AP Biology Final Exam Review GUARANTEED PASS !!
emergent properties - (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 - (ANSWER)a mechanism of response in which a stimulus initiates reactions that reduce the
stimulus
positive feedback - (ANSWER)a physiological control mechanism in which a change in a variable triggers
mechanisms that amplify the change
inductive reasoning - (ANSWER)reasoning based on observed patterns
polymer - (ANSWER)large compound formed from combinations of many monomers
hydrolysis - (ANSWER)a chemical process in which a compound is broken down and changed into other
compounds by taking up the elements of water
enzyme - (ANSWER)protein that acts as a biological catalyst
phospholipids - (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 - (ANSWER)process that releases energy by breaking down glucose and other food
molecules in the presence of oxygen
phosphorylation - (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 - (ANSWER)a process for synthesizing ATP using the energy of an electrochemical gradient and
the ATP synthase enzyme.
fermentation - (ANSWER)the process by which cells break down molecules to release energy without using
oxygen
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,gametes - (ANSWER)reproductive cells, have only half the number of chromosomes as body cells
meiosis - (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 - (ANSWER)cell that makes up all of the body tissues and organs, except gametes
crossing over - (ANSWER)the interchange of sections between pairing homologous chromosomes during the
prophase of meiosis
transcription - (ANSWER)process in which part of the nucleotide sequence of DNA is copied into a
complementary sequence in mRNA
codons - (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 - (ANSWER)process by which the introns are removed from RNA transcripts and the remaining
exons are joined together
mutations - (ANSWER)random errors in gene replication that lead to a change in the sequence of nucleotides;
the source of all genetic diversity
repetitive DNA - (ANSWER)nucleotide sequences, usually noncoding, that are present in many copies in a
eukaryotic genome.
transposons - (ANSWER)small mobile DNA segments
homeobox - (ANSWER)one of various similar homeotic genes that are involved in bodily segmentation during
embryonic development
genome project - (ANSWER)Research and technology development effort aimed at mapping and sequencing
some or all of the genome of human beings and other organisms
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, adaptations - (ANSWER)the behaviors and physical characteristics that allow organisms to live successfully in
their environments
natural selection - (ANSWER)process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive
and reproduce most successfully
vestigial structures - (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 - (ANSWER)process by which unrelated organisms independently evolve similarities
when adapting to similar environments
protists - (ANSWER)single-celled or simple multicellular eukaryotic organisms that generally do not fit in any
other kingdom
diatoms - (ANSWER)unicellular algae that have a unique glass-like wall made of hydrated silica embedded in
an organic matrix
ciliates - (ANSWER)a group of protozoans that move by waving tiny, hair-like organelles called cilia
amoeba - (ANSWER)A type of protist characterized by great flexibility and the presence of pseudopodia
gastrula - (ANSWER)an embryonic stage in animal development encompassing the formation of three layers:
ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm
cephalization - (ANSWER)the concentration of nerve tissue and sensory organs at the anterior end of an
organism
symmetry - (ANSWER)the way an animal's body parts match up around a point or central line
coelom - (ANSWER)fluid-filled body cavity lined with mesoderm
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emergent properties - (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 - (ANSWER)a mechanism of response in which a stimulus initiates reactions that reduce the
stimulus
positive feedback - (ANSWER)a physiological control mechanism in which a change in a variable triggers
mechanisms that amplify the change
inductive reasoning - (ANSWER)reasoning based on observed patterns
polymer - (ANSWER)large compound formed from combinations of many monomers
hydrolysis - (ANSWER)a chemical process in which a compound is broken down and changed into other
compounds by taking up the elements of water
enzyme - (ANSWER)protein that acts as a biological catalyst
phospholipids - (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 - (ANSWER)process that releases energy by breaking down glucose and other food
molecules in the presence of oxygen
phosphorylation - (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 - (ANSWER)a process for synthesizing ATP using the energy of an electrochemical gradient and
the ATP synthase enzyme.
fermentation - (ANSWER)the process by which cells break down molecules to release energy without using
oxygen
Page 1 of 18
,gametes - (ANSWER)reproductive cells, have only half the number of chromosomes as body cells
meiosis - (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 - (ANSWER)cell that makes up all of the body tissues and organs, except gametes
crossing over - (ANSWER)the interchange of sections between pairing homologous chromosomes during the
prophase of meiosis
transcription - (ANSWER)process in which part of the nucleotide sequence of DNA is copied into a
complementary sequence in mRNA
codons - (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 - (ANSWER)process by which the introns are removed from RNA transcripts and the remaining
exons are joined together
mutations - (ANSWER)random errors in gene replication that lead to a change in the sequence of nucleotides;
the source of all genetic diversity
repetitive DNA - (ANSWER)nucleotide sequences, usually noncoding, that are present in many copies in a
eukaryotic genome.
transposons - (ANSWER)small mobile DNA segments
homeobox - (ANSWER)one of various similar homeotic genes that are involved in bodily segmentation during
embryonic development
genome project - (ANSWER)Research and technology development effort aimed at mapping and sequencing
some or all of the genome of human beings and other organisms
Page 2 of 18
, adaptations - (ANSWER)the behaviors and physical characteristics that allow organisms to live successfully in
their environments
natural selection - (ANSWER)process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive
and reproduce most successfully
vestigial structures - (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 - (ANSWER)process by which unrelated organisms independently evolve similarities
when adapting to similar environments
protists - (ANSWER)single-celled or simple multicellular eukaryotic organisms that generally do not fit in any
other kingdom
diatoms - (ANSWER)unicellular algae that have a unique glass-like wall made of hydrated silica embedded in
an organic matrix
ciliates - (ANSWER)a group of protozoans that move by waving tiny, hair-like organelles called cilia
amoeba - (ANSWER)A type of protist characterized by great flexibility and the presence of pseudopodia
gastrula - (ANSWER)an embryonic stage in animal development encompassing the formation of three layers:
ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm
cephalization - (ANSWER)the concentration of nerve tissue and sensory organs at the anterior end of an
organism
symmetry - (ANSWER)the way an animal's body parts match up around a point or central line
coelom - (ANSWER)fluid-filled body cavity lined with mesoderm
Page 3 of 18
