Stay ConnectedThe APsolute RecAP: Biology Edition, written and hosted by Melanie Kingett, will be your guide to scoring the five! The APsolute RecAP is designed to maximize your understanding and minimize your need for memorization. Each episode will review content, skills and test taking tips to help you succeed in May.
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This episode is a teaser for our YouTube Channel where we recap the entire AP Bio curriculum. That’s right - all 8 units from start to finish with the top terms, concepts, and equations1 you need to remember for the exam in May.
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Melanie Kingett from the APsolute RecAP has joined the Ultimate Review Packet for AP Biology!
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The exam is almost here! Deep breath! It's one test, on one day. 90 minutes for 60 multiple choice and 90 minutes for 6 FRQs testing all 8 Units of Biology. Pace yourself and trust your gut. A few strategies to help you: Read and rank the FRQs (2:30). Answer the prompt (4:11). Read past unfamiliar terms (4:35). And don’t leave anything blank! (5:19)
The Question of the Day asks (6:29) True or False. Error bars are 2 times SEM above the average.
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Episode 81 will recap multiple topics - it’ our third Listener’s Choice Episode. Cladograms are branching diagrams that show common ancestry among groups of organisms. (0:46) Cellular respiration and photosynthesis are energy conversion processes - focus on what goes in, what comes out, where, and why. (2:07) Cell signaling involves reception, transduction and response. (3:22) DNA replication is semiconservative and involves several enzymes. (5:38) And the central dogma has information flow from DNA to RNA to protein. (7:05)
The Question of the Day asks (9:13) Which DNA strand is synthesized faster - leading or lagging?
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In AP Biology - Science skill number 5 is titled statistical tests and data analysis. On test day, have your calculator handy and check your equations and formulas sheet. Always make your math have meaning through analysis, biological application and units. This episode recaps probability (1:41), standard deviation (2:38), error bars (3:09) and Chi-Square hypothesis testing (3:38).
The Question of the Day asks (9:30) A normal mother and colorblind father have a boy and a girl. What is the chance their son is colorblind?
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Communities with greater biodiversity are more resistant to ecosystem disruptions and environmental change. (1:00) Some community interactions are permanent, having evolved dependency over many many years with symbiosis. (2:22) A niche is the role or job that an organism has within an ecosystem (4:21).
The Question of the Day asks (6:22) The clownfish hides within the anemone and excretes wastes within it. What type of symbiotic relationship is this?
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The APsolute Recap: Biology Edition - Biodiversity
What is an ecosystem? Ecosystems have biotic and abiotic components working together in a system (0:54). The more diverse an ecosystem is, the more resilient it is during environmental changes. (1:27) Both biotic and abiotic factors play a role in maintaining species diversity and the keystone species is the lynch pin. (2:13)
The Question of the Day asks (6:35) Approximately how much energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next?
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Graphs and ecology - they go together like predator and prey. Episode 77 recAPs the four equations discussed in Unit 8 - population growth (1:11), exponential growth (2:42), logistic growth (5:00) and Simpson’s Diversity Index (6:26). Get your calculator ready for some practice examples!
The Question of the Day asks (9:01) Autotrophic organisms that capture energy from small inorganic compounds are classified as these.
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What does the fox say? ALOT! Each yip, growl, howl and cry is a response to a stimulus in its environment and aids in the fox’s survival and overall reproductive success. (0:30) Survive long enough to pass on those genes and use every trick in your biological power to do so (1:39). Melanie recAPs a variety of examples ranging from phototropism (2:13) and shark blood detection (4:30) to honeybees (5:56).
The Question of the Day asks (7:53) This is the state animals enter when they lower their metabolic rate in summer months.
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Evolution doesn’t have goals or dated deadlines, but simply responds to environmental change. Seen through continual changes in genotypic frequencies (1:09), the fossil record (2:01) and antibiotic resistance (4:26) - evolution isn’t about the destination, but the pathway of change.
The Question of the Day asks (7:45) N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide is an insect repellent developed by the US Army in 1946. What is it commonly known as?
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Everything is connected and the evidence is overwhelming. You are in the Domain Eukarya, Kingdom animalia – but the common ancestor of all eukaryotes was the OG with membrane bound organelles (1:02), linear chromosomes (2:47) and genes that contain introns(4:51). Each piece of structural and process evidence on the molecular and cellular level supports the common ancestry of all eukaryotes.
The Question of the Day asks (7:25) Collectively, what is a stack of thylakoids called?
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Join Melanie on a 5K in episode 73. Phylogeny studies the evolutionary history amongst groups of organisms. It tells the story of relatedness, the branches in the road. (1:37). Be careful - just because two organisms are physically adjacent on a diagram, does not mean they are more closely related (4:05). The episode concludes with unit connections and exam tips (5:34).
The Question of the Day asks (6:50) Ernst Haeckel coined the phrase “ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny.” What is ontogeny?
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It is not practical to perform a Punnett square analysis on all possible combinations of all members of a population (1:24). Enter the Hardy-Weinberg equation! The Hardy-Weinberg equation is a tool biologists use not only to make predictions about a population but also to show whether or not the population is evolving. There are 5 conditions that must be met for this to be true. (2:14) Melanie break’s down the H-W equation variables and walks you through an example problem. (5:25)
The Question of the Day asks (7:25) What type of genetic drift occurs when a small group of individuals gets separated from a large population?
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Search for signs of life in Episode 71. Do you know the primordial soup recipe? (1:05) Melanie recaps the when (1:46) and how (2:38) life may have begun. Scientists have gathered evidence and created models to describe their thinking (4:29).
The Question of the Day asks (7:35) T/F - The first organisms on earth were likely anerobic.
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You have enough DNA in your body to stretch to the sun and back over sixty times. And your cells need to copy it all! Episode 70 recaps the primary enzymes in DNA replication: topoisomerase (3:53), helicase (4:24), DNA polymerase (5:11), and ligase (6:11).
The Question of the Day asks (7:36) When comparing pentose sugars, on which carbon does ribose have a hydroxyl group where deoxyribose does not?
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Melanie gets poetic in Episode 69. Roses are red, violets are blue. If a promoter is blocked this may be untrue. Make sure to appropriately distinguish between genes and alleles (1:59). Gene expression occurs at many levels, all of which are essential in producing an organism’s phenotype (3:03). The episode concludes with a recap of the Lac Operon - everyone’s favorite bacterial gene expression example (6:17).
The Question of the Day asks (8:31) In the Lac Operon, is the promoter upstream or downstream from the operator?
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Episode 68 explores how does the structure of DNA influence the process of replication and transcription. Beginning with cell cycle placement (1:20), Melanie then distinguishes between quantity of synthesis (2:21). Zoom in further to draw 5’ to 3’ on a nucleotide (3:12). Lastly, the episode contrasts enzymes, cell types and Chargaff’s rules (5:55).
The Question of the Day asks (10:10) Which nitrogenous bases are classified as purines?
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UGA and listen to Episode 67! Translation - it's kind of like riding a bike. Once you learn how, you never forget. This episode is all about codons - what they are (1:13), where they come from (2:08), how to read them, and what happens if there's a mistake (5:18).
The Question of the Day asks (8:08) What is the greatest number of codons that give the same amino acid?
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Episode 66 is going to make all your puppy dreams come true! Beginning with a word nerd moment before completing a Labrador dihybrid cross (1:15). Epistatic interactions don’t always have to be in opposition, as explained in a wheat color dihybrid cross (5:07). Melanie concludes with unit and exam connections (6:13).
The Question of the Day asks (7:08) What famous mouse study connects epigenetics, diet and obesity?
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Move aside Mendel! Life isn’t all peas and carrots and some rules are made to be broken. Episode 65 recaps several patterns of non-Mendelian inheritance including incomplete dominance (1:59), multiple alleles and codominance (3:21), sex linked recessive traits (5:41), recombinants (7:14) and polygenetic traits (8:14). Get ready to practice your Punnett squares!
The Question of the Day asks (9:39) What organism did Sir Thomas Hunt Morgan perform genetic experiments on while developing his chromosomal theory of inheritance?
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If I flip a coin, what are the chances it will land on heads? Find out all about probability according to Mendel in Episode 64. Two of Mendel’s major observations are highly rooted in meiosis and the manner in which homologous chromosomes separate (2:08). Get some Chi-Square testing with some awesome brave corn (4:34). The rules of probability can be applied to study the passing of single-gene traits through generations (7:06).
The Question of the Day asks (8:23) What male plant structure produces pollen?
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Even the closest siblings are genetically unique, thanks to a microscopic DNA dance known as meiosis. Episode 63 begins with a recap of chromosome structure and homologous pairs (1:48). In order to reduce the chromosomes number in half, the cells will need to go through PMAT twice. (2:53) When does meiosis occur and why are the haploid cells different? (7:19)
The Question of the Day asks (9:35) True or false? Mitochondria are inherited through egg and sperm.
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What did the cell say when her sister stepped on her foot? MY TOE, SIS! Episode 62 recaps the process of nuclear division which creates two identical diploid cells. (1:12) Mitosis has four main sequential events - prophase (3:57), metaphase (4:31), anaphase (5:10) and telophase (5:36).
The Question of the Day asks (7:20) What protein filament creates the contractile ring in animal cell cytokinesis?
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You have the ability to respond to stimuli on so many levels - molecular, cellular, physiological, and behavioral! (0:55) Maintaining internal conditions despite external and internal changes is the basis of homeostasis. There are two types of feedback mechanisms used by organisms - negative (2:30) and positive. (4:48) Homeostasis links to several units of study in the curriculum (5:37).
The Question of the Day asks (7:18) What paramecium organelle pumps out excess water when the cell is placed in a hypotonic environment?
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The cell cycle consists of interphase, mitosis and cytokinesis.(1:33) There are a number of internal checkpoints that regulate a cell's progression through the cell cycle, including cyclins(4:23) and Cdk complexes(5:23). These couple with phosphorylation to activate target proteins throughout the cell cycle.
The Question of the Day asks (7:38) Some cells, like neurons, exit the cell cycle prior to the S phase - what phase are they in?
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If you are ever lucky enough to have a major scientific discovery, you’d probably name it after yourself too. Melanie recaps each scientist's background (1:05) (4:26) before discussing the main events of the Calvin Cycle (1:40) and Krebs Cycle (5:02). The Calvin cycle forms sugars in the stroma of chloroplasts while the Krebs cycle oxidizes sugars in the matrix of mitochondria.
The Question of the Day asks (7:19) What group of biological molecules does the coenzyme NADH belong to?
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Like Pacman, enzymes have specific shapes, act on smaller molecules and can be destroyed by external factors. Enzymes are made of proteins - each having a unique structure for a specific function.(1:10) Melanie explains lactose intolerance (3:30) before straightening her hair for a night out (5:43). There are several environmental factors which influence enzyme functioning (6:41). Disrupt those hydrogen bonds or R group interactions and lose structure as well as function.
The Question of the Day asks (9:38)Which amino acid corresponds to the start codon - AUG?
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Electrons are going to enter a membranous pinball machine in episode 57. The electron transport chain is found in the process of photosynthesis (2:10) and the process of cellular respiration.(4:30) This recap will first focus on structure and function for each respective organelle before drawing similarities (7:34) and pointing out differences. The episode concludes with unit connections and exam tips! (8:29)
The Question of the Day asks (9:43) True or False?Sequentially, photosystem I precedes photosystem II in the thylakoid membrane ETC.
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Let’s put our sneakers on and go for a run while listening to Episode 56! Melanie begins by debunking some myths to make our chemistry and physics colleagues happy (1:30). Next, remember key activation energy concepts (2:43). Lastly, analyze two graphs to distinguish between energy storing and energy releasing reactions (4:36).
The Question of the Day asks (8:02) True or False? ΔG is constant in catalyzed and uncatalyzed reactions.
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Episode 55 recAPs the gummy bear experiment with potassium chloride - combustion! Combustion reactions are one subclass of oxidation-reduction reactions, or redox reactions for short. (1:00) Why aren’t our cells bursting into flames during cellular respiration?(4:08) Glucose is gradually oxidized through several steps during the process of glycolysis, pyruvate oxidation and the Krebs cycle (5:37).
The Question of the Day asks (8:03) Glucose is oxidized, what molecule is reduced in cellular respiration?
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It's important that cell membranes establish and maintain their internal environments through selective permeability.(1:40) There are three main types of active transport - membrane pumps,(2:45) endocytosis (5:37) and exocytosis.(6:30)
The Question of the Day asks (8:10) How is a cotransporter classified that moves molecules in opposite directions?
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Episode 53 brings biology, physics and chemistry all together to answer this age old question - why did the fart cross the room? Melanie begins by recapping the fluid mosaic model and kinetic energy (2:19). To get across the plasma membrane without the use of energy there are two options - sneak in between the phospholipids themselves (3:40) or use a transport protein (6:50). It's true - whoever smelt it most likely dealt it as solutes diffuse from high to low concentration.
The Question of the Day asks (9:08) Describe the cellular condition of a red blood cell placed in a hypertonic solution.
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The movement of materials through the endomembrane system is consistent through all eukaryotic cells. The episode begins with a wording deep dive (1:12) before some molecular story time (2:25). The endomembrane system includes the nuclear envelope, lysosomes, vesicles, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and plasma membrane (4:16). Melanie concludes the episode with unit and exam connections (5:50).
The Question of the Day asks (7:00) What is the internal space of the folded Golgi cisternae called?
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Remember when Pluto was a planet? Scientists continually restructure their way of thinking as they obtain more data. Taxonomy is the science of naming organisms while phylogeny groups them based on evolutionary relationships (1:16). King Phillip wasn’t always so dull, but as microscopic life was discovered, the manner of classifying and sorting organisms needed updating (2:38). Primary differences between domains and kingdoms are cell type, DNA organization, organelles, energy acquisition and cell wall composition (3:15). The episode wraps up with unit connections and exam expectations (6:44).
The Question of the Day asks (7:45) Amoebas use pseudopods for motility and ingestion. What cellular structure forms the temporary pseudopods?
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All living things are categorized into one of two cell types: prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Melanie begins Episode 50 with a nerdy word dive (1:13) before distinguishing between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells (2:04). Settle in for endosymbiosis story time!(5:02) The episode wraps up with unit connections and exam expectations (6:42).
The Question of the Day asks (7:58) The liver has many functions, one of which is to process alcohol and detoxify the blood. Which organelle would you expect to find in greater quantity within liver cells?
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Episode 49 recaps these very diverse group of hydrophobic, nonpolar molecules. Although all containing the elements C, H and O (1:10), lipids are categorized into distinct groups: fats (2:00), waxes (4:00), phospholipids (4:40) and steroids (5:48). Can you distinguish between a saturated and unsaturated fatty acid chain? Melanie wraps up the episode with Unit Connections and describes several exam exclusions (6:08).
The Question of the Day asks (7:20) Besides lipids, what other group of biological molecules forms hormones?
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Formed by autotrophs and disassembled by nearly all living things - carbohydrates are the primary source of chemical energy for the cell. The elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are generally found in a 1:2:1 ratio in a carbohydrate (1:00). Carbohydrates primary function is to serve as a cellular fuel as monosaccharides (1:30) and disaccharides (2:46) whereas polysaccharides provide energy storage and structural support (3:38). It is important for organisms to have an appropriate amount of glucose available for cellular respiration (4:00).
The Question of the Day asks (6:19) When a glucose ring has the hydroxyl group on the same side as the CH2OH, it is in this form.
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While the traditional health food pyramid has really gone out the window, there is little argument that lean proteins are essential to a balanced diet. Proteins were almost crowned king of the biological molecules during the quest for heredity (1:06). Their diversity in structure is the greatest of all the biological molecules (2:35) with four levels as it bends and folds in upon itself (4:22). Proteins have a variety of functions, such as support, transport, recognition, movement, and communication (5:15).
The Question of the Day asks (8:02) How many stop codons are there?
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Biology returns with Season 2! Thank you for helping us reach 31,000 downloads. Make sure to check out our website for more courses, episode study guides, virtual classrooms and tutoring (1:00). Support your favorite podcast and rock a nerdy t-shirt with our newly launched merch! (2:20) You can expect season two to take a deeper dive into cross-unit topics and integrate FRQ practice. (2:50)
The Question of the Day asks (3:23) When is the 2021 AP Biology exam?
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Melanie ventures into the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse in Episode 45. Life always finds a way. The genetic variations organisms have are random - accumulated through mutation and other meiotic chance (1:43). Competition and cooperation are important aspects of biological systems - but the playing field isn’t fair when an invasive species shows up (2:40). Who knew mussels could cause so much damage? (4:15) Humans haven’t been the kindest to the environment and our impact on ecosystems is well documented (5:10). Geological and meteorological activity also leads to changes in ecosystem structure and dynamics. Have you heard of the year without a summer? (7:10)
The Question of the Day asks (8:45) During what era are we currently living on the geologic time scale?
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Population ecology is the study of factors that affect a population and how and why a population changes over time. Individual organisms interact with one another and with the environment in very complex ways (1:40). Population growth dynamics depend on a number of factors (2:30) and may result in exponential or logarithmic growth. if the ecosystem stays relatively stable, we can expect the growth rate to also stay the same. But upset the apple cart with other influencing factors, floods, famines, disease, invasive predator - and the r value will also change (4:50). The population cannot increase indefinitely - but reaches a carrying capacity (5:30).
The Question of the Day asks (6:42) What type of species (r or k selected) has less offspring and includes parental care?
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We require a constant input of energy to maintain organization, grow and reproduce. Some organisms are able to maintain their body temperature internally, whereas others rely on the environment (1:15). Organisms have evolved unique reproductive strategies in response to energy availability (2:40). A net gain in energy results in energy storage or growth whereas a net loss of energy results in loss of mass and, ultimately, the death of an organism (3:40). In the natural world, organisms need maximum efficiency and energy storage strategies. Mufassa’s circle of life in the Lion King was somewhat accurate (4:40)
The Question of the Day asks (6:05) How many Joules are in a kilocalorie?
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Isn’t evolution “just” a theory? Scientific theories are broadly accepted, combine multiple hypotheses and an abundance of evidence to explain a phenomenon about the natural world. Episode 42 recAPs the multitude of evidence supporting the theory of evolution. Zoom in to review biogeography (2:14), the fossil record (3:00), homologous structures (4:00) vestigial structures (4:55), and molecular evidence (5:38).
The Question of the Day asks (7:20) What was the superocean called from Wegener’s Continental Drift Hypothesis?
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Episode 41 recAPs the random side of evolution. Melanie begins with a vocab review - allele, gene, heterozygous (1:00). This episode is about population genetics because populations are the level of ecological organization where evolution occurs (1:40). Mutations are the primary source of genetic variation, providing new phenotypes on which natural selection can act (2:40). It's important to distinguish between gene flow and genetic drift (3:24). Two types of genetic drift are the bottleneck effect (4:10) and the founder effect (4:50).
The Question of the Day asks (6:30) “What do the p and q represent in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
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Episode 40 recAPs Chucky D and Natural Selection. “Nothing in biology makes sense, except in the light of evolution” (1:30). Charles Darwin was not the first to propose the theory of natural selection (2:00). Competition for limited resources results in differential survival and reproduction (3:00). #thestruggleisreal. Pesticide resistance models natural selection action (4:30).
The Question of the Day asks (6:12) “Which finch phenotype did Darwin most study?”
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Melanie recAPs the 2020 AP Bio Exam experience in Episode 39. The exam included two FRQs with differential weighting and three different submission options (1:00). The exam had several levels of test security (2:20). The AP exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5 and are not curved (3:00). You earn points for correctly responding to every action verb in the question (4:15). The College Board has announced an Exception Testing window! (5:00). Third times a charm?
The Question of the Day asks (5:52) “What AP score do you need to receive college credit?”
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Episode 38 is our second listener’s choice recAP from Instagram topic requests. Pedigrees are used to study the pattern of inheritance of a particular trait through several generations in a family (1:20). Signal transduction pathways link signal reception of a ligand with a cellular response through phosphorylation (2:38). Cellular respiration oxidizes glucose to form ATP (3:30). Eukaryotic gene regulation occurs throughout the central dogma (4:50). Successful FRQ writing involves intentional application of your words (5:44).
The Question of the Day asks (7:14) “What is a prokaryote cluster of genes called when it has a single promoter? ”
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Sexual reproduction increases genetic diversity in Episode 37. Chromosomes are tightly coiled DNA (1:00) and organized in homologous pairs (1:45). The three primary sources of variation within the population are chromosome segregation, independent assortment, and random fertilization (2:15). Do you remember Mendel’s laws? Some chromosomal errors cause genetic disorders (3:20). We can use pedigrees to find patterns in genetic traits (4:20).
The Question of the Day asks (5:42) “During what phase of meiosis does crossing over occur? ”
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It’s all about maintaining homeostasis in Episode 36! Neurons are specialized cells for conducting electrical signals and releasing chemical neurotransmitters (2:02). Axons conduct an action potential through the movement of sodium and potassium ions (3:00). The message changes from electrical to chemical at a synapse (4:30). Neurotransmitters act as ligands, binding to the postsynaptic membrane (5:20).
The Question of the Day asks (6:44) “Which autoimmune disorder degrades the myelin sheath of an axon? ”
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Episode 35 reviews graphing essentials and the relationship to energy. It's important to use the most appropriate graph for the data set (1:10). Do you remember DRY MIX TAILS? (1:50) Energy can be transferred and transformed, but not created or destroyed. (3:00) Imagine yourself walking along an energy graph, over the activation energy hill, and then either up to a plateau for endergonic or down to a valley for exergonic reactions (4:20). Match each graph with a reaction you are already familiar with.
The Question of the Day asks (6:21) “What does ADP stand for?”
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Episode 34 finds the similarities and differences between chloroplasts and mitochondria. The endosymbiosis theory states that these energy transducers were once independent prokaryotes (1:38). Chloroplasts capture light energy in photosynthesis (2:20). Mitochondria break down sugars in cellular respiration (4:00). There are many commonalities between each organelle’s structure and function.
The Question of the Day asks (6:35) “What are the alternate names for the Krebs cycle”?
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Episode 33 recAPs genetic engineering techniques of biotechnology. Electrophoresis separates molecular fragments according to size and charge visually (1:00). PCR amplifies DNA fragments, making thousands of copies from even the smallest sample (2:35). Bacterial transformation introduces foreign DNA into bacterial cells (4:00). DNA sequencing is a part of biotechnology, but typically not working with an entire genome at one time (6:15).
The Question of the Day asks (8:08) “Which cells in the human body do NOT contain nuclear DNA?
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It’s the battle of the nucleic acids in Episode 32! DNA may have all the information, but RNA does all the work. DNA and RNA are made of nucleotide monomers (1:05). DNA and RNA nucleotides differ in their pentose sugar (1:55) and pyrimidine base ( 3:00). DNA forms an antiparallel double helix (3:50) compared to the single strand RNA (5:05), forming mRNA, rRNA and tRNA.
The Question of the Day asks (6:44) “Nucleic acids are one of two biological molecules that contain the element nitrogen. What is the other?”
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You hear mutations - but we hear variation! Mutations have several causes and can be positive, neutral or negative to the phenotype. Grab a recap of the Central Dogma before diving in (1:40). Distinguish between point mutations and frameshift mutations (2:50). Mutations have a strong correlation to evolution(3:40). Prokaryotes have been around a long time, with many reproductive techniques (5:08). Genotypic changes are also the result of errors in cell division, as with non-disjunction (5:40).
The Question of the Day asks (6:25) “What metal atom is bound to a heme group in hemoglobin?”
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“Water water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.” Episode 30 reviews the passive transport of water and the calculation of water potential - with many water sound effects! Hypertonic solutions have a greater concentration of solutes than a hypotonic solution (1:30). It does not end well for a paramecium placed in freshwater (2:15). Water potential allows us to predict the movement of water (4:00) and is measured in bars. Don’t memorize any equations! (5:20)
The Question of the Day asks (6:56) “What is the process called when a cell membrane pulls away from a plant cell wall after being placed in a hypertonic solution?”
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Melanie wants you to be prepared and calm on May 18th! Episode 29 recAPs test taking tips appropriate to the digital platform. You need to practice timed FRQs in the same location and with the same resources as exam day (1:06). Stop studying and go to bed! (1:45) You can either type or hand write your responses, but don’t work in the redzone (2:40). Keep scrap paper, a calculator and minimal resources nearby during the test (3:50) There won’t be much time to look up answers. Make sure you address the task verbs in the questions with full sentences (5:40). Technical catastrophe on test day - reach out to the CB for a re-test (6:00).
The Question of the Day asks (6:47) T/F - You can complete the two FRQs in any order.
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Episode 28 recAPs some of the great scientific minds of history. Atoms are the building blocks of matter, with work by greats such as Dalton, Rutherford, and Bohr (1:08). Gregor Mendel is now renowned as the father of heredity, but began as a pea farmer (2:30). DNA was identified as the molecule of heredity by comparing chemical properties through experiments by Griffith, Avery, Hershey and Chase (3:28). You likely remember Watson and Crick’s double helix model, but what about Franklin and Chargaff? (4:30). No episode on scientists is complete without mentioning Charles Darwin and the theory of evolution by natural selection (5:37).
The Question of the Day asks (7:03) “What mainland South American country is closest to the Galapagos Islands? ”
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Episode 27 recaps the connection between the coronavirus and the content on the AP Bio exam. Viruses are nonliving agents (1:05) with a hijacking infection strategy. Coronaviruses are named for their club-like proteins sticking out from the surface (2:45). The viral RNA genome is translated by host cell ribosomes (4:20). Biotechnology, like PCR, is used to test for viral presence in test swabs (5:20). Viral genomes are able to evolve over time, with high mutation rates (5:55).
The Question of the Day asks (7:12) “What do we call the branch of medicine that studies the distribution and control of disease?”
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Episode 26 is our first listener’s choice episode! The first recAP is about membrane proteins - both structure and function (1:18). Second, a biotechnology refresher with discussion of bacterial transformation, electrophoresis, and PCR (3:10). Lastly, Melanie reviews each scientist’s contribution to the discovery of DNA as the hereditary molecule (5:51).
The Question of the Day asks (7:40) “What percentage of DNA is made of nitrogen?”
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Episode 25 recAPs the understandings behind the equations and formula sheet. Topics for discussion are: surface area to volume ratio (1:00), water and solute potential (2:02), laws of probability (3:30), standard deviation and standard error of the mean (4:20), and chi square (5:20). Always make your math have meaning through analysis, biological application, and units!
The Question of the Day asks (7:10) “What is the greek letter for summation?”
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Only two FRQs? - Piece of cake! Episode 24 discusses the FRQs on the 2020 exam (1:05) with a few tips and tricks. Practice makes comfort! Set up your exam space now and practice with a timer (2:44). Complete those practice questions in two different colors, to reflect on your timed answers (3:20). Learn how to translate the questions out of AP language and into “I’m sitting at home with my dog” language (4:05). Don’t have science vomit with your words! (4:40). Scrap paper may also be useful.
The Question of the Day asks (5:41) “Which Science Practice skill will not be represented on the 2020 exam?”
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How many lab experiments did you complete this year? Episode 23 recAPs the lab manual published by the College Board. Each lab is reviewed with the guiding question, procedure rundown, and quantitative skills. Labs 1-3 focus on Big Idea #1: Evolution(1:30). Labs 4-6 focus on Big Idea #2: Energetics (3:30). Labs 7-9 focus on Big Idea #3: Information Storage and Transmission (6:18). Labs 10-13 focus on Big Idea #4: Systems Interactions (9:12).
The Question of the Day asks (12:24) “What do error bars represent?”
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Deep breath! Episode 22 answers all of your questions about the updated exam structure. When is the exam going to be? (1:12) What is the exam going to cover?(1:46) How is the exam going to be structured? (2:20) What device should I use? (3:22) What about test security? (4:30) Will scoring be different? (5:11). Give it your best!
The Question of the Day asks (5:50) “What type of calculator will you need for the exam?”
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Operons! Get your operons here! Episode 21 explains how the same DNA instructions can indicate Gene regulation begins with chromatin structure (1:40). DNA has areas of regulatory sequences which control transcription (2:30). Don’t get lost in the promotor, regulator, activator lingo - but focus on the effect of molecules interacting with the DNA strand (4:00). Regulation can also occur through alternative splicing of an mRNA transcript (4:30). Melanie concludes by recapping the learning objectives from the CED (5:05)
The Question of the Day asks (6:48) “What is the effect of a nucleotide insertion or deletion?”
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Episode 20 dives into all things transcription and translation with the Central Dogma! Don’t forget that you are what your proteins produce. The mRNA transcript is named after the Latin word for writing (1:50). RNA Polymerase will synthesize mRNA in the 5’-3’ direction, just like DNA polymerase. Do you know Chargaff’s rules? (3:22). The mRNA transcript will need to go through modification as it exits the nuclear pore (3:40). Translation involves mRNA, rRNA and tRNA to form the polypeptide (4:50). Almost all organisms use the same genetic code which supports common ancestry (6:00).
The Question of the Day asks (6:48) “Which enzyme copies the viral RNA genome into DNA for the assembly of new viral progeny?”
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Melanie recAPs DNA Replication by reviewing the role of enzymes. DNA Replication is semiconservative and occurs during the S phase of the cell cycle in eukaryotic cells (1:20). How does the structure of DNA influence the process of replication? (1:40) The CED requires you to know the function of the following enzymes: topoisomerase (2:38), helicase (2:48), DNA polymerase (3:25), and ligase (4:35). There are distinctions between replication patterns in prokaryotes and eukaryotes (5:00).
The Question of the Day asks (5:39) “What is the condensed, identical DNA strand called during mitosis?”
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Episode 18 recAPs all things Mendelian and Non-Mendelian in the genetics world. It's important to remember the Law of Independent Assortment and Law of Segregation when reviewing pea experiments (1:30). Do you know what Pater and Filius mean in Latin? (2:00) The classic monohybrid flower example is broken down with a Punnett square walk through and vocabulary reminders (2:30). Always go back and reread the genetics problem when you think you’ve solved it! (4:00) Melanie concludes the episode by providing heredity examples of Non-Mendelian genetics (5:00). Don’t forget that mitochondria and chloroplasts have their own genes! (5:55)
The Question of the Day asks (6:40) “Explain how sexual reproduction increases genetic variation.”
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Melanie recaps DNA in all its coiled and condensed forms during Episode 17. Beginning on the most microscopic level, (1:27) Melanie reviews the nucleotide monomer structure. You can create an antiparallel model with your own arms (2:45). Do you prefer a history or chemistry themed memory hack for nitrogenous bases? (3:40). DNA wraps around histones to form chromatin before condensing into chromosomes. The episode concludes with a contrast between prokaryotic and eukaryotic chromosome structure. (6:22)
The Question of the Day asks (6:19) “Which nitrogenous base is unique to RNA?”
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Episode 16 gets some swanky tunes for sex cell and fertilization discussions (1:00). PMAT is coming back into play with new terminology of haploid and homologous pairs. Melanie begins with a recAP of Meiosis (2:39) before contrasting the two cellular division pathways(4:33). There are two main contributors to genetic variation through meiotic pathways (3:14). Melanie recommends organizing this information in a table when studying!
The Question of the Day asks (5:30) “When do human egg cells complete Meiosis II?”
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Melanie reviews several reasons for cell division in Episode 15. The cell cycle contains three main parts: interphase (2:00), mitosis (3:27), and cytokinesis (5:08). Did you know that some cells never finish the cell cycle? (3:15). PMAT will guide you through the stages of mitosis (3:50). Cytokinesis strategies differ in animal and plant cells (5:12). Under normal conditions, the cell cycle is regulated by a series of protein complexes and signals (5:44).
The Question of the Day asks (6:57) “What organelle produces vesicles to deposit the cell plate?”
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In Episode 14, Melanie explains why your parents are always telling you to put on a sweatshirt rather than adjust the thermostat in your house! Break it down into stimulus and response (1:41). The two types of feedback mechanisms are discussed by mechanism, their effect on homeostasis and with examples. Negative feedback (2:16) returns conditions to homeostasis while positive (4:22) feedback intentionally changes conditions from a set point.
The Question of the Day (5:50) asks “The onset of labor in childbirth is an example of what type of feedback?”
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In Episode 13, Melanie recAPs the ways in which cells communicate through cellular signals, called ligands. Do you remember playing telephone as a kid?(1:15) Cellular communication is achieved through reception, (1:46) transduction, (2:40) and response (3:27). Signals are classified by the distance that the message has to travel (3:46). Much like the game of telephone, messages are sometimes modified or interrupted (4:51).
The Question of the Day (5:45) asks “Which two enzymes are involved in the phosphorylation cascade?”
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Episode 12 begins with a Latin lesson, spirare. Melanie pulls the oldest three stooges trick in the book to remind students of the products of cellular respiration (1:25). The star of the show is introduced (2:20) with a reminder of the importance of surface area to volume ratios. Cellular respiration is explored in three steps: Glycolysis (2:50), the Krebs Cycle (3:55), and ETC (5:08). Melanie checks in on the tallies of reactants and products (4:43). Don’t forget that oxygen is the final electron acceptor! (5:40). Deep breath in, deep breath out - Repeat as needed (6:35).
The Question of the Day (7:13) asks “Which step of cellular respiration will still occur under anaerobic conditions?”
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Deep breath! Episode 11 will recAP photosynthesis - the process of converting light energy into chemical energy. Do you know why plants are green? (1:18) Melanie provides an overview of the chemical equation (1:35) before drawing an analogy between the chloroplast and a favorite breakfast treat (2:10). Photosynthesis is divided into two stages - the light and dark reactions (2:40). She warns you of a common student error with remembering coenzymes (3:10). Don’t get lost in all the details with a check in on reactants and products (4:12). Melanie gives a study tip to compare light and dark reactions (5:53).
The Question of the Day (6:08) asks “How is the light reaction dependent on the Calvin Cycle?”
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Melanie balances the world of physics with biology in Episode 10. We don’t want to break the Laws of Thermodynamics! (1:20). She then debunks the definition of an enzyme (3:00) while riding a rollercoaster. Don’t forget that enzymes are not used up during a reaction and are substrate and condition specific (4:00), Melanie describes a “toothpickase” hand example to dig deeper into environmental effects on enzyme function (4:55). She explains how other molecules may also compete for active site binding (5:40) in an inhibitory or regulatory way.
The Question of the Day (6:43) asks “ Which will cause a linear increase in reaction rate and why? Increasing substrate concentration? Or increasing enzyme concentration?
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In Episode 9, Melanie reviews all things transport - active and passive. Do you know who is invited to the party? (0:45). Molecular chemistry will greatly influence the method of transport (1:40). She distinguishes between active and passive transport, with multiple examples (2:20). Sounds like a great time to take a deep breath and make a cup of tea (2:48). Moving big things all at once will require vesicles (4:19) with endo and exocytosis. Melanie warns you of a common misconception! (4:39).
The Question of the Day (5:34) asks “What is the effect of cholesterol in the phospholipid membrane?
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Episode 8 will recap how cell organization is crucial to efficient functioning. Melanie distinguishes between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells in domain and design (1:07). Ribosomes are found in all cells (2:22) and manufacturers protein. Membrane bound organelles are made of phospholipids, just like cellular membranes (2:58). Rapid fire review of common organelles in name, structure and function (3:25): Smooth ER, Rough ER, Golgi Complex, lysosome, vacuole mitochondria, and chloroplast. She shares two resources to help gain perspective on the complexity and impressive machinery of the cell - bring on the VR goggles! (6:31)
The Question of the Day (7:20) asks “Which of the six kingdoms have cells that never have cell walls?
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We find out why there are no elephant sized Amoebas in Episode 7. Melanie begins with recapping the difference between the definitions of surface area and volume (1:27). The first APsolute RecAP CHALLENGE is announced! (2:30). Visit a Starbucks and be sure to email your submissions by April 15, 2020 for a chance to win a personalized exam prep podcast. Get a rundown of calculation variables and equations (3:18). Don’t forget that cells function best with the greatest surface area to volume ratio ( 4:28). Melanie makes us get caught in concert traffic (4:47) before sharing some efficient human examples of large surface area adaptations (5:42).
The Question of the Day (6:50) asks “Which has a greater surface area to volume ratio - a spherical cell with a radius of 50 um or 20 um?”
Thank you for listening to The APsolute RecAP: Biology Edition!
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In Episode 6, Melanie recaps elements of life and shares two mnemonics - OSHMERG (1:03) and CHNOPS (4:00). She begins with the definition of matter and reviews its role in growth. Can you describe the atomic structure (2:09) and its role in bonding? Metabolism misconceptions are debunked (2:38) - even though students can eat an entire pizza. What do you think of when you hear the word organic? (3:20) The six most common elements of life are reviewed and distinctly associated with the four biological molecules. (4:12)
The Question of the Day (5:28) asks “How is the periodic table organized?”
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We learn that you are what you eat in Episode 5. Melanie explores the four types of biological molecules in both structure and function. Kick it off with proteins (1:20) which have the greatest diversity in structure and function due to R-groups chemistry (2:49). Melanie reminds us of the elemental ratios in carbohydrates and to notice the pattern of an -ose ending (4:10). She also recAPs the diversity and characteristics of lipids - Do you remember what saturated fatty acids are? (4:40). Don’t forget the crucial role of phospholipids in the formation of membranes (6:05). She takes us back to kindergarten (6:26) to recall nucleotide arrangement. Did you count how many times the cow mooed?
The Question of the Day (8:19) asks “Which category of biological molecules is ATP found in?.Thank you for listening to The APsolute RecAP: Biology Edition!
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Episode 4 is all about WATER! In the first of the content episodes, we zoom in to the elemental level and discuss water structure and its correlating properties. Melanie tells you to think of a familiar Disney character (1:48) and has you sketching water polarity (2:40). She shares some word reminders to tell the difference between cohesion and adhesion (4:30) with some real world examples. Have you ever seen an insect walk on water? (6:18) Melanie shares a fun fact for the rock collectors (6:37) and describes water’s role in monomer/polymer formations (7:10)
The Question of the Day (9:13) asks “Describe how the properties of water contribute to maintaining homeostasis.”
Thank you for listening to The APsolute RecAP: Biology Edition!
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In this pilot episode, Melanie unpacks the AP Program and describes how the newly designed Biology Exam is structured for 2020. Students learn how to keep an appropriate pace on the multiple choice section (1:17) and some tips for practice (2:10). She explains that not all FRQ questions are valued the same and require active responses (2:56). Melanie gives away a teacher secret (3:08) and reminds students what to bring on the day of the exam (3:30). How many questions do you need to get correct (3:48)? Don’t forget to complete your Progress Checks (5:00) to shape your study strategy.
The Question of the Day (6:02) asks “T/F - You can earn partial credit on the multiple choice and the FRQ section of the exam.”
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In this episode, Melanie explains the main themes and skills that students will continually see throughout all eight units of the course. The four Big Ideas have specific abbreviations in the CED (1:40). She reminds students of buzzwords (2:20) and the common theme of structure and function (3:47). The six science practices that students need to demonstrate on the exam are unpacked (4:52) with examples on how to improve each skill. She reminds you to bring meaning to numbers and graph by hand (7:43).
The Question of the Day (9:38) asks “In the free response section, which science skill is most commonly represented?”
Thank you for listening to The APsolute RecAP: Biology Edition!
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In Episode 3, Melanie draws the line between what you need to know and what you don’t. Don’t worry about the extra information in your textbook! The eight units on the CED can be learned in any order and will often have math requirements. Biology begins with chemistry (1:55) which will influence how things function on a larger ecological scale (5:30) It is important to focus on the big picture (3:17).
The Question of the Day (6:12) asks “Which unit is most heavily weighted on the exam?”
Thank you for listening to The APsolute RecAP: Biology Edition!
(AP is a registered trademark of the College Board and is not affiliated with The APsolute RecAP. Copyright 2020 - The APsolute RecAP, LLC. All rights reserved.)
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The APsolute RecAP: Biology Edition, hosted by Melanie Kingett, will be your guide to scoring the five! The APsolute RecAP is designed to maximize your understanding and minimize your need for memorization. Each episode will review content, skills and test taking tips to help you succeed in May.
Please follow us on Instagram @TheAPsoluteRecAP. If you're a student with questions or a teacher with suggestions, we'd love to hear from you! If you have a Biology topic, or another AP subject you would like us to cover on The APsolute RecAP, please email us at TheAPsoluteRecAP@gmail.com.
Thank you for listening to The APsolute RecAP: Biology Edition!
(AP is a registered trademark of the College Board and is not affiliated with The APsolute RecAP. Copyright 2020 - The APsolute RecAP, LLC. All rights reserved.)
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