AP Biology
Unit 2 Exam Review
Chapters 4, 5, 6, and7
Chapter 4—Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
1. Explain how carbon’s electron configuration explains its ability to form large, complex and
diverse organic molecules.
2. Describe how carbon skeletons may vary, and explain how this variation contributes to the
diversity and complexity of organic molecules.
3. Describe the basic structure of a hydrocarbon and explain why these molecules are
hydrophobic.
4. Distinguish among the three types of isomers: structural, geometric, and enantiomer.
5. Name the major chemical groups found in organic molecules. Describe the basic structure of
each chemical group and outline the chemical properties of the organic molecules in which
they occur.
Chapter 5—The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules
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List the four major classes of macromolecules.
Distinguish between monomers and polymers.
Draw diagrams to illustrate condensation and hydrolysis reactions.
Distinguish between monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.
Describe the formation of a glycosidic linkage.
Distinguish between the glycosidic linkages found in starch and cellulose. Explain why the
difference is biologically important.
Describe the role of symbiosis in cellulose digestion by animals.
Describe the building-block molecules, structure, and biological importance of fats,
phospholipids, and steroids.
Identify an ester linkage and describe how it is formed.
Distinguish between saturated and unsaturated fats.
Distinguish between cis and trans fat molecules.
Name the principal energy storage molecules of plants and animals.
Distinguish between a protein and a polypeptide.
Explain how a peptide bond forms between two amino acids.
List and describe the four major components of an amino acid. Explain how amino acids
may be grouped according to the physical and chemical properties of the R group.
Explain what determines protein structure and why it is important.
Explain how the primary structure of a protein is determined.
Name two types of secondary protein structure. Explain the role of hydrogen bonds in
maintaining secondary structure.
Explain how weak interactions and disulfide bridges contribute to tertiary protein structure.
List four conditions under which proteins may be denatured.
Explain how chaperonins may assist in proper folding of proteins.
Chapter 6—A Tour of the Cell
1. Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
2. Explain why there are both upper and lower limits to cell size.
3. Explain the advantages of compartmentalization in eukaryotic cells
4. List and describe basic functions of major eukaryotic organelles.
Chapter 7—Membrane Structure and Function
1. Explain the meaning of the statement that phospholipids and most other membrane
constituents are amphipathic molecules.
2. Describe the fluidity of the components of a cell membrane and explain how membrane
fluidity is influenced by temperature and membrane composition.
3. Explain how cholesterol resists changes in membrane fluidity as temperatures change.
4. Distinguish between peripheral and integral membrane proteins.
5. List six major functions of membrane proteins.
6. Explain the role of membrane carbohydrates in cell-cell recognition.
7. Explain how hydrophobic molecules cross cell membranes.
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Distinguish between channel proteins and carrier proteins.
Explain how aquaporins facilitate the passage of water through membranes.
Define diffusion. Explain why diffusion is a passive and spontaneous process.
Explain why a concentration gradient of a substance across a membrane represents potential
energy.
Distinguish between solutions that are hypertonic, hypotonic, and isotonic to cell contents.
Define osmosis and predict the direction of water movement based on differences in solute
concentrations.
Describe how living cells with and without cell walls regulate water balance.
Explain how transport proteins facilitate diffusion.
Distinguish between osmosis, facilitated diffusion, and active transport.
Describe the process of cotransport.
Explain how large molecules are transported across a cell membrane.
Distinguish between exocytosis and receptor-mediated endocytosis.
Free Response:
1. Major distinction between prokaryotes and eukaryotes is the presence of membrane-boung
organelles in eukaryotes.
Describe the structure and funtion of TWO eukaryotic membrane bound organelles other than the
nucleus.
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have some non membrane bound components in common.
Describe the funtion of TWO of the following and discuss how each differs in prokaryotes and
eukaryotes.
-DNA
-Cell Wall
-ribosomes
Explain the endosymbiotic theory of the origin of eukaryotic cells anddiscuss an example of
evidence supporting this theory.
2. Question related to osmosis lab and water potential.