AP Biology
Raiz / Walmsley
EST (End of Semester Test) Review 2015-2016
Your exam will be all multiple choice. We recommend reviewing all your take home tests in
addition to the class notes and notes packet. You may bring a calculator with you to use during the
test.
I. General Chemistry and Biochemistry
1. What makes molecules either polar or nonpolar? Distinguish between a polar and a nonpolar
covalent bond.
Identify and know the properties of all the functional groups (which are polar, acidic, etc.)
2. The composition of a cell membrane; all components - (proteins, phospholipids, and
cholesterol. Know their chemical properties (hydrophobic, hydrophilic, etc.), and their
functions in a cell (pores, receptors, glycocalyx, etc.).
3. Compare hydrolysis and dehydration synthesis reactions, and know what an enzyme’s
function is in catalyzing these reactions.
4. All the characteristics of enzymes:
Example: interaction with substrate, how they lower activation energy, etc.
5. How does heat, change in pH and change in salt concentration cause denaturization of
enzymes and proteins in general? What level of protein structure is affected by
denaturization?
6. Explain allosteric regulation and negative feedback inhibition.
7. Distinguish between competitive and non-competitive inhibition.
8. The difference between exergonic and endergonic reactions, in terms of stability, potential
energy, etc. of reactants and products. Know what happens in terms of energy as bonds
break and form in chemical reactions.
9. Know the general characteristics and function of cholesterol, HDLs and LDLs.
II. Circulation and Respiration Systems
1. How hydrostatic and osmotic pressure affect the movement of fluids in capillary beds.
2. How the medulla regulates breathing rate.
3. Diffusion of gases (O2 and CO2) from high to low concentrations (or high to low partial
pressures) in different tissues of the body.
4. Know basic structure and function of cholesterol in animals.
III. Molecular Genetics
1. Structure of the DNA and RNA molecule, including differences between these 2 molecules.
Know which bases are purines and pyrimidines and the number of hydrogen bonds between
them.
2. Know the processes of replication, transcription (including post-transcriptional
modification), and translation—including all enzymes and other molecules/structures
involved such as Snurps. Be able to put the steps of these processes in order.
3. What is ―junk DNA?‖ Where do you find it? How much of the genome is comprised of junk
DNA? What are some types of junk DNA - ex. transposons, tandem repetitive sequences?
4. Know the expanded structure of a gene (see your gene diagram that includes regulatory
regions, protein-coding regions, etc.). Be able to determine which gene regions are
transcribed and translated. You will have to interpret a diagram of a gene, and determine the
number of nucleotides in the mRNA transcript, and amino acids in the final protein
(see worksheet we did in the molecular genetics chapter where you made these calculations).
5. How is gene expression regulated at the pre- transcriptional, transcriptional, and posttranscriptional level? Ex- know difference between heterochromatin and euchromatin,
unction of DNA methylation, function of histone acetylation, role of various types of
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6.
7.
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transcription factors such as activators, basal factors, repressors, and the importance of
alternative mRNA splicing.
Explain the orientation of nucleotides, and how they are added to a nucleotide chain in
replication and transcription. Example: they are added in the 5' to 3' direction, using a 3' to 5'
template.
Distinguish between the different types of mutations. Ex. Frameshift mutations, Point
mutations, Thymine (pyrimidine) dimers.
Know the structure and function of the Lac and Trp operons.
If given info on the number of nucleotides in various exon regions, introns, promoter,
etc….., know how to calculate the number of nucleotides in a primary transcript, secondary
mature transcript and the number of amino acids in the final polypeptide.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO KNOW ANY SPECIFIC DATES IN THE EVOLUTION
CHAPTER
THERE WILL BE NO QUESTIONS ON HUMAN EVOLUTION
IV. Evolution
1. Know all the evidence supporting Darwin’s ideas of Natural selection and Descent with
Modification. Also know which evidence supports Natural Selection and which supports
Descent with Modification. Example: homologous structures, relative dating of fossils,
artificial selection, etc.
2. Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection (4 major points).
(a) Define fitness
(b) How Darwin’s views differed from those of Lamarck
3. The observations Darwin made about finches of the Galápagos Islands.
4. Distinguish between convergent and divergent evolution and homologous and analogous
structures.
5. Explain how antibiotic resistance relates to natural selection.
6. Describe the steps in allopatric speciation or in speciation events in general.
7. What is heterozygote superiority and how does it relate to a balanced polymorphism?
8. How would a biologist explain the evolution of an irreducibly complex system?
9. Some other terms to know - vestigial structures, adaptive radiation, co-evolution,
reproductive isolation.
10. Producing phylogenetic trees to represent genetic or structural homologies.
V. The Cell
1. General structure and function of all cellular organelles.
2. The endomembrane system, and how structures in the endomembrane system form.
Example: production of lysosomes, new plasma membrane, etc.
3. What are the functions of important cell proteins such as ubiquitin, kinesin, collagen, keratin,
actin, tubulin, and dynein?
4. Which organelles and cell structures are found in plants, animals, and bacteria? Know which
are found in one, two, or all three.
5. General differences between the different types of cell junctions.
Example: which junctions allow substances to pass; which ones do not?
6. The order of coding, production, transport, modification, sorting, packaging, and secretion of
a secretory protein (know which organelles are involved, and what happens in each
organelle). See large diagram we drew in class.
7. The differences between proteins produced on bound ribosomes and free ribosomes. Be able
to give example of each of these.
How do free ribosomes become bound ribosomes?
8. The organization of plant cell walls.
9. Structure and function of plant vacuoles.
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10. Explain the differences and similarities between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
VII. Ecology
1. Energy/biomass in food webs at different trophic levels (energy pyramids).
2. Concepts in net and gross primary productivity.
3. Chemical cycles in the environment.
4. Interpret age structure diagrams.
5. R& K reproductive strategies.
6. Calculations of reproductive rates and per capita growth rates (rmax) and population density.
7. Types of growth patterns – logistics vs exponential.
8. Calculations of primary productivity based on light intensity and dissolved oxygen
production.
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