AP Biology
Comprehensive AP Biology guide covering all eight units — Chemistry of Life, Cell Structure & Function, Cellular Energetics, Cell Communication & Cell Cycle, Heredity, Gene Expression & Regulation, Natural Selection, and Ecology. Built for the 5.
Topics Covered
What you get
Unit 1 — Chemistry of Life
THE BIG PICTURE. Unit 1 establishes the chemical foundation of life — and the structure-function relationship that the rest of AP Biology builds on. The unit weighs 8–11% of the AP exam and connects to Big Idea 2 (Energetics), Big Idea 3 (Information Storage and Transmission), and Big Idea 4 (Systems Interactions). Mastery of monomer-polymer relationships, water chemistry, and protein folding is essential — every later unit assumes this foundation.
Sample Flashcards
Why is water a polar molecule, and why does that matter biologically?
Oxygen is far more electronegative than hydrogen, pulling shared electrons closer. The O end is δ−; the H ends are δ+. This polarity allows water to form H-bonds with other water molecules and with polar/ionic solutes — giving it cohesion, adhesion, high specific heat, high heat of vaporization, and the ability to diss…
List four properties of water and one biological consequence of each.
1) High specific heat → buffers temperature in oceans/cells. 2) High heat of vaporization → evaporative cooling (sweat). 3) Cohesion + tension → unbroken water column in xylem. 4) Less dense as a solid → ice floats, insulating water beneath in winter.
Sample Key Terms
Polarity
Unequal sharing of electrons in a covalent bond, producing partial positive and partial negative regions on a molecule. Drives water's hydrogen bonding.
Hydrogen Bond
A weak attraction between a partially positive H atom (bonded to N, O, or F) and a lone pair on another electronegative atom. Individually weak, collectively powerful.
Cohesion
Water molecules sticking to other water molecules via H-bonds. Enables surface tension and the unbroken column of water in plant xylem.
What's Covered
- Unit 1 — Chemistry of Life
- Unit 2 — Cell Structure & Function
- Unit 3 — Cellular Energetics
- Unit 4 — Cell Communication & Cell Cycle
- Unit 5 — Heredity
- Unit 6 — Gene Expression & Regulation
- Unit 7 — Natural Selection & Evolution
- Unit 8 — Ecology
- AP Biology — Skills, Labs & Exam Strategy
9 topics · 176+ flashcards · quizzes & matching games included
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