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.
(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.)
Copyright: © 2023 The APsolute RecAP, LLC
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?
Thank you for listening to The APsolute RecAP: Biology Edition!
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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?
Thank you for listening to The APsolute RecAP: Biology Edition!
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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?
Thank you for listening to The APsolute RecAP: Biology Edition!
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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?”
Thank you for listening to The APsolute RecAP: Biology Edition!
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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?”
Thank you for listening to The APsolute RecAP: Biology Edition!
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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? ”
Thank you for listening to The APsolute RecAP: Biology Edition!
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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? ”
Thank you for listening to The APsolute RecAP: Biology Edition!
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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? ”
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.)
Website:
EMAIL:
TheAPsoluteRecAP@gmail.com
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