, StudyResources AP Biology Review Sheet. https://t.me/apresources
The Ultimate AP Biology Exam Study Guide for the 2019-2020
Administration
Unit 1: Chemistry of Life 3
1.1 Structure of Water and Hydrogen Bonding 3
1.2 Elements of Life 5
1.3 Introduction to Biological Macromolecules 6
1.4 Basic Properties of Biological Macromolecules 8
1.5 Structure and Function of Biological Macromolecules 9
1.6 Nucleic Acids 13
Unit 2: Cell Structure and Function 14
2.1 Cell Structure: Subcellular Components 14
2.2 Cell Structure and Function 16
2.3 Cell Size 17
2.4 Plasma Membrane 18
2.5 Membrane Permeability 19
2.6 Membrane Transport 21
2.7 Facilitated Diffusion 23
2.8 Tonicity and Osmoregulation 25
2.9 Mechanisms of Transport 26
2.10 Cell Compartmentalization 27
2.11 Origins of Cell Compartmentalization 28
Unit 3: Cellular Energetics 29
3.1 Enzyme Structure 29
3.2 Enzyme Catalysis 30
3.3 Environmental Impacts on Enzyme Function 31
3.4 Cellular Energy 32
3.5 Photosynthesis 33
3.6 Cellular Respiration 35
3.7 Fitness 37
Unit 4: Cell Communication and Cell Cycle 38
4.1 Cell Communication 38
4.2 Introduction to Signal Transduction 39
4.3 Signal Transduction 40
4.4 Changes in Signal Transduction Pathways 41
4.5 Feedback 42
4.6 Cell Cycle 43
1
, StudyResources AP Biology Review Sheet. https://t.me/apresources
4.7 Regulation of Cell Cycle 45
Unit 5: Heredity 47
5.1 Meiosis 47
5.2 Meiosis and Genetic Diversity 48
5.3 Mendelian Genetics 49
5.4 Non-Mendelian Genetics 54
5.5 Environmental Effects on Phenotype 59
5.6 Chromosomal Inheritance 60
Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation 62
6.1 DNA and RNA Structure 62
6.2 Replication 64
6.3 Transcription and RNA Processing 66
6.4 Translation 69
6.5 Regulation of Gene Expression 71
6.6 Gene Expression and Cell Specialization 73
6.7 Mutations 75
6.8 Biotechnology 76
2
, StudyResources AP Biology Review Sheet. https://t.me/apresources
Unit 1: Chemistry of Life
1.1 Structure of Water and Hydrogen Bonding
● Formula of water: H2O (One oxygen atom bound to two hydrogen atoms)
● Water is polar so its electrons are shared unequally
○ This causes hydrogen bonding, which are constantly breaking and
reforming. When the H2O molecules bond the attraction forms between
the oxygen and hydrogen.
■ Slightly negative oxygen and slightly positive hydrogen are
attracted
■ Attraction forms a weak bond between the two atoms
■ Gives water some extra structure and order
● Several properties of water are useful in sustaining life
○ Cohesion: hydrogen bonding keeps water close together
■ Applications of cohesion: in plants, water is pulled up from the
roots to the leaves because as water molecules evaporate,
hydrogen bonds cause other water molecules to be pulled along
through the veins of the plant
○ Surface tension: measure of difficulty to stretch/break the surface of a
liquid
■ Water has a greater surface tension than most other liquids since
hydrogen bonding orders water molecules more than other liquids
○ Adhesion: water’s polarity allows it to cling to other substances through
hydrogen bonding
■ eg. in plants, hydrogen bonding binds water to cell walls, moving
water up the plant against gravity
○ Capillary Action: Combination of adhesion and cohesion that allows water
to travel up through a tube.
3
The Ultimate AP Biology Exam Study Guide for the 2019-2020
Administration
Unit 1: Chemistry of Life 3
1.1 Structure of Water and Hydrogen Bonding 3
1.2 Elements of Life 5
1.3 Introduction to Biological Macromolecules 6
1.4 Basic Properties of Biological Macromolecules 8
1.5 Structure and Function of Biological Macromolecules 9
1.6 Nucleic Acids 13
Unit 2: Cell Structure and Function 14
2.1 Cell Structure: Subcellular Components 14
2.2 Cell Structure and Function 16
2.3 Cell Size 17
2.4 Plasma Membrane 18
2.5 Membrane Permeability 19
2.6 Membrane Transport 21
2.7 Facilitated Diffusion 23
2.8 Tonicity and Osmoregulation 25
2.9 Mechanisms of Transport 26
2.10 Cell Compartmentalization 27
2.11 Origins of Cell Compartmentalization 28
Unit 3: Cellular Energetics 29
3.1 Enzyme Structure 29
3.2 Enzyme Catalysis 30
3.3 Environmental Impacts on Enzyme Function 31
3.4 Cellular Energy 32
3.5 Photosynthesis 33
3.6 Cellular Respiration 35
3.7 Fitness 37
Unit 4: Cell Communication and Cell Cycle 38
4.1 Cell Communication 38
4.2 Introduction to Signal Transduction 39
4.3 Signal Transduction 40
4.4 Changes in Signal Transduction Pathways 41
4.5 Feedback 42
4.6 Cell Cycle 43
1
, StudyResources AP Biology Review Sheet. https://t.me/apresources
4.7 Regulation of Cell Cycle 45
Unit 5: Heredity 47
5.1 Meiosis 47
5.2 Meiosis and Genetic Diversity 48
5.3 Mendelian Genetics 49
5.4 Non-Mendelian Genetics 54
5.5 Environmental Effects on Phenotype 59
5.6 Chromosomal Inheritance 60
Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation 62
6.1 DNA and RNA Structure 62
6.2 Replication 64
6.3 Transcription and RNA Processing 66
6.4 Translation 69
6.5 Regulation of Gene Expression 71
6.6 Gene Expression and Cell Specialization 73
6.7 Mutations 75
6.8 Biotechnology 76
2
, StudyResources AP Biology Review Sheet. https://t.me/apresources
Unit 1: Chemistry of Life
1.1 Structure of Water and Hydrogen Bonding
● Formula of water: H2O (One oxygen atom bound to two hydrogen atoms)
● Water is polar so its electrons are shared unequally
○ This causes hydrogen bonding, which are constantly breaking and
reforming. When the H2O molecules bond the attraction forms between
the oxygen and hydrogen.
■ Slightly negative oxygen and slightly positive hydrogen are
attracted
■ Attraction forms a weak bond between the two atoms
■ Gives water some extra structure and order
● Several properties of water are useful in sustaining life
○ Cohesion: hydrogen bonding keeps water close together
■ Applications of cohesion: in plants, water is pulled up from the
roots to the leaves because as water molecules evaporate,
hydrogen bonds cause other water molecules to be pulled along
through the veins of the plant
○ Surface tension: measure of difficulty to stretch/break the surface of a
liquid
■ Water has a greater surface tension than most other liquids since
hydrogen bonding orders water molecules more than other liquids
○ Adhesion: water’s polarity allows it to cling to other substances through
hydrogen bonding
■ eg. in plants, hydrogen bonding binds water to cell walls, moving
water up the plant against gravity
○ Capillary Action: Combination of adhesion and cohesion that allows water
to travel up through a tube.
3
