Bio WGU study for OA c190 QUESTION AND CORRECT ANSWER Latest update 2023

Adaptation- - correct answersThe adjustment or changes in behavior, physiology, and structure of an organism to become more suited to an environment. Aerobic- - correct answersA 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). - correct answers amino acids - - correct answersA 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- - correct answersA process that occurs without oxygen. Anaphase- - correct answersA 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. anaphase I- - correct answersThe third stage of Meiosis I—the two homologous chromosomes separate and migrate toward opposite poles. anaphase II- - correct answersThe 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- - correct answersDeliberate mating between two individuals who were selected based on desired traits. asexual reproduction - - correct answersA 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. - correct answers Atom- - correct answersThe 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- - correct answersDescribes a trait associated with alleles located on autosomes (non sex chromosomes). autosomal chromosome- - correct answersA chromosome not involved in sex determination. biogeochemical cycle- - correct answersThe 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. Biome- - correct answersA large naturally occurring community of plants and animals occupying a major habitat. Examples include tropical forest and arctic tundra. Biomes- - correct answersA 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- - correct answersAll areas on, within, and around the planet Earth that are capable of supporting life. Calvin cycle (Calvin-Ben - correct answersson 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- - correct answersThe 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- - correct answersThe biogeochemical cycle through which carbon flows between the atmosphere, water, land, and ecosystems. cell cycle- - correct answersA series of phases in the life of the cell through which it grows and divides. cell wall- - correct answersProtective 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. cellular respiration- - correct answersUse of oxygen to release energy from nutrients; also called aerobic respiration. Centromere- - correct answersA specific section of a chromosome where spindle fibers attach during cell division; also the connection point of sister chromatids. Chlorophyll- - correct answersA 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- - correct answersAn 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 - - correct answersOne 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- - correct answersThe 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- - correct answersIt 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. Codominance- - correct answersA form of dominance where both alleles of a gene pair in a heterozygote are fully expressed. This results in offspring with a phenotype that is neither dominant nor recessive. A typical example showing codominance is the ABO blood group system. Codons- - correct answersA sequence of three nucleotides in an mRNA molecule that specifies which amino acid should be added to a growing polypeptide chain. Commensalism- - correct answersA symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and the other does not, but also is not harmed. Competition- - correct answersA type of interspecific interaction where both species are harmed. complementary base pairing- - correct answersDescribes the hydrogen bonding that occurs between specific nucleotides on opposing strands of DNA or RNA. In DNA, adenine is paired with thymine, and guanine is paired with cytosine. When RNA is made from DNA, adenine is paired with uracil, and guanine is paired with cytosine. Consumers- - correct answersAn organism that must eat or absorb complex food molecules derived from the bodies of other organisms. Consumers get their energy and nutrients from such food molecules. Humans and other animals are consumers, as are fungi and most bacteria. covalent bonds- - correct answersCovalent bonds represent the sharing of the electrons (negatively charged subatomic particles between atoms). The number of covalent bonds that can form is dictated by the number of unpaired electrons in the outer valence shell of the atom. Cytoplasm- - correct answersThe substance that fills the inside contents of a cell between the plasma membrane and the nucleus. Contains a semifluid medium, composed mainly of water, and organelles (organelles are present only if it is a eukaryotic cell). Cytoskeleton- - correct answersA eukaryotic cell structure formed by a series of protein filaments. The cytoskeleton is a scaffold for the cell structure and a framework for many cellular activities, including movement and cell division. Decomposer- - correct answersBacteria and fungi that colonize dead material and absorb food molecules from it. deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)- - correct answersA nucleic acid polymer that contains the genetic instructions for all living organisms. DNA is composed of two strands of nucleotides that are intertwined in a double helix. Detritivores- - correct answersAnimals that feed on dead organic matter. Some detritivores specialize on eating dead animals (e.g., vultures) and others feed on dead plant material (e.g., earthworms). Disaccharide- - correct answersA carbohydrate made of two monosaccharides linked together by a covalent bond. Two common disaccharides are sucrose and lactose. glucose + fructose = Sucrose (table sugar) glucose + galactose = Lactose (milk sugar) DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid- - correct answersThe nucleic acid that contains genetic instructions for making RNA and, ultimately, proteins in all living organisms. DNA is composed of two strands of nucleotides, which are intertwined in a double helix. Ecology- - correct answersThe branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings. ecosystem diversity- - correct answersThe variety of distinct ecosystem types (habitats) within a region. In some places a wide array of habitats can form a diverse patchwork of life. electron transport chain- - correct answersThe last stage of aerobic cellular respiration where the NADH and FADH2 made in other steps deposit their electrons. As electrons move down the chain, energy is released and used to move protons across the mitochondrial membrane to form ATP. At the end of this process, oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor to form water. Electronegativity- - correct answersThe tendancy of an atom to hold shared electrons more close to its nucleus. Atoms like oxygen have a high electronegativity. This means when oxygen forms a covalent bond with an atom of lower electronegativity, the shared electrons will stay closer to the oxygen atom than to the other atom. Strongly electronegative atoms bonded to weakly electronegative hydrogen atoms, in a molecule, result in hydrogen bonding. The most important strongly electronegative elements in biological systems are oxygen and nitrogen. Electrons - - correct answersNegatively charged subatomic particle that occupies shells surrounding the nucleus and has a mass that is so small it is considered to be zero. Endocytosis- - correct answersThe movement of materials into the cytoplasm of a cell via vesicles or vacuoles. endoplasmic reticulum (ER)- - correct answersAn organelle made up of a series of sacs and tubes that assemble other cellular components. There are two types of endoplasmic reticulum: rough and smooth. Rough ER has ribosomes embedded in it and plays an important role in protein synthesis. Smooth ER, which does not have ribosomes, has different functions such as the synthesis of lipids. eukaryotic cells- - correct answersA type of cell that has a membrane-enclosed nucleus and other membrane-enclosed structures (called organelles) such as mitochondria, chloroplasts, cytoskeleton, and the Golgi apparatus. All organisms except bacteria and archaea are composed of eukaryotic cells (also referred to as eukaryotes); that is, all species of animal, plants, and fungi are composed of eukaryotic cells. Exocytosis- - correct answersThe movement of materials out of the cytoplasm of a cell via membranous vesicles or vacuoles. FADH2- - correct answersOne of the electron carrier molecules produced in the Krebs cycle of aerobic cellular respiration. It is transferred to the electron transport chain where the electrons are used to generate ATP. Fats- - correct answersA type of lipid composed of glycerol and saturated fatty acids; typically solid at room temperature. Fermentation- - correct answersFermentation breaks down organic molecules and stores energy as ATP. Fermentation reactions do not require oxygen, and they do not break down all glucose fully to carbon dioxide. Instead, they end with organic molecules that still contain considerable chemical potential energy. Such pathways produce only a tiny amount of ATP compared to aerobic cellular respiration. Fermentation can produce a variety of end products including lactic acid, ethanol, and others. Fitness- - correct answersA measure of reproductive success in organisms. If an individual has high fitness, it has been able to reproduce and pass on its traits to its offspring. Flagella: Flagellum (plural flagella) - - correct answersA long whip-like projection used in moving the cell from one place to another. It can be found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. A cell may have one or more flagella. fossil record- - correct answersThe total number of fossils that have been discovered, as well as to the information derived from them. foundation species- - correct answersA species that are physically dominant (largest and/or most abundant) in communities. G1- - correct answersThe first growth phase of Interphase in the cell cycle when the cells increase in size and make proteins and organelles needed for normal cellular functions. G2- - correct answersThe 2nd growth phase of Interphase in the cell cycle where the DNA and the cell is checked to ensure it is ready to undergo cell division. Gamete- - correct answersA haploid, sex cell (egg or sperm) produced from germ cells that have undergone meiosis. When two gametes join in fertilization, the resulting zygote is a complete diploid cell. gene flow- - correct answersThe result of fertile members of a species moving into or out of a population. genetic diversity- - correct answersDiversity in a population due to many different genetic traits being present. A population with high amounts of allele variety has high genetic diversity.