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AP Biology Concept List

380 concept labels for the AP Biology learning graph. Each label is in Title Case and does not exceed 32 characters.

Unit 1: Scientific Foundations and Chemistry of Life (Concepts 1–47)

  1. Scientific Method
  2. Hypothesis Testing
  3. Controlled Experiments
  4. Independent and Dependent Variables
  5. Systems Thinking
  6. Critical Thinking
  7. Detecting Misinformation
  8. Atomic Structure
  9. Elements of Life
  10. Chemical Bonds
  11. Ionic Bonds
  12. Covalent Bonds
  13. Hydrogen Bonds
  14. Van der Waals Forces
  15. Water Polarity
  16. Cohesion and Adhesion
  17. Surface Tension
  18. Specific Heat Capacity
  19. Water as Universal Solvent
  20. Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic
  21. Acid-Base Chemistry
  22. pH Scale
  23. Buffers
  24. Organic Chemistry Basics
  25. Functional Groups
  26. Polymers and Monomers
  27. Condensation Reactions
  28. Hydrolysis Reactions
  29. Carbohydrates
  30. Monosaccharides
  31. Disaccharides
  32. Polysaccharides
  33. Glycosidic Bonds
  34. Lipids
  35. Fatty Acids
  36. Saturated and Unsaturated Fats
  37. Triglycerides
  38. Phospholipids
  39. Sterols and Cholesterol
  40. Proteins
  41. Amino Acids
  42. Peptide Bonds
  43. Primary Protein Structure
  44. Secondary Protein Structure
  45. Tertiary Protein Structure
  46. Quaternary Protein Structure
  47. Protein Denaturation
  48. Nucleic Acids
  49. Nucleotides
  50. DNA Structure

Unit 2: Cell Structure and Function (Concepts 48–90)

  1. RNA Structure
  2. Cell Theory
  3. Prokaryotic Cells
  4. Eukaryotic Cells
  5. Cell Size and Surface Area Ratio
  6. Plasma Membrane
  7. Fluid Mosaic Model
  8. Phospholipid Bilayer
  9. Membrane Proteins
  10. Cholesterol in Membranes
  11. Selective Permeability
  12. Passive Transport
  13. Diffusion
  14. Osmosis
  15. Water Potential
  16. Turgor Pressure
  17. Facilitated Diffusion
  18. Active Transport
  19. Sodium-Potassium Pump
  20. Endocytosis
  21. Exocytosis
  22. Phagocytosis
  23. Pinocytosis
  24. Nucleus
  25. Nuclear Envelope
  26. Nucleolus
  27. Endoplasmic Reticulum
  28. Rough ER
  29. Smooth ER
  30. Golgi Apparatus
  31. Lysosomes
  32. Vacuoles
  33. Mitochondria
  34. Chloroplasts
  35. Peroxisomes
  36. Cytoskeleton
  37. Microfilaments
  38. Microtubules
  39. Intermediate Filaments
  40. Cilia and Flagella
  41. Cell Wall
  42. Plasmodesmata
  43. Extracellular Matrix

Unit 3: Cellular Energetics (Concepts 91–145)

  1. Cell Junctions
  2. Thermodynamics
  3. First Law of Thermodynamics
  4. Second Law of Thermodynamics
  5. Entropy
  6. Free Energy (Gibbs)
  7. Exergonic Reactions
  8. Endergonic Reactions
  9. ATP Structure
  10. ATP Hydrolysis
  11. Coupled Reactions
  12. Redox Reactions
  13. Enzymes
  14. Active Site
  15. Enzyme-Substrate Complex
  16. Activation Energy
  17. Transition State
  18. Induced Fit Model
  19. Enzyme Cofactors and Coenzymes
  20. Competitive Inhibition
  21. Noncompetitive Inhibition
  22. Allosteric Regulation
  23. Feedback Inhibition
  24. Temperature and Enzyme Activity
  25. pH and Enzyme Activity
  26. Photosynthesis Overview
  27. Chlorophyll and Pigments
  28. Absorption Spectrum
  29. Photosystems I and II
  30. Light-Dependent Reactions
  31. Photolysis of Water
  32. Electron Transport Chain (Chloroplast)
  33. ATP Synthase
  34. Proton Gradient
  35. Calvin Cycle
  36. Carbon Fixation
  37. RuBisCO
  38. G3P and Sugar Production
  39. C3 Plants
  40. C4 Plants
  41. CAM Plants
  42. Photorespiration
  43. Cellular Respiration Overview
  44. Glycolysis
  45. Substrate-Level Phosphorylation
  46. Pyruvate Oxidation
  47. Acetyl-CoA
  48. Krebs Cycle
  49. Electron Transport Chain (Mitochond.)
  50. Oxidative Phosphorylation
  51. Chemiosmosis
  52. NADH and FADH2
  53. ATP Yield of Respiration
  54. Fermentation
  55. Lactic Acid Fermentation

Unit 4: Cell Communication and Cell Cycle (Concepts 146–175)

  1. Alcoholic Fermentation
  2. Cell Signaling Overview
  3. Signal Transduction
  4. Ligand-Receptor Binding
  5. Cell Surface Receptors
  6. G Protein-Coupled Receptors
  7. Receptor Tyrosine Kinases
  8. Intracellular Receptors
  9. Second Messengers
  10. cAMP Signaling
  11. Phosphorylation Cascades
  12. Signal Amplification
  13. Negative Feedback Loops
  14. Positive Feedback Loops
  15. Apoptosis
  16. Cell Cycle Overview
  17. G1 Phase
  18. S Phase
  19. G2 Phase
  20. Mitosis
  21. Prophase
  22. Metaphase
  23. Anaphase
  24. Telophase
  25. Cytokinesis
  26. Cell Cycle Checkpoints
  27. Cyclins and CDKs
  28. Proto-Oncogenes
  29. Tumor Suppressor Genes
  30. Cancer Biology

Unit 5: Heredity (Concepts 176–215)

  1. Contact Inhibition
  2. Meiosis Overview
  3. Meiosis I
  4. Meiosis II
  5. Synapsis and Tetrad Formation
  6. Crossing Over
  7. Chiasmata
  8. Genetic Recombination
  9. Haploid and Diploid Cells
  10. Gametes
  11. Fertilization
  12. Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance
  13. Mendel's Law of Segregation
  14. Mendel's Law of Indep. Assortment
  15. Dominant and Recessive Alleles
  16. Genotype and Phenotype
  17. Homozygous and Heterozygous
  18. Monohybrid Crosses
  19. Dihybrid Crosses
  20. Punnett Squares
  21. Test Crosses
  22. Incomplete Dominance
  23. Codominance
  24. Multiple Alleles
  25. Sex Determination
  26. Sex-Linked Traits
  27. X-Linked Inheritance
  28. Polygenic Inheritance
  29. Epistasis
  30. Pleiotropy
  31. Genetic Linkage
  32. Recombination Frequency
  33. Chromosomal Abnormalities
  34. Nondisjunction
  35. Aneuploidy
  36. Pedigree Analysis
  37. Chi-Square Statistical Test
  38. Standard Deviation
  39. Data Interpretation
  40. Graph Construction and Analysis

Unit 6: Gene Expression and Regulation (Concepts 216–270)

  1. DNA Double Helix
  2. Base Pairing Rules
  3. DNA Replication
  4. DNA Polymerase
  5. Semiconservative Replication
  6. Leading and Lagging Strands
  7. Okazaki Fragments
  8. DNA Proofreading and Repair
  9. Telomeres
  10. Transcription Overview
  11. RNA Polymerase
  12. Promoter Regions
  13. Transcription Termination
  14. mRNA Processing
  15. 5-Prime Cap and Poly-A Tail
  16. RNA Splicing
  17. Introns and Exons
  18. Alternative Splicing
  19. Translation Overview
  20. Ribosomes
  21. Codons and Anticodons
  22. tRNA Structure
  23. Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases
  24. Start and Stop Codons
  25. Genetic Code
  26. Polysomes
  27. Point Mutations
  28. Frameshift Mutations
  29. Silent Mutations
  30. Missense Mutations
  31. Nonsense Mutations
  32. Mutagens and DNA Damage
  33. Gene Regulation (Prokaryotes)
  34. Operons
  35. Lac Operon
  36. Trp Operon
  37. Gene Regulation (Eukaryotes)
  38. Transcription Factors
  39. Enhancers and Silencers
  40. Epigenetic Regulation
  41. DNA Methylation
  42. Histone Modification
  43. Chromatin Remodeling
  44. MicroRNAs
  45. Biotechnology Overview
  46. Restriction Enzymes
  47. Gel Electrophoresis
  48. PCR
  49. DNA Cloning
  50. Recombinant DNA Technology
  51. CRISPR-Cas9
  52. Gene Therapy Concepts
  53. DNA Sequencing
  54. Genomics Overview
  55. Bioinformatics Basics

Unit 7: Natural Selection and Evolution (Concepts 271–315)

  1. History of Evolutionary Thought
  2. Darwin's Observations
  3. Natural Selection
  4. Variation in Populations
  5. Heritability
  6. Relative Fitness
  7. Artificial Selection
  8. Fossil Record Evidence
  9. Relative and Absolute Dating
  10. Comparative Anatomy
  11. Homologous Structures
  12. Analogous Structures
  13. Vestigial Structures
  14. Comparative Embryology
  15. Molecular Evidence for Evolution
  16. Biogeography
  17. Population Genetics
  18. Allele Frequency
  19. Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium
  20. Hardy-Weinberg Assumptions
  21. Genetic Drift
  22. Founder Effect
  23. Bottleneck Effect
  24. Gene Flow
  25. Mutation and Evolution
  26. Sexual Selection
  27. Stabilizing Selection
  28. Directional Selection
  29. Disruptive Selection
  30. Speciation Overview
  31. Biological Species Concept
  32. Reproductive Isolation
  33. Prezygotic Barriers
  34. Postzygotic Barriers
  35. Allopatric Speciation
  36. Sympatric Speciation
  37. Adaptive Radiation
  38. Convergent Evolution
  39. Coevolution
  40. Phylogenetics
  41. Cladistics
  42. Cladograms
  43. Shared Derived Characters
  44. Molecular Clocks
  45. Macroevolution

Unit 8: Ecology (Concepts 316–350)

  1. Mass Extinctions
  2. Endosymbiotic Theory
  3. Origin of Eukaryotes
  4. Three Domains of Life
  5. Ecology Overview
  6. Levels of Ecological Organization
  7. Abiotic and Biotic Factors
  8. Population Ecology
  9. Population Density
  10. Dispersion Patterns
  11. Exponential Population Growth
  12. Logistic Population Growth
  13. Carrying Capacity
  14. Limiting Factors
  15. Density-Dependent Regulation
  16. Density-Independent Factors
  17. Survivorship Curves
  18. Life History Strategies
  19. r-Selection and K-Selection
  20. Community Ecology
  21. Interspecific Interactions
  22. Predation
  23. Herbivory
  24. Competition
  25. Competitive Exclusion Principle
  26. Resource Partitioning
  27. Ecological Niches
  28. Mutualism
  29. Commensalism
  30. Parasitism
  31. Keystone Species
  32. Trophic Cascades
  33. Ecological Succession
  34. Primary Succession
  35. Secondary Succession
  36. Climax Community
  37. Ecosystem Ecology
  38. Trophic Levels
  39. Food Chains and Food Webs
  40. Energy Flow in Ecosystems
  41. Ten Percent Energy Rule
  42. Primary Productivity
  43. Net Primary Productivity
  44. Biogeochemical Cycles
  45. Carbon Cycle
  46. Nitrogen Cycle
  47. Phosphorus Cycle
  48. Water Cycle
  49. Nitrogen Fixation
  50. Biomes Overview
  51. Terrestrial Biomes
  52. Aquatic Biomes
  53. Biodiversity
  54. Species Richness and Evenness
  55. Habitat Fragmentation
  56. Invasive Species
  57. Climate Change and Ecology
  58. Conservation Biology
  59. Island Biogeography
  60. Ecological Footprint
  61. Climate Change
  62. Global Warming