WGU C190 OA BIO STUDY EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED
AND UPDATED)
Adaptation- - ANS The adjustment or changes in behavior, physiology, and structure of an
organism to become more suited to an environment.
Aerobic- - ANS A process that requires oxygen.
Allele -An alternative form of a gene. An example would be genes that encode eye color—some
encode blue eyes (one allele), while others encode brown, green, or hazel eye colors (other
alleles). - ANS
amino acids - - ANS A small organic molecule with the structure of an amino group, a
carboxylic acid group, and an "R" group, which are all bonded to a single central carbon atom.
The difference between the "R" group is what distinguishes one amino acid from another.
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
Anaerobic- - ANS A process that occurs without oxygen.
Anaphase- - ANS A stage within the mitosis phase of cell division (also known as cell
reproduction). Anaphase starts when sister chromatids separate from each other and ends
when each set of separated, sister chromatids arrives at the opposite poles of the cell.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,anaphase I- - ANS The third stage of Meiosis I—the two homologous chromosomes separate
and migrate toward opposite poles.
anaphase II- - ANS The third stage in Meiosis II—the centromeres separate and the sister
chromatids (now individual chromosomes) move toward the opposite poles of the cell.
artificial selection- - ANS Deliberate mating between two individuals who were selected
based on desired traits.
asexual reproduction - - ANS A type of reproduction where genetically identical offspring are
created from a single parent. This type of reproduction does not utilize meiosis or gametes.
Bacteria
and fungi are examples of organisms that reproduce in this manner. - ANS
Atom- - ANS The basic unit of matter that cannot be further broken down without losing its
unique properties. One atom consists of a dense nucleus surrounded by a cloud of electrons.
Autosomal- - ANS Describes a trait associated with alleles located on autosomes (non sex
chromosomes).
autosomal chromosome- - ANS A chromosome not involved in sex determination.
biogeochemical cycle- - ANS The processes that transfer chemical elements between biotic
and abiotic components in an ecosystem. There are several main cycles: the water cycle, the
carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, and the phosphorus cycle.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Biome- - ANS A large naturally occurring community of plants and animals occupying a major
habitat. Examples include tropical forest and arctic tundra.
Biomes- - ANS A pattern of distribution of ecosystems across the globe, where similar
environmental conditions lead to similar animal and plant adaptations. Examples of biomes
include tropical rainforests, deserts, and tundra.
biosphere- - ANS All areas on, within, and around the planet Earth that are capable of
supporting life.
Calvin cycle (Calvin-Ben - ANS son cycle or light-independent reaction)- The set of chemical
reactions that take place in chloroplasts during photosynthesis. The cycle is light-independent
because it takes place after the energy has been captured from sunlight. Also called Calvin-
Benson Cycle, Benson-Calvin Cycle.
Carbohydrates- - ANS The extracellular surface of the cell membrane is decorated with
carbohydrate groups attached to lipids and proteins. These short carbohydrates play a role in
giving a cell its identity (i.e., distinguishing self from non-self) and are the distinguishing factor
in human blood types.
carbon cycle- - ANS The biogeochemical cycle through which carbon flows between the
atmosphere, water, land, and ecosystems.
cell cycle- - ANS A series of phases in the life of the cell through which it grows and divides.
cell wall- - ANS Protective and reinforcing structure found in certain cells, situated outside
the plasma membrane. Bacterial cell walls are mainly built of peptidoglycan, although they may
also contain lipidic molecules. Among eukaryotes, plants and fungi possess cell walls, made of
cellulose and chitin, respectively.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, cellular respiration- - ANS Use of oxygen to release energy from nutrients; also called aerobic
respiration.
Centromere- - ANS A specific section of a chromosome where spindle fibers attach during cell
division; also the connection point of sister chromatids.
Chlorophyll- - ANS A plant pigment used to absorb light energy for photosynthesis.
Chlorophyll gives plants their green color because it absorbs red and blue light particularly well,
while reflecting green.
Chloroplast- - ANS An organelle found in plants and photosynthetic protists (single-celled
eukaryotic organisms) that contain pigments such as chlorophyl. Its primary function is to
capture solar energy and convert it into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis.
Chloroplast absorbs sunlight energy and uses the energy to power the synthesis of organic food
molecules (sugars). A chloroplast contains its own DNA as a single circular chromosome.
Sister Chromatid - - ANS One of two identical copies of a chromosome duplicated during the
S phase of the cell cycle. A centromere connects two sister chromatids together. When joined
together, sister chromatids compose one chromosome. Chromatids are separated from each
other during mitosis or meiosis II.
Citric acid cycle- - ANS The 2nd stage of aerobic cellular respiration that occurs when acetyl
CoA combines with a four-carbon molecule and goes through a cycle of reactions, ultimately
producing ATP, NADH, FADH2, and CO2.
climate change- - ANS It is the full range of climatic disruptions that have occurred as a
probable result of human alteration of the atmosphere. In other words, it is recent climate
warming—and weirdness—that is probably caused by human activities and technology use.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED
AND UPDATED)
Adaptation- - ANS The adjustment or changes in behavior, physiology, and structure of an
organism to become more suited to an environment.
Aerobic- - ANS A process that requires oxygen.
Allele -An alternative form of a gene. An example would be genes that encode eye color—some
encode blue eyes (one allele), while others encode brown, green, or hazel eye colors (other
alleles). - ANS
amino acids - - ANS A small organic molecule with the structure of an amino group, a
carboxylic acid group, and an "R" group, which are all bonded to a single central carbon atom.
The difference between the "R" group is what distinguishes one amino acid from another.
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
Anaerobic- - ANS A process that occurs without oxygen.
Anaphase- - ANS A stage within the mitosis phase of cell division (also known as cell
reproduction). Anaphase starts when sister chromatids separate from each other and ends
when each set of separated, sister chromatids arrives at the opposite poles of the cell.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,anaphase I- - ANS The third stage of Meiosis I—the two homologous chromosomes separate
and migrate toward opposite poles.
anaphase II- - ANS The third stage in Meiosis II—the centromeres separate and the sister
chromatids (now individual chromosomes) move toward the opposite poles of the cell.
artificial selection- - ANS Deliberate mating between two individuals who were selected
based on desired traits.
asexual reproduction - - ANS A type of reproduction where genetically identical offspring are
created from a single parent. This type of reproduction does not utilize meiosis or gametes.
Bacteria
and fungi are examples of organisms that reproduce in this manner. - ANS
Atom- - ANS The basic unit of matter that cannot be further broken down without losing its
unique properties. One atom consists of a dense nucleus surrounded by a cloud of electrons.
Autosomal- - ANS Describes a trait associated with alleles located on autosomes (non sex
chromosomes).
autosomal chromosome- - ANS A chromosome not involved in sex determination.
biogeochemical cycle- - ANS The processes that transfer chemical elements between biotic
and abiotic components in an ecosystem. There are several main cycles: the water cycle, the
carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, and the phosphorus cycle.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Biome- - ANS A large naturally occurring community of plants and animals occupying a major
habitat. Examples include tropical forest and arctic tundra.
Biomes- - ANS A pattern of distribution of ecosystems across the globe, where similar
environmental conditions lead to similar animal and plant adaptations. Examples of biomes
include tropical rainforests, deserts, and tundra.
biosphere- - ANS All areas on, within, and around the planet Earth that are capable of
supporting life.
Calvin cycle (Calvin-Ben - ANS son cycle or light-independent reaction)- The set of chemical
reactions that take place in chloroplasts during photosynthesis. The cycle is light-independent
because it takes place after the energy has been captured from sunlight. Also called Calvin-
Benson Cycle, Benson-Calvin Cycle.
Carbohydrates- - ANS The extracellular surface of the cell membrane is decorated with
carbohydrate groups attached to lipids and proteins. These short carbohydrates play a role in
giving a cell its identity (i.e., distinguishing self from non-self) and are the distinguishing factor
in human blood types.
carbon cycle- - ANS The biogeochemical cycle through which carbon flows between the
atmosphere, water, land, and ecosystems.
cell cycle- - ANS A series of phases in the life of the cell through which it grows and divides.
cell wall- - ANS Protective and reinforcing structure found in certain cells, situated outside
the plasma membrane. Bacterial cell walls are mainly built of peptidoglycan, although they may
also contain lipidic molecules. Among eukaryotes, plants and fungi possess cell walls, made of
cellulose and chitin, respectively.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, cellular respiration- - ANS Use of oxygen to release energy from nutrients; also called aerobic
respiration.
Centromere- - ANS A specific section of a chromosome where spindle fibers attach during cell
division; also the connection point of sister chromatids.
Chlorophyll- - ANS A plant pigment used to absorb light energy for photosynthesis.
Chlorophyll gives plants their green color because it absorbs red and blue light particularly well,
while reflecting green.
Chloroplast- - ANS An organelle found in plants and photosynthetic protists (single-celled
eukaryotic organisms) that contain pigments such as chlorophyl. Its primary function is to
capture solar energy and convert it into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis.
Chloroplast absorbs sunlight energy and uses the energy to power the synthesis of organic food
molecules (sugars). A chloroplast contains its own DNA as a single circular chromosome.
Sister Chromatid - - ANS One of two identical copies of a chromosome duplicated during the
S phase of the cell cycle. A centromere connects two sister chromatids together. When joined
together, sister chromatids compose one chromosome. Chromatids are separated from each
other during mitosis or meiosis II.
Citric acid cycle- - ANS The 2nd stage of aerobic cellular respiration that occurs when acetyl
CoA combines with a four-carbon molecule and goes through a cycle of reactions, ultimately
producing ATP, NADH, FADH2, and CO2.
climate change- - ANS It is the full range of climatic disruptions that have occurred as a
probable result of human alteration of the atmosphere. In other words, it is recent climate
warming—and weirdness—that is probably caused by human activities and technology use.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
