AP Biology
Summer Assignment
Read Chapters 1-5, and 7 of the Campbell, Reece, Biology 7th Edition textbook.
Answer the questions and define the vocabulary below that correlate with
each chapter.
Topic 1: Study of Life
Questions:
1. Describe the unifying themes that pervade the science of biology.
2. Diagram the hierarchy (levels) of biological organization.
3. Describe the seven emergent properties associated with life.
4. Distinguish between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
5. Differentiate between negative and positive feedback.
6. Explain the concept of hypothetico-deductive reasoning.
Vocabulary:
Growth
Development
Metabolism
Homeostasis
Stimuli
Adaptations
Prokaryotic
Eukaryotic
Evolution
Community
Ecosystem
Population
Topic 2: Basic Chemistry
Questions:
1. State the four elements essential to life that make up 90% of living matter.
2. Describe and draw the structure of an atom.
3. Explain how electron configuration influences the chemical behavior of an atom.
4. Explain the octet rule and how an atom forms single, double, and triple bonds.
5. Distinguish between covalent, polar covalent, and ionic bonds. Include examples.
6. Describe the formation of a hydrogen bond and explain how it differs from a covalent or
ionic bond.
7. Describe how the relative concentrations of reactants and products affect a chemical
reaction.
8. Why must oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously?
Vocabulary:
Matter
Mass
Element
Atom
Compound
Proton
Neutron
Electron
Atomic #
Mass #
Isotope
Energy
e- shell
Orbital
Valence eChemical bond
Molecule
Reactant
Product
Covalent bond
Polar
Ionic bond
Cation
Anion
Ion
Hydrogen bond
Reduction
Oxidation
Topic 3: Water
Questions:
1. Describe how water contributes to the fitness of the environment to support life.
2. Describe (and illustrate) the structure and geometry of a water molecule and explain what
properties emerge as a result of this structure.
3. Explain the relationship between the polar nature of water and its ability to form hydrogen
bonds.
4. List five characteristics of water that result from hydrogen bonding.
5. Explain how water’s high specific heat, high heat of vaporization, and expansion upon
freezing affect aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
6. Explain how the polarity of water makes it a versatile solvent.
Vocabulary:
Cohesion
Surface tension
Adhesion
Hydrophobic
Hydrophilic
Specific heat
Heat of vaporization
Evaporative cooling
Solvent
Solute
Solution
Topic 4: Acids and Bases
Questions:
1. Explain the basis for the pH scale.
2. Explain how acids and bases affect the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution.
3. How would a solution of 5 differ from one with a pH of 9? From a pH of 7?
4. Using the bicarbonate buffering system as an example, explain how buffers work.
5. Differentiate clearly between acids, bases, and salts. What are the functions of salt in living
organisms?
Vocabulary:
Hydronium ion
Hydroxide ion
Acid
Base
pH scale
Electrolytes
Buffer
Acid precipitation
Topic 5: The Chemistry of Carbon
Questions:
1. Explain how carbon’s electron configuration determines the kinds and number of bonds
carbon will form.
2. Describe how carbon skeletons vary, and explain how this variation contributes to the
diversity and complexity of organic molecules.
3. Create a chart which distinguishes the three types of isomers: structural, geometric, and
enantiomers.
4. Explain the role of functional groups in organic compounds and describe their common
function (at least three).
5. Create a chart listing the following functional groups along with their structure and a short
description: hydroxyl, carbonyl: ketones and aldehydes, carboxyl, amino, sulfhydryl,
phosphate, methyl, ester
6. Compare and contrast condensation (aka dehydration synthesis) with hydrolysis.
Vocabulary:
Organic compounds
Condensation rxn
Hydrocarbons
Hydrolysis
Isomer
Monomer
Polymer
Macromolecules
Functional Group
Topic 6: Carbohydrates
Questions:
1. Describe the distinguishing characteristics of carbohydrates and explain how they are
classified.
2. List four characteristics of sugars.
3. Identify (draw) a glycosidic linkage and describe how it is formed.
4. Describe four biological functions of carbohydrates.
5. Distinguish between the glycosidic linkage found in starch and cellulose and explain why the
difference is biologically important.
Vocabulary:
Carbohydrate
Monosaccharide
Disaccharide
Polysaccharide
Starch
Cellulose
Glycogen
Chitin
Topic 7: Lipids
Questions:
1. Explain what distinguishes lipids from other major classes of macromolecules.
2. Create a chart illustrating the unique properties, building block molecules, and biological
importance of fats, phospholipids, and steroids.
3. Draw an ester linkage and describe how it is formed.
4. Distinguish between a saturated and an unsaturated fat and name two properties that are a
consequence of these structural differences.
Vocabulary:
Fatty acid
Glycerol
Fat
Phospholipid
Steroid
Ester linkage
Triacylglycerol
Topic 8: Proteins
Questions:
1. Describe the characteristics that distinguish proteins from other major classes of
macromolecules, and explain the biologically important functions of this group.
2. Describe the basic structure of an amino acid, label each of the four major parts and
explain how amino acids may be grouped according to the physical and chemical properties
of the side chain.
3. Draw a peptide bond and explain how it is formed.
4. Explain what determines protein conformation and why it is important.
5. Define primary structure and describe how it may be deduced in the lab.
6. Describe the two types of secondary protein structure and explain the role of hydrogen
bonds in maintaining the structure.
7. Explain how weak interactions and disulfide bridges contribute to tertiary protein structure.
8. Describe quaternary protein structure using collagen and hemoglobin as examples.
9. Describe the means by which proteins may be denatured.
Vocabulary:
Protein
Amino acid
Polypeptide
Peptide bond
Protein conformation
Native conformation
Primary structure
Secondary structure
Tertiary structure
Quaternary structure
Disulfide bridge
Denaturation
Fibrous protein
Globular protein
Topic 9: Nucleic Acids
Questions:
1. Describe the characteristics that distinguish nuclei acids from the other major classes of
macromolecules.
2. Summarize the functions of nucleic acids.
3. Draw and label the major components of a nucleotide, and describe how these monomers
are linked together to form a nucleic acid.
4. Distinguish between a purine and a pyrimidine.
5. List the functions of nucleotides.
6. Describe the 3-D structure of DNA.
Vocabulary:
Nucleic acid
Nucleotide
Pyrimidine
Purine
DNA
RNA
Pentose
Phosphodiester bond
Topic 10: A Tour of the Cell
Questions:
1. Describe the historical scientific contributions that led to the development of the cell theory.
2. Compare and contrast the structural similarities between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
3. Explain the relationship between surface are and volume as each relates to limiting the size
of a cell.
4. Explain why compartmentalization is important in eukaryotic cells.
5. Describe the structure and function of the nucleus, and briefly explain how the nucleus
controls protein synthesis in the cytoplasm.
6. Describe the structure and function of a eukaryotic ribosome.
7. List the components of the endomembrane system, describe their structures and functions
and summarize the relationships among them.
8. Explain how storage diseases can be traced to impaired lysosomal functioning.
9. Describe the structure of the mitochondrion and explain the importance of
compartmentalization in mitochondrial functioning.
10. Describe the functions of the cytoskeleton.
11. Describe the ultrastructure of microtubules and explain how the structure of cilia and
flagella relates to their function.
12. Describe three major structural differences between a typical plant cell and a typical animal
cell.
13. Provide a labeled sketch of a typical plant cell and a typical animal cell.
Vocabulary:
Organelle
Cytoplasm
Cytosol
Prokaryotic
Nucleoid
Eukaryotic
Plasma membrane
Nucleus
Chromatin
Chromosome
Nucleolus
Ribosome
Endomembrane system
Endoplasmic reticulum
Smooth ER
Rough ER
Central vacuole
Vesicle
Golgi apparatus
Peroxisome
Mitochondria
Chloroplast
Amyloplast
Chromoplast
Cytoskeleton
Microtubules
Microfilaments
Flagella
Cilia
Pseupodia