Download AP Biology Study Guide

AP Biology Study Guide
Opening Essay
Chapter 1: The Scientific Study of Life
1. Describe the adaptations that allow leopards to survive.
Themes in the Study of Biology
2. Describe the levels of biological organization from molecules to the biosphere, noting the interrelationships
between levels.
3. Compare the flow of chemical nutrients and the flow of energy in an ecosystem.
4. Explain how cells function as the structural and functional units of life. Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic
cells.
5. Define the principle of emergent properties and describe an example of it.
Evolution, the Core Theme of Biology
6. Explain how DNA encodes a cell’s information.
7. List seven properties that are common to all life.
8. Compare the three domains of life. Distinguish between the three multicellular kingdoms within Eukarya.
9. Describe the process and products of natural selection. Explain why individuals cannot evolve.
The Process of Science
10. Describe the goals and limits of scientific investigations. Compare discovery science and hypothesis-based
science.
11. Define a hypothesis and compare inductive and deductive reasoning.
12. Explain how deductive reasoning is part of hypothesis-based science.
13. Describe the structure of a controlled experiment and give an example.
Biology and Everyday Life
14. Compare the goals of science and technology. Explain why an understanding of science is essential to our lives.
15. Explain how evolution impacts the lives of all humans.
C. Gay 8/11/08
Steamboat Springs High School AP Biology
Key Terms
Archaea
Bacteria
biology
biosphere
cell
community
consumer
controlled experiment
domain
ecosystem
emergent properties
Eukarya
eukaryotic cell
evolution
gene
hypothesis (plural, hypotheses)
molecule
natural selection
organ
organism
organelle
organ system
population
producer
prokaryotic cell
species
systems biology
technology
theory
C. Gay 8/11/08
Steamboat Springs High School AP Biology
The Hierarchy of Life
cosmos
biosphere
biome
ecosystem
community
population
niche
habitat
organism
organ system
organ
tissue
cell
organelle
complex carbon compounds
simple molecules
atom
P, N, e
subatomic particles
4 Fundamental Forces
C. Gay 8/11/08
Steamboat Springs High School AP Biology