AP Biology Vocabulary List

This is a list of terms that you should be able to define/describe. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind when determining if you can define/describe these terms is whether or not you can explain them to a (reasonably) intelligent 12-year-old.

Scientific Process:

accuracy hypothesis precision Chi-square independent variable prediction control inductive reasoning rate constant mean scientific method deductive reasoning median table dependent variable model trend graph observation variable

Biochemistry:

amino acid hydrogen bond organic molecule amphipathic ion peptide bond carbohydrate lipid phospholipid carbon macromolecule polar molecule denaturation monomer polymer disaccharide monosaccharide protein ester bond nitrogen water fibrous protein non-polar molecule globular protein nucleic acid glycosydic bond nucleotide

Evolution:

adaptation fossil natural selection adaptive radiation fossil record paleontology allele founder effect panspermia allopatric geologic time scale parallel evolution analogous structure geology phenotype artificial selection gene flow phylogeny background extinction rate gene pool polymorphism biogeography genetic bottleneck polyploidy biological species genetic drift population coevolution genetic equilibrium postzygotic isolating mechanism common ancestor genetic variation prezygotic isolating mechanism comparative anatomy genotype primordial environment convergent evolution gradualism (aka anagenesis) radiometric dating Darwin Hardy-Weinberg equation random mating

page 1 differential survival homologous structures relative dating directional selection homology reproductive isolation disruptive selection hybrid RNA world divergent evolution (aka Last Universal Common rock strata cladogenesis Ancestor speciation endosymbiosis mass extinction species epoch migration stromatolite evo-devo Miller-Urey experiments sympatric evolution modern synthesis transitional fossil evolutionary fitness molecular clock vestigial organ extinction mutation fixation (of alleles)

Classification & Biological Diversity:

Archaea family phylum Bacteria genus polyphyletic binomial nomenclature kingdom shared derived characteristic cladistics monophyletic shared ancestral characteristic cladogram order species class paraphyletic taxon distinguishing feature phylogenetic tree Eukarya phylogeny

Cells:

active transport glycolipid phospholipid amphipathic glycoprotein phosphorylation cascade apoptosis Golgi apparatus pinocytosis aquaporin G-protein linked receptor plasma membrane carrier protein hormone plasmolysis cell wall hypertonic prokaryotic cell centrioles hypotonic protein kinase channel protein ion pump quorum sensing chloroplast isotonic receptor communication ligand resolution cyclic AMP (cAMP) light microscope ribosome concentration gradient lysosome rough ER cytoplasm magnification second messenger cytoskeleton membrane selectively permeable diffusion mitochondrion signal cascade electron microscope necrosis signal transduction endocytosis nuclear envelope signal transduction pathway endoplasmic reticulum nuclear pore smooth ER

page 2 exocytosis nucleus surface area:volume ratio eukaryotic cell organelles transmembrane protein facilitated diffusion osmosis turgor flagella passive transport vacuole fluid mosaic model phagocytosis

Cell Division:

anaphase diploid (2N) cancer DNA replication nuclear division cell cycle fertilization p53 cellular differentiation gamete paternal chromosome cell division haploid (1N) potency centrioles homologous chromosomes prophase chromosome independent assortment recombination crossing over interphase sex chromosome crossover frequency maternal chromosome somatic cell cyclin-dependent kinase meiosis specialized cell cytokinesis metaphase synapsis differentiation mitosis telophase

Molecular Genetics:

activator genetic code Okazaki fragments amino acids genetic engineering polymerase chain reaction anticodon genetic transplantation protein base-pairing rules helicase regulatory sequence cell differentiation homeotic genes replication fork constituitive gene HOX genes repressor coding strand hydrogen bonding restriction enzyme codon inducible genes reverse transcriptase DNA introns RNA (mRNA, rRNA, tRNA DNA ligase lac operon RNAi DNA polymerase lagging strand small interfering RNA (siRNA) DNA replication leading strand small regulatory RNA embryonic induction micro RNA (miRNA) start codon/stop codon exons morphogenesis template strand gel electrophoresis morphogens transcription gene expression mutation transcription factors gene induction nucleic acids transgenic organism gene repression nucleotides translation

page 3 Mendelian Genetics:

allele genotype phenotypic plasticity autosome heterozygous polygenetic inheritance back cross homozygous Punnett square cline incomplete dominance pure-breeding (aka codominance independent assortment true-breeding) continuous variation lethal allele recessive cross linkage segregation dihybrid cross monohybrid cross selfing discontinuous variation multiple alleles sex chromosome dominant non-disjunction sex-limited traits F1/F2 Generation non-nuclear inheritance sex linked gene genetic counseling pedigree analyisis test cross genomic imprinting phenotype trait

Metabolism

absorption spectrum chlorophyll heterotroph accessory pigment chloroplast induced fit model acetyl coA citric acid cycle light dependent reactions action spectrum coenzyme light independent reactions activation energy cofactor metabolic pathway active site compartmentalization mitochondrion anabolism consumer NAD anaerobic metabolism cyclic electron flow NADP allosteric regulation denaturation negative feedback ATP electron transport chain non-cyclic electron flow autotroph entropy oxidative phosphorylation Calvin cycle endergonic reaction photolysis catabolism enzyme photosynthesis catalyst exergonic reaction positive feedback cellular respiration feedback inhibition ribulose bisphosphate chemiosmosis fermentation substrate-level phosphorylation chemoautotroph glycolysis thylakoid membrane

Physiology

cell-mediated immunity humoral immunity postsynaptic circadian rhythm hypothalamus presynaptic closed circulatory system inflammation primary immune response clonal selection inhibition pressure-flow hypothesis companion cell insulin pulmonary circulation cortex integration reflex countercurrent exchange intracellular digestion refractory period courtship immune response reproductive strategy

page 4 dentition kidney respiratory surface diabetes leaf resting potential diastole leukocyte root digestive enzymes loop of henle root hair digestive tract lungs root pressure disease lymphocyte saltatory conduction dopamine memory cells Schwann cells double circulatory system mesophyll secondary immune response ectothermic metabolism sensory neuron electrochemical gradient migration sensory receptor endocrine signaling motor neuron serotonin endodermis myelin sinoatrial node endothermic myosin skeletal muscle estivation neuromuscular junction specific defense excretion neuron stem extracellular digestion neurotransmitter stimulus fibrin nitrogenous waste stomata gas exchange nodes of Ranvier symplast gastrovascular cavity non-specific defense synapse gills open circulatory system T-cell glucagon osmoregulation transpiration guard cells passive immunity transpirational pull heart pathogen vaccination heart valves phagocyte vein hibernation phagocytosis ventricle HIV phloem villi homeostasis photoperiodism xerophyte hormone phytochrome xylem

Ecology

abiotic factor food chain nitrogen cycle abundance food web nutrient cycle adaptation global warming parasite age structure greenhouse effect photoautotroph biodiversity greenhouse gas population biome gross primary productivity population growth biotic factor habitat population size carbon cycle hydrologic cycle pollution carrying capacity imprinting predator climate change interspecific competition primary consumer community intraspecific competition quadrat conservation introduced species rate of increase decomposer K-selection resillience demography keystone species r selection density dependent factor learning saprophyte

page 5 detritovore life history secondary consumer distribution life tables species diversity ecologial niche limiting factor survivorship curve ecological pyramid logistic growth symbiosis ecological succession mark and recapture ten percent rule ecosystem migration threatened species ecosystem stability mortality trophic efficiency endangered species mutualism trophic level exponential growth net primary productivity urbanization

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