AP Biology Cram Session

Welcome & Intro

• Presenter: Mrs. Jones (AP Bio Penguins)
• Location: Beautiful Georgia
• Format of session includes rapid overview, practice questions, and Q&A
• Recorded session will be available on the website, YouTube, and Instagram
• Encouragement: Do your best on the AP Bio exam, you’re ready!

Exam Overview

• Two Sections: Total 180 minutes
  • Section 1: 90 minutes, 60 multiple-choice questions (50% of total exam)
    • A mix of independent and set questions
  • Section 2: 90 minutes, 6 free response questions (also 50% of total exam)
    • 2 long questions, 4 short questions
    • Long questions involve experimental results interpretation and graphing
    • Short questions involve scientific investigations, conceptual analysis, model analysis, and data analysis

Tips for Multiple-Choice Section

• Timing: About 1.5 minutes per question
  • For every 10 questions, check the clock: Should be 15 minutes elapsed
• Strategies: Annotate, underline important words, jot down quick notes on figures
  • Use graphs and diagrams to answer questions
  • Trust yourself, consider covering answer choices and determining on your own

Tips for Free-Response Section

• Timing: Read through all questions first (spend 5 minutes)
  • Answer in order of knowledge
  • Give 20 minutes for long FRQs, 8 minutes for short FRQs, and leave 10 minutes to review
• Format: Answer the prompt (ATP), label responses, write in knowledge order, avoid contradictions, use simple pens (not erasable)

Units Overview & Key Points

Unit 1: Chemistry of Life

• Key Topics: Hydrogen bonds, covalent vs ionic bonds
• Proteins: Nitrogen and sulfur presence, peptide bonds, structure levels (primary to quaternary)
• Lipids: Types (steroids, phospholipids, fats), membrane components (phospholipids, cholesterol)
• Nucleic Acids: DNA vs RNA (structural and functional differences)
• Carbohydrates: Monosaccharides, glycosidic linkages, dehydration synthesis for polymer formation

Unit 2: Cell Structure and Function

• Key Organelles & Functions: Review by understanding dysfunctions
  • Nucleus, ribosomes, RER, SER, Golgi apparatus, lysosome, mitochondria, peroxisomes, vacuoles
• Membrane Transport: Types
  • Passive transport (simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion)
  • Active transport (sodium/potassium pump, proton pump)
  • Bulk transport (phagocytosis, pinocytosis)
• Surface Area-to-Volume Ratio importance in cell efficiency

Unit 3: Cellular Energetics

• Enzymes: Mechanisms (competitive/non-competitive inhibition), factors affecting activity
  • Denaturation due to pH and temperature (too high = denaturation, too low = decreased rate)
• Cell Respiration: Glycolysis, Krebs Cycle, Electron Transport Chain (ETC)
  • Glycolysis in cytoplasm; Krebs and ETC in mitochondria
• Photosynthesis: Light reactions and Calvin cycle
  • Photosystems, electron transport, chemiosmosis

Unit 4: Cell Communication and Cell Cycle

• Signal Transduction Pathways: Receptor, transduction, response
  • Cell communication diagrams and related questions
• Cell Cycle: Phases (G1, S, G2, Mitosis)
  • Checkpoints (G1, G2, M)
  • Roles and effects of regulatory molecules (cyclins, CDKs)

Unit 5: Heredity

• Meiosis: Phases, crossing over, independent assortment
• Mendelian Genetics: Complete dominance, incomplete dominance, co-dominance, sex-linked traits
• Pedigree Analysis: Dominant vs recessive traits, autosomal vs sex-linked inheritance
• Non-Mendelian Inheritance: Mitochondrial DNA inheritance

Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation

• Central Dogma: Replication, transcription, translation
  • Reading DNA 3’ to 5’, synthesizing 5’ to 3’
• Mutations: Point mutations (silent, missense, nonsense), frameshift mutations
• Biotechnology: Gel electrophoresis, PCR, transformation

Unit 7: Natural Selection and Evolution

• Natural Selection: Survival and reproductive fitness, population-level changes
• Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium: Conditions (large population, random mating, no mutations, no gene flow, no selection)
• Phylogenetics: Cladograms, clade diagrams, evidence from morphology and molecular data

Unit 8: Ecology

• Energy Flow: 10% rule, trophic levels
• Population Ecology: Exponential vs logistic growth, carrying capacity
• Community Ecology: Interactions: Predation, mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, competition

Practice Questions & Application Examples

• Examples of FRQs and MCQs included throughout session focusing on key concepts of each unit
• Emphasis on error analysis and correct methodology in solving quantitative problems in genetics and ecology

Final Tips

• Use resources: AP Bio Penguins' website, YouTube channel, Instagram for additional content and practice
• Exam Day: Stay calm, review format strategies, and remember you are well-prepared!