which unrelated organisms independently evolve similarities when adapting to similar
environments
protists
single-celled or simple multicellular eukaryotic organisms that generally do not fit in any other
kingdom
diatoms
unicellular algae that have a unique glass-like wall made of hydrated silica embedded in an organic
matrix
ciliates
a group of protozoans that move by waving tiny, hair-like organelles called cilia
amoeba
A type of protist characterized by great flexibility and the presence of pseudopodia
gastrula
an embryonic stage in animal development encompassing the formation of three layers: ectoderm,
mesoderm, and endoderm
cephalization
the concentration of nerve tissue and sensory organs at the anterior end of an organism
symmetry
the way an animal's body parts match up around a point or central line
coelom
fluid-filled body cavity lined with mesoderm
sustainable agriculture
farming method that preserves long-term productivity of land and minimizes pollution
