AP Biology Chapter 1 & 2 Flashcards

Evolution

• A transformative process that shapes life on Earth, leading to the diversity of organisms present today.

7 Characteristics of Life

• Order: Structured complexity in living organisms.
• Growth & Development: Changes in size and function over an organism's life.
• Reproduction: Capability of organisms to produce offspring.
• Evolutionary Adaptation: Traits that enhance survival and reproduction over generations.
• Regulation: Mechanisms to maintain stable internal conditions.
• Response to Environment: Ability to react to external stimuli.
• Energy Processing: Conversion of energy to maintain metabolic functions.

Biological Hierarchy

• Includes levels from the biosphere to molecules, illustrating organization in life: Biosphere --> Ecosystem --> Communities --> Populations --> Organisms --> Organs --> Tissues --> Cells --> Organelles --> Molecules.

Biology

• The scientific study focused on understanding life and living organisms.

Emergent Properties

• Traits that emerge when parts interact at higher organizational levels, resulting in complexity.

Systems Biology

• Seeks to create models for understanding dynamic biological system behavior.

Eukaryotic Cell

• Characterized by membrane-bound organelles, including a nucleus.

Prokaryotic Cell

• Lacks a membrane-bound nucleus; DNA is freely located within the cell.

DNA

• Deoxyribonucleic acid, the hereditary material in organisms.

Genes

• Units of inheritance that convey genetic information from parents to offspring.

Genome

• Complete set of genetic information inherited by an organism.

Feedback Mechanisms

• Positive feedback: Regulatory mechanism that accelerates a process.
• Negative feedback: Regulatory mechanism that slows down a process.

Inquiry

• The process of seeking information and forming explanations.

Discovery Science

• Aims to accurately describe natural phenomena through observation and data analysis.

Data

• Recorded observations used for analysis in scientific study.

Inductive Reasoning

• Derives general principles from specific observations.

Hypothesis

• A proposed explanation for a phenomenon, awaiting confirmation.

Deductive Reasoning

• Logic that progresses from general principles to specific instances.

Controlled Experiment

• Designed to compare an experimental group against a control for accurate assessment.

Theory

• Broader than a hypothesis; supported by substantial evidence and general principles.

Models

• Representations of concepts or processes, which may include diagrams.

Technology

• Application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes.

Element

• A basic substance that cannot be chemically broken down into simpler substances.

Compound

• Formed from two or more different elements in a fixed ratio.

Trace Elements

• Essential elements required in minimal amounts for organism survival.

Subatomic Particles

• Include neutrons, protons, and electrons, the fundamental components of atoms.

Atomic Nucleus

• Central part of an atom where protons and neutrons reside, forming a dense core.

Dalton

• A unit of measurement for atomic and molecular mass.

Atomic Number

• The number of protons in an atom, denoted as a subscript to the left of the element's symbol.

Mass Number

• Total count of protons and neutrons in an atom's nucleus.

Atomic Mass

• Average mass of an atom, reflecting the mass of its protons and neutrons.

Radioactive Isotope

• An unstable isotope that decays, releasing particles and energy.

Energy

• The capacity to cause change and perform work.

Potential Energy

• Energy held by an object due to its position or structure.

Valence Electrons

• Electrons located in the outer shell of an atom, determining chemical behavior.

Valence Shell

• The outermost shell of an atom, where chemical bonding occurs.

Orbital

• The region in an atom where electrons are likely to be found.

Covalent Bond

• Created when two atoms share a pair of valence electrons.

Molecule

• A group of two or more atoms bonded together by covalent bonds.

Single Bond

• Represented by a line, indicating a single covalent bond between atoms.

Structural Formula

• Illustrates both the types of atoms and their bonding arrangements in a molecule.