AP Biology Live Review Session

May 21, 2024

Review flashcards

AP Biology Live Review Session

Presented by Melanie Kut from The Absolute Recap

Key Topics Covered

  • Introduction and Study Guide Access
  • Chemistry of Life (Unit 1)
  • Cell Structure and Function (Unit 2)
  • Cellular Energetics (Unit 3)
  • Cell Communication and Cell Cycle (Unit 4)
  • Practice Questions and Participation
  • Upcoming Sessions and Review Tips

Study Preparation

Key Resources

  • Study Guide: Download from the link at the top of the chat.
  • Podcasts: Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon. Over 86 episodes.
  • Ultimate Review Packet (URP): Includes units, practice exams, and answer keys.
  • Deep Learning Tool: AI tool for AP subjects.
  • AP Bio Penguins: Great resources and support available on linked websites.

Unit 1: Chemistry of Life

Overview

  • Hydrolysis and Dehydration Synthesis: Water plays a crucial role.
  • Macromolecules: Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.
  • Water: Essential molecule with polar covalent bonds leading to unique properties: cohesion, adhesion, surface tension, high specific heat, density of ice vs liquid water.

Important Notes

  • Key Elements to Ignore: Specific structures of nucleotides, amino acids, polysaccharides, and lipids.
  • Protein Structure & Function: Amino acids, peptide bonds, folding, and function of proteins.
  • Lipid Types: Including triglycerides, phospholipids (amphipathic nature), functions, and properties.
  • Nucleic Acids: Structure of DNA/RNA, nucleotide components, directionality (5' to 3').

Practice Question Example

  • Explanation of structure and bonding for a protein in water, focusing on polar vs. non-polar interactions.

Unit 2: Cell Structure and Function

Overview

  • Surface Area to Volume Ratio: Importance for efficient cell function.
  • Organelle Functions: Mitochondria, lysosomes, smooth ER, Golgi apparatus (with key points to ignore marked).
  • Cell Membrane Structure: Phospholipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and cholesterol’s roles.
  • Transport Mechanisms: Passive (diffusion, facilitated diffusion) and active transport; osmosis and impacts on cell.

Important Notes

  • Key Elements to Ignore: Smooth ER functions, specific Golgi packaging enzymes.
  • Transport: Osmosis, tonicity concepts (hypertonic, isotonic, hypotonic), water potential analysis.

Practice Question Example

  • Diagram analysis for phagocytic cell response, focusing on lysosome function.

Unit 3: Cellular Energetics

Overview

  • Enzymes: Function, specificity, and effect on activation energy.
  • Photosynthesis: Light-dependent and light-independent (Calvin Cycle) reactions; inputs, outputs, and locations within chloroplast.
  • Cellular Respiration: Glycolysis, Krebs Cycle, Electron Transport Chain; aerobic vs anaerobic pathways.

Important Notes

  • Enzymes: Conditions and inhibition (competitive, non-competitive).
  • Photosynthesis: Steps and molecules to ignore, importance of light reactions, Calvin cycle details.
  • Cellular Respiration: Role of electron carriers, distinction between aerobic and anaerobic pathways. -light reaction: photosystem II to photosystem I, ATP formation, Calvin cycle in stroma
  • Cellular Respiration: Role of oxygen, glycolysis, Krebs cycle, ETC, chemiosmosis, ATP synthesis

Practice Question Example

  • Analysis of enzyme activity and pH, interpreting a given activity graph for tripson.

Unit 4: Cell Communication and Cell Cycle

Overview

  • Reception, Transduction, Response: Signal transduction pathways, ligands, secondary messengers, protein synthesis as a response.
  • Feedback Mechanisms: Negative and positive feedback loops.
  • Cell Cycle: Steps including interphase (G1, S, G2), mitosis (PMAT), cytokinesis.

Important Notes

  • Reception: Ligands and receptors, intracellular vs extracellular.
  • Transduction: Kinase cascades, secondary messengers.
  • Response: Gene expression or cellular activity changes.
  • Key Elements to Ignore: Specific cyclin-CDK pairs.

Feedback Mechanisms

  • Examples: Blood clotting (positive), thermoregulation (negative).

Practice Question Example

  • Interpreting a cell signal transduction pathway diagram.

Upcoming Sessions

  • Practice Test Night: May 8th
  • Units 5-8 Review: Next week (date TBD)
  • Final Review Session: May 15th (two sessions, the latter for URP subscribers).

Final Notes

  • Teacher Appreciation: Acknowledge and thank your teachers for their hard work.

End of Review Session

( Note: Remember to continuously participate in practice questions, respect others in the chat, and make use of all available resources to prepare effectively for the AP Biology exam.)