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 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?”
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
Follow Us:
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?”
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
Follow Us:
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?”
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
Follow Us:
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?”
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
Follow Us:
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?”
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
Follow Us:
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?
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
Follow Us:
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?
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
Follow Us:
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?
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
Follow Us:
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!
(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
Follow Us:
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?”
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
Follow Us:
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
