Key Takeaways
Lesson Description
Key Takeaways
• Life is built upon four major biological macromolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
• Cell structure determines function, and cells maintain homeostasis through selective transport across membranes.
• Energy is transformed through photosynthesis and cellular respiration, with ATP serving as the cell's primary energy currency.
• Cells communicate through signaling pathways and reproduce through mitosis and meiosis.
• Heredity is governed by Mendelian genetics, chromosome behavior during meiosis, and patterns of inheritance.
• The Central Dogma describes the flow of genetic information:
DNA → RNA → Protein
• Evolution occurs through natural selection, driven by variation, mutation, genetic drift, and gene flow.
• Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium provides a model for populations that are not evolving.
• Ecosystems transfer energy through trophic levels while cycling matter through the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water cycles.
• Biological systems are interconnected, and understanding relationships between structure, function, energy, information, and evolution is essential for success on the AP Biology exam.
Must Know Equations
• Photosynthesis:
6CO₂ + 6H₂O + Light → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
• Cellular Respiration:
C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + ATP
• Hardy-Weinberg Allele Frequency:
p + q = 1
• Hardy-Weinberg Genotype Frequency:
p² + 2pq + q² = 1
Must Know Vocabulary
ATP
Homeostasis
Diffusion
Osmosis
Active Transport
Enzyme
Activation Energy
Photosynthesis
Cellular Respiration
Mitosis
Meiosis
Allele
Genotype
Phenotype
DNA
RNA
Transcription
Translation
Mutation
Natural Selection
Evolution
Genetic Drift
Gene Flow
Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium
Carrying Capacity
Biodiversity
Ecosystem
AP Exam Focus
• Explain how biological structure relates to function.
• Analyze experimental data, graphs, and scientific investigations.
• Apply concepts across multiple units instead of memorizing isolated facts.
• Interpret unfamiliar biological scenarios using core principles.
• Support answers with scientific evidence and biological reasoning rather than memorization alone.