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

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 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

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 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

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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

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 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

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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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