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AP Bio vocab
AP Biology
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Acquired immunity - | immunity that the body develops after it overcomes a disease, or through inoculation (such as vaccination) |
| Action potential - | a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon; the action potential is generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon's membrane |
| Adaptations - | the behaviors and physical characteristics that allow organisms to live successfully in their environments |
| Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) - | the molecule that stores energy that can be used by the cell |
| Adhesion - | an attraction between molecules of different substances |
| Alleles | different forms of a gene |
| Allopatric speciation - | the formation of new species in populations that are geographically isolated from one another |
| Altruism - | unselfish regard for the welfare of others |
| Amniotes - | their embryos are protected by external membranes |
| Amoeba | a type of protist characterized by great flexibility and the presence of pseudopodia |
| Angiosperm | a flowering plant, which forms seeds inside a protective chamber called an ovary |
| Antigen | substance that triggers an immune response |
| Apical meristems | embryonic plant tissue in the tips of roots and in the buds of shoots that supplies cells for the plant to grow in length |
| Apoptosis | a type of cell death in which the cell uses specialized cellular machinery to kill itself |
| Aquaporin | a transport protein in the plasma membrane of a plant or animal cell that specifically facilitates the diffusion of water across the membrane |
| Autotrophs | organisms that make their own food |
| Barr body | inactivated X chromosome in females |
| Binary fission | type of asexual reproduction in which an organism replicates its DNA and divides in half, producing two identical daughter cells |
| Biological magnification | increasing concentration of a harmful substance in organisms at higher trophic levels in a food chain or food web |
| Biomes | a broad, regional type of ecosystem characterized by distinctive climate and soil conditions and a distinctive kind of biological community adapted to those conditions |
| Bioremediation | the use of living organisms to detoxify and restore polluted and degraded ecosystems |
| Biotic factor | all the living things in an ecosystem |
| Bryophyte | nonvascular plant; examples are mosses and their relatives |
| CAM plants | store the organic acids made at night in vacuoles and use them for photosynthesis during the day when stomata are closed |
| Cancer | a disease in which abnormal cells multiply out of control, spread into surrounding tissues and other body parts, and disrupt normal functioning of one or more organs |
| Carnivore | organism that obtains energy by eating animals |
| Capsid | protein covering that surrounds a virus |
| Catabolic | a process in which large molecules are broken down |
| Cell differentiation | the process of cell specialization |
| Cellular respiration | process that releases energy by breaking down glucose and other food molecules in the presence of oxygen |
| Chemiosmosis | a process for synthesizing ATP using the energy of an electrochemical gradient and the ATP synthase enzyme. |
| Chordates | an animal phylum that has a notochord, a dorsal hollow nerve cord, and gill slits at some time in its life cycle |
| Chromatin | long strands of DNA found in the eukaryotic cell nucleus; condense to form chromosomes |
| Circadian rhythms | the 24-hour biological cycles found in humans and many other species |
| Cladistics | a system of phylogenetic analysis that uses shared and derived characters as the only criteria for grouping taxa |
| Cleavage | the process of cytokinesis in animal cells, characterized by pinching of the plasma membrane; specifically, the succession of rapid cell divisions without growth during early embryonic development that converts the zygote into a ball of cells |
| Cline | a graded change in a trait along a geographic axis |
| 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. |
| Cohesion | attraction between molecules of the same substance |
| Community | a group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other |
| Complete metamorphosis | the transformation of a larva into an adult that looks very different, and often functions very differently in its environment, than the larva |
| Compound | a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight |
| Conjugation | form of sexual reproduction in which paramecia and some prokaryotes exchange genetic information |
| Conservation | the preservation and careful management of the environment and of natural resources |
| Convergent evolution | process by which unrelated organisms independently evolve similarities when adapting to similar environments |
| Covalent bond | a chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule |
| Crop rotation | the system of growing a different crop in a field each year to preserve the fertility of the land |
| Crossing over | the interchange of sections between pairing homologous chromosomes during the prophase of meiosis |
| Demography | study of populations |
| Dispersal | the movement of organisms from one place to another |
| Disruptive selection | form of natural selection in which a single curve splits into two; occurs when individuals at the upper and lower ends of a distribution curve have higher fitness than individuals near the middle |
| Dormancy | period of time during which a plant embryo is alive but not growing |
| Ecology | the branch of biology concerned with the relations between organisms and their environment |
| 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 |
| Emigration | movement of individuals out of an area |
| Endergonic reaction | a non-spontaneous chemical reaction in which free energy is absorbed from the surroundings |
| Endocrine glands | glands of the endocrine system that release hormones into the bloodstream |
| Endocytosis | process by which a cell takes in a substance by surrounding it with the cell membrane |
| Endosperm | the food supply for a plant embryo found inside a seed |
| Endospore | type of spore formed when a bacterium produces a thick internal wall that encloses its DNA and a portion of its cytoplasm |
| Endosymbiosis | process through which early prokaryotic cells are thought to have engulfed other, smaller cells and eventually incorporated them as organelles; these cells evolved into modern-day eukaryotes |
| Endothermic | dependent on or capable of the internal generation of heat |
| Entropy | a thermodynamic quantity representing the unavailability of a system's thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work, often interpreted as the degree of disorder or randomness in the system |
| Enzyme | protein that acts as a biological catalyst |
| Epiphyte | plant that is not rooted in soil but instead grows directly on the body of another plant |
| Epithelium | membranous tissue covering internal organs and other internal surfaces of the body |
| Eukaryotic cells | contain a nucleus and other organelles that are bound by membranes |
| Excretion | the process by which wastes are removed from the body |
| Exoskeleton | the exterior protective or supporting structure or shell of many animals (especially invertebrates) including bony or horny parts such as nails or scales or hoofs |
| Exponential growth | growth of a population that multiplies by a constant factor at constant time intervals |
| Fermentation | the process by which cells break down molecules to release energy without using oxygen |
| Flower | the reproductive structure of an angiosperm |
| Fruit | a mature ovary of a flower that protects dormant seeds and aids in their dispersal |
| Gametes | reproductive cells, have only half the number of chromosomes as body cells |
| Gametogenesis | the development and maturation of sex cells through meiosis |
| Gel electrophoresis | the separation of nucleic acids or proteins, on the basis of their size and electrical charge, by measuring their rate of movement through an electrical field in a gel |
| Gene flow | movement of alleles into or out of a population due to the migration of individuals to or from the population |
| Genome project | research and technology development effort aimed at mapping and sequencing some or all of the genome of human beings and other organisms |
| Geographic variation | differences in the genetic composition of separate populations |
| Germ layer | any of the 3 layers of cells differentiated in embryos following gastrulation |
| Gibberellins | plant hormones that promote stem and leaf elongation |
| Greenhouse effect | process by which atmospheric gases trap heat close to Earth's surface and prevent it from escaping into space |
| Habituation | decreasing responsiveness with repeated stimulation |
| Half-life | the period of time in which half of a radioactive substance decays |
| Hardy-Weinberg | equilibrium theory of a stable, nonevolving population in which frequency of alleles do not change; only occurs in large, isolated populations with random mating, and no natural selection or mutations |
| Helicases | enzymes that untwist the double helix at the replication forks |
| Hemoglobin | iron-containing protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body |
| Hermaphrodite | individual that has both male and female reproductive organs |
| Heterozygous | having two different alleles for a trait |
| Homeotic genes | any of the genes that control the overall body plan of animals and plants by controlling the developmental fate of groups of cells |
| Hormones | chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues |
| Hybridization | the act of mixing different species or varieties of animals or plants and thus to produce hybrids |
| Hydrocarbons | organic molecules that are composed of only carbon and hydrogen |
| Hydrogen bond | weak chemical bond formed by the attraction of positively charged hydrogen atoms to other negatively charged atoms |
| Hydrolysis | a chemical process in which a compound is broken down and changed into other compounds by taking up the elements of water |
| Hydrophobic | avoids water molecules |
| Hypertonic | when comparing two solutions, the solution with the greater concentration of solutes |
| Hyphae | the branching, threadlike tubes that make up the bodies of multicellular fungi |
| Hypothalamus | a neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs eating, drinking, body temperature; helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion |
| Inductive reasoning | reasoning based on observed patterns |
| Inflammatory response | nonspecific defense against infection, characterized by redness, heat, swelling, and pain |
| Insulin | protein hormone that helps to decrease blood sugar |
| Introduced species | nonnative species that are either intentionally or unintentionally transported to a new habitat |
| Invertebrates | animals without a backbone |
| Ion | atom that has a positive or negative charge |
| Isomers | compounds with the same formula but different structure |
| Keystone species | a species that influences the survival of many other species in an ecosystem |
| Kinesis | a change in activity or turning rate in response to a stimulus |
| Lichen | symbiotic association between a fungus and a photosynthetic organism |
| Ligand | a molecule that binds specifically to a receptor site of another molecule |
| Linkage map | a genetic map based on the frequencies of recombination between markers during crossing over of homologous chromosomes |
| Macrophages | engulf bacteria and cellular debris by phagocytosis |
| Malnourishment | a nutritional imbalance caused by lack of specific dietary components or inability to absorb or utilize essential nutrients |
| 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 |
| Metabolic rate | the amount of energy an animal uses in a unit of time |
| Microevolution | evolution resulting from small specific genetic changes that can lead to a new subspecies |
| Migration | movement from one place to another |
| Mimicry | the resemblance of an animal species to another species or to natural objects |
| Minimum viable population | the smallest population size at which a species is able to sustain its numbers and survive |
| Mitochondria | powerhouse of the cell, produces energy (ATP) from oxygen and sugar |
| Mitosis | in eukaryotic cells, a process of cell division that forms two new nuclei, each of which has the same number of chromosomes |
| Molds | a type of fungus that consists of chains of cells and appears as a fuzzy mass of thin filaments in culture |
| Mutations | random errors in gene replication that lead to a change in the sequence of nucleotides; the source of all genetic diversity |
| Natural selection | process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully |
| Negative feedback | a mechanism of response in which a stimulus initiates reactions that reduce the stimulus |
| Nephron | any of the small tubules that are the excretory units of the vertebrate kidney |
| Neurotransmitters | chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons |
| Niche | the status of an organism within its environment and community (affecting its survival as a species) |
| Nitrogen fixation | process of converting nitrogen gas into nitrogen compounds that plants can absorb and use (ammonia) |
| Nondisjunction | error in meiosis in which homologous chromosomes fail to separate |
| Okazaki fragments | short fragments of DNA that are a result of the synthesis of the lagging strand during DNA replication |
| Oncogenes | cancer-causing genes |
| Operon | a group of genes that operate together |
| Organic chemistry | the chemistry of compounds containing carbon (originally defined as the chemistry of substances produced by living organisms but now extended to substances synthesized artificially) |
| Osmosis | diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane |
| Pandemic | disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects a very high proportion of the population |
| Pathogens | disease producing microorganisms |
| Perception | the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events |
| Peripheral proteins | protein appendages loosely bound to the surface of the membrane and not embedded in the lipid bilayer |
| Peristalsis | the process of wave-like muscle contractions of the alimentary tract that moves food along |
| Pheromones | chemicals secreted by animal species that influence the behavior of other animals of the same species |
| Phospholipids | a molecule that is a constituent of the inner bilayer of biological membranes, having a polar, hydrophilic head and a nonpolar, hydrophobic tail |
| 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 |
| Photosynthesis | process by which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high-energy carbohydrates such as sugars and starches |
| Phototropism | tendency of plants to grow toward a source of light |
| Phylogeny | the sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms |
| Physiology | processes and functions of an organism |
| Placental | mammals who have offspring who develop inside placenta (humans) |
| Plasmids | the small, circular segments of DNA that are found in bacteria and that stay separate from the bacterial chromosomes; used in genetic engineering |
| Plasmodesmata | channels through cell walls that connect the cytoplasm of adjacent cells |
| Platelets | tiny, disk-shaped bodies in the blood, important in blood clot formation |
| Pleiotropy | the ability of a single gene to have multiple effects |
| Polar molecule | molecule with an unequal distribution of charge, resulting in the molecule having a positive end and a negative end |
| Pollen grain | male gametophyte in seed plants |
| Pollination | the transfer of pollen from male reproductive structures to female reproductive structures in plants |
| Polymer | large compound formed from combinations of many monomers |
| Polymerase chain reaction | technique that allows molecular biologists to make many copies of a particular gene |
| Polyploidy | the condition in which an organism has extra sets of chromosomes |
| Positive feedback | a physiological control mechanism in which a change in a variable triggers mechanisms that amplify the change |
| Pre-zygotic barriers | a reproductive barrier that impedes mating between species or hinders fertilization if interspecific mating is attempted |
| Producers | organisms that make their own food |
| Prokaryotic | describes a cell that does not have a nucleus or another membrane-covered organelles; also called bacteria |
| Protein kinase | an enzyme that transfers phosphate groups from ATP to a protein |
| Protists | single-celled or simple multicellular eukaryotic organisms that generally do not fit in any other kingdom |
| Recombinant DNA | DNA produced by combining DNA from different sources |
| Reflexes | an automatic and often inborn response to a stimulus that involves a nerve impulse |
| Ribosomes | non membrane bounded organelles responsible for protein synthesis |
| RNA splicing | process by which the introns are removed from RNA transcripts and the remaining exons are joined together |
| Roots | underground organs that absorb water and minerals |
| Seed | embryo of a living plant that is encased in a protective covering and surrounded by a food supply |
| Sex-linked gene | gene located on the X or Y chromosome |
| Sexual reproduction | process in which genetic material from two parents combines and produces offspring that differ genetically from either parent |
| Short term memory | activated memory that holds a few items briefly, before information is stored or forgotten |
| Signal transduction pathway | a series of steps linking a mechanical or chemical stimulus to a specific cellular response |
| Sinoatrial node | the heart's pacemaker, located in the wall of the right atrium |
| Sliding filament model | The theory explaining how muscle contracts, based on change within a sarcomere, the basic unit of muscle organization, stating that thin (actin) filaments slide across thick (myosin) filaments, shortening the sarcomere; the shortening of all sarcomeres in |
| Smooth muscle | a muscle that contracts without conscious control and found in walls of internal organs such as stomach and intestine and bladder and blood vessels (excluding the heart) |
| Somatic cell | cell that makes up all of the body tissues and organs, except gametes |
| Species | taxonomic group whose members can interbreed |
| Stem | supporting structure that connects roots and leaves and carries water and nutrients between them |
| Stomata | the small openings on the undersides of most leaves through which oxygen and carbon dioxide can move |
| Substrate | specific reactant acted on by an enzyme |
| Survivorship curve | graph showing the number of survivors in different age groups for a particular species |
| Sustainable agriculture | farming method that preserves longterm productivity of land and minimizes pollution |
| Symbiosis | living together in mutually helpful association of two dissimilar organisms |
| Symmetry | the way an animal's body parts match up around a point or central line |
| Synaptic cleft | space between two connecting neurons where neurotransmitters are released |
| Taxonomy | study of the general principles of scientific classification |
| Telomerase | an enzyme that catalyzes the lengthening of telomeres; the enzyme includes a molecule of RNA that serves as a template for new telomere segments |
| Thermoregulation | the maintenance of body temperature within a range that enables cells to function efficiently |
| Thylakoids | A flattened membrane sac inside the chloroplast, used to convert light energy to chemical energy |
| Tissue | a part of an organism consisting of an aggregate of cells having a similar structure and function |
| Transcription | process in which part of the nucleotide sequence of DNA is copied into a complementary sequence in mRNA |
| Transformation | modification of a cell or bacterium by the uptake and incorporation of exogenous DNA |
| Transpiration | the emission of water vapor from the leaves of plants |
| Transposons | small mobile DNA segments |
| Turgid | swollen and distended or congested |
| Urea | the chief solid component of mammalian urine |
| Vaccine | a substance that stimulates the body to produce chemicals that destroy viruses or bacteria |
| Vascular tissue | tissue that conducts water and nutrients through the plant body in higher plants |
| Vasoconstriction | narrowing of blood vessels |
| 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 |
| Vitamins | c compounds that help regulate many vital body processes, including the digestion, absorption, and metabolism of other nutrients |
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