BIO WGU STUDY FOR OA C190QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS (2023/2024)(VERIFIED ANSWERS)
Adaptation- - ANSWER The adjustment or changes in behavior, physiology, and
structure of an organism to become more suited to an environment.
Aerobic- - ANSWER 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). - ANSWER
amino acids - - ANSWER 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- - ANSWER A process that occurs without oxygen.
Anaphase- - ANSWER 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.
anaphase I- - ANSWER The third stage of Meiosis I—the two homologous
chromosomes separate and migrate toward opposite poles.
anaphase II- - ANSWER 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- - ANSWER Deliberate mating between two individuals who were
selected based on desired traits.
asexual reproduction - - ANSWER 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. - ANSWER
Atom- - ANSWER 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- - ANSWER Describes a trait associated with alleles located on autosomes
(non sex chromosomes).
autosomal chromosome- - ANSWER A chromosome not involved in sex determination.
biogeochemical cycle- - ANSWER 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.
Biome- - ANSWER A large naturally occurring community of plants and animals
occupying a major habitat. Examples include tropical forest and arctic tundra.
Biomes- - ANSWER 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- - ANSWER All areas on, within, and around the planet Earth that are
capable of supporting life.
Calvin cycle (Calvin-Ben - ANSWER 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- - ANSWER 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- - ANSWER The biogeochemical cycle through which carbon flows
between the atmosphere, water, land, and ecosystems.
cell cycle- - ANSWER A series of phases in the life of the cell through which it grows
and divides.
cell wall- - ANSWER 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.
cellular respiration- - ANSWER Use of oxygen to release energy from nutrients; also
called aerobic respiration.
Centromere- - ANSWER A specific section of a chromosome where spindle fibers
attach during cell division; also the connection point of sister chromatids.
, Chlorophyll- - ANSWER 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- - ANSWER 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 - - ANSWER 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- - ANSWER 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- - ANSWER 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.
Codominance- - ANSWER A 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- - ANSWER A sequence of three nucleotides in an mRNA molecule that
specifies which amino acid should be added to a growing polypeptide chain.
Commensalism- - ANSWER A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and
the other does not, but also is not harmed.
Competition- - ANSWER A type of interspecific interaction where both species are
harmed.
complementary base pairing- - ANSWER Describes 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.
ANSWERS (2023/2024)(VERIFIED ANSWERS)
Adaptation- - ANSWER The adjustment or changes in behavior, physiology, and
structure of an organism to become more suited to an environment.
Aerobic- - ANSWER 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). - ANSWER
amino acids - - ANSWER 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- - ANSWER A process that occurs without oxygen.
Anaphase- - ANSWER 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.
anaphase I- - ANSWER The third stage of Meiosis I—the two homologous
chromosomes separate and migrate toward opposite poles.
anaphase II- - ANSWER 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- - ANSWER Deliberate mating between two individuals who were
selected based on desired traits.
asexual reproduction - - ANSWER 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. - ANSWER
Atom- - ANSWER 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- - ANSWER Describes a trait associated with alleles located on autosomes
(non sex chromosomes).
autosomal chromosome- - ANSWER A chromosome not involved in sex determination.
biogeochemical cycle- - ANSWER 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.
Biome- - ANSWER A large naturally occurring community of plants and animals
occupying a major habitat. Examples include tropical forest and arctic tundra.
Biomes- - ANSWER 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- - ANSWER All areas on, within, and around the planet Earth that are
capable of supporting life.
Calvin cycle (Calvin-Ben - ANSWER 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- - ANSWER 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- - ANSWER The biogeochemical cycle through which carbon flows
between the atmosphere, water, land, and ecosystems.
cell cycle- - ANSWER A series of phases in the life of the cell through which it grows
and divides.
cell wall- - ANSWER 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.
cellular respiration- - ANSWER Use of oxygen to release energy from nutrients; also
called aerobic respiration.
Centromere- - ANSWER A specific section of a chromosome where spindle fibers
attach during cell division; also the connection point of sister chromatids.
, Chlorophyll- - ANSWER 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- - ANSWER 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 - - ANSWER 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- - ANSWER 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- - ANSWER 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.
Codominance- - ANSWER A 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- - ANSWER A sequence of three nucleotides in an mRNA molecule that
specifies which amino acid should be added to a growing polypeptide chain.
Commensalism- - ANSWER A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and
the other does not, but also is not harmed.
Competition- - ANSWER A type of interspecific interaction where both species are
harmed.
complementary base pairing- - ANSWER Describes 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.
