Cover
Title Page
Acknowledgments
Copyright
About the Author
Table of Contents
How to Use This Book
Barron’s Essential 5
About the Exam
1. Introduction
Exam Format
Tips for Section I: Multiple-Choice Questions
Tips for Section II: Free-Response Questions
Scoring of the AP Biology Exam
Suggested Study Plans
2. Statistics in AP Biology
Overview
What Is a Null Hypothesis?
Chi-Square Test
Descriptive Statistics
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
Unit 1: Chemistry of Life
3. Water
Overview
Water and the Importance of Hydrogen Bonds
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
4. Macromolecules
Overview
Biological Macromolecules
Protein Structure
Nucleic Acids
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
Unit 2: Cell Structure and Function
5. Cell Organelles, Membranes, and Transport
Overview
Cell Organelles and Their Functions
Endosymbiosis Hypothesis
The Advantages of Compartmentalization
The Importance of Surface Area to Volume Ratios
Structure of the Plasma Membrane
What Can (and Cannot) Cross the Plasma Membrane
Passive Transport
Active Transport
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
6. Movement of Water in Cells
Overview
Water Potential
Osmolarity and Its Regulation
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
Unit 3: Cellular Energetics
7. Enzymes
Overview
Enzyme Structure and Function
Environmental Factors that Affect Enzyme Function
Activation Energy in Chemical Reactions
Energy and Metabolism/Coupled Reactions
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
8. Photosynthesis
Overview
Light-Dependent Reactions
Light-Independent Reactions (The Calvin Cycle)
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
9. Cellular Respiration
Overview
Glycolysis
Oxidation of Pyruvate
Krebs Cycle (Citric Acid Cycle)
Oxidative Phosphorylation
Fermentation
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
Unit 4: Cell Communication and Cell Cycle
10. Cell Communication and Signaling
Overview
Types of Cell Signaling
Signal Transduction
Disruptions in Signal Transduction Pathways
Feedback Mechanisms
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
11. The Cell Cycle
Overview
Phases of the Cell Cycle
Regulation of the Cell Cycle, Cancer, and Apoptosis
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
Unit 5: Heredity
12. Meiosis and Genetic Diversity
Overview
How Meiosis Works
How Meiosis Generates Genetic Diversity
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
13. Mendelian Genetics and Probability
Overview
Mendelian Genetics
Probability in Genetics Problems
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
14. Non-Mendelian Genetics
Overview
Linked Genes
Multiple Gene Inheritance
Nonnuclear Inheritance
Phenotype = Genotype + Environment
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation
15. DNA, RNA, and DNA Replication
Overview
Structure of DNA and RNA
DNA Replication
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
16. Transcription and Translation
Overview
Transcription in Prokaryotes vs. Transcription in Eukaryotes
Translation
Flow of Information from the Nucleus to the Cell Membrane
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
17. Regulation and Mutations
Overview
Regulation of Gene Expression in Prokaryotes
Regulation of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes
Gene Expression Helps Cells Specialize
Mutations
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
18. Biotechnology
Overview
Bacterial Transformation
Gel Electrophoresis
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
CRISPR-Cas9
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
Unit 7: Natural Selection
19. Types of Selection
Overview
Evidence of Evolution
Natural Selection
Artificial Selection
Sexual Selection
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
20. Population Genetics
Overview
Population Genetics and Genetic Drift
Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
21. Phylogeny, Speciation, and Extinction
Overview
Phylogeny and Common Ancestry
Speciation
Extinction
Modern-Day Examples of Continuing Evolution
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
Unit 8: Ecology
22. The Basics of Ecology
Overview
How Organisms Respond to Changes in the Environment
Energy Flow Through Ecosystems
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
23. Population Ecology, Community Ecology, and Biodiversity
Overview
Population Ecology
K-Selected vs. r-Selected Populations
Community Ecology and Simpson’s Diversity Index
Biodiversity
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
Lab Review
24. Labs
Overview
Lab 1: Artificial Selection
Lab 2: Hardy-Weinberg
Lab 3: BLAST
Lab 4: Diffusion and Osmosis
Lab 5: Photosynthesis
Lab 6: Cellular Respiration
Lab 7: Mitosis and Meiosis
Lab 8: Bacterial Transformation
Lab 9: Restriction Enzyme Analysis of DNA
Lab 10: Energy Dynamics
Lab 11: Transpiration
Lab 12: Fruit Fly Behavior
Lab 13: Enzyme Activity
Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
Practice Tests
Practice Test 1
Section I: Multiple-Choice
Section II: Free-Response
Answer Explanations
Practice Test 2
Section I: Multiple-Choice
Section II: Free-Response
Answer Explanations
Appendices
A. Frequently Used Formulas and Equations
B. Choosing the Right Graph in AP Biology