WGU C190 Introduction to Biology
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_5vn25v
1. Biology: the scientific study of life
2. Characteristics of Life: 1. Be made of materials organized in a hierarchical pattern.
2. Use energy and raw materials to survive
3. Sense and respond to changing environments and maintain internal stability, or homeostasis.
4. Grow, develop, and reproduce.
5. Be part of a population that evolves.
3. The Cell: the smallest unit that displays all characteristics of life
4. Matter: Any substance that has mass and takes up space. All matter can be classified as biotic or abiotic.
5. Biotic: Living or having lived
6. Abiotic: nonliving and never have been alive
7. Atom: Basic unit of matter
8. Molecule: a chemical structure consisting of at least two atoms held together by a chemical bond
9. Macromolecules: Technically polymers, made by combining smaller units called monomers. (Example
-Deoxyrbonucleic Acid [DNA])
10. Two main types of cells: Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic
11. Prokaryote: Small and simple, do not have clearly defined compartments inside of them
12. Eukaryotes: organisms made up of one or more cells that have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles
13. Organelles: compartments inside of the cell that contain specific groups of macromolecules and carry out
specific cellular functions.
14. microorganism: single-celled life forms
15. Tissues: A group of similar cells that perform the same function.
16. Organs: A collection of tissues that work together to carry out a common general function.
17. organ system: the higher level of organization that consists of functionally related organs
18. Organism: individual living entity that survive and reproduce as a unit
19. Population: all the individuals of a species living in a specific area
20. Community: All the different populations that live together in an area
21. Ecosystem: Consists of all the living things in a particular area together with the abiotic parts of that
environment.
22. Biosphere: the of all ecosystems on Earth. Includes all habitable zones on the planet, including land, soil, rocks
the Earth's crust, water and ice, and the atmosphere.
23. Organization of Biosphere: Molecule, Cell, Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem
24. Homeostasis: the ability to maintain a stable internal environment
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, WGU C190 Introduction to Biology
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_5vn25v
25. Nutrient: Any matter an organism needs but cannot make for itself
26. Waste: Matter that is not used by an organism tat is excreted
27. Energy: the capacity to do work or to make a change in the location, temperature, or structure of matter.
28. Evolution: Scientific theory that explains how and why life changes over time.
29. natural selection: A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and
reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.
30. sceintific inquiry: an approach to asking and answering questions
31. Protons: Positively charged particles
32. Neutrons: the particles of the nucleus that have a neutral charge
33. electron: A subatomic particle that has a negative charge
34. covalent bond: A chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule
35. ionic bond: A chemical bond resulting from the attraction between oppositely charged ions.
36. hydrogen bond: weak attraction between a hydrogen atom and another atom
37. organic molecules: contain skeleton structures of carbon with hydrogen and oxygen
38. inorganic molecules: non-carbon based molecules
39. monomers: A chemical subunit that serves as a building block of a polymer.
40. polymer: A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together.
41. Carbohydrates: (sugars)store energy; provide structural support; facilitate communication
42. lipids: (fatty acids) provide energy (long term); serve as structural components of membranes
43. nucleic acids: (nucleotides) store genetic information, used in protein synthesis
44. proteins: (amino acids) serve as structural components of tissues; facilitate and speed up biochemical reactions
(enzymes); participate in communication
45. cell membrane: provides a barrier between the interior and exterior of the cell it regulates the flow of
substances in and out of the cell
46. Cytoplasm: fluid inside the cell in which the chemical reactions that enabe life take place
47. Ribosomes: build all the proteins needed by the cell
48. cell wall: strong, supporting layer around the cell membrane in some cells
49. flagellum: a slender threadlike structure, especially a microscopic whiplike appendage that enables many
protozoa, bacteria, spermatozoa, etc., to swim.
50. Nucleus: Control center of the cell. Contains DNA.
51. nuclear envelope: A double membrane that surrounds the nucleus in the cell
52. Mitochondria: Powerhouse of the cell, organelle that is the site of ATP (energy) production
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Study online at https://quizlet.com/_5vn25v
1. Biology: the scientific study of life
2. Characteristics of Life: 1. Be made of materials organized in a hierarchical pattern.
2. Use energy and raw materials to survive
3. Sense and respond to changing environments and maintain internal stability, or homeostasis.
4. Grow, develop, and reproduce.
5. Be part of a population that evolves.
3. The Cell: the smallest unit that displays all characteristics of life
4. Matter: Any substance that has mass and takes up space. All matter can be classified as biotic or abiotic.
5. Biotic: Living or having lived
6. Abiotic: nonliving and never have been alive
7. Atom: Basic unit of matter
8. Molecule: a chemical structure consisting of at least two atoms held together by a chemical bond
9. Macromolecules: Technically polymers, made by combining smaller units called monomers. (Example
-Deoxyrbonucleic Acid [DNA])
10. Two main types of cells: Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic
11. Prokaryote: Small and simple, do not have clearly defined compartments inside of them
12. Eukaryotes: organisms made up of one or more cells that have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles
13. Organelles: compartments inside of the cell that contain specific groups of macromolecules and carry out
specific cellular functions.
14. microorganism: single-celled life forms
15. Tissues: A group of similar cells that perform the same function.
16. Organs: A collection of tissues that work together to carry out a common general function.
17. organ system: the higher level of organization that consists of functionally related organs
18. Organism: individual living entity that survive and reproduce as a unit
19. Population: all the individuals of a species living in a specific area
20. Community: All the different populations that live together in an area
21. Ecosystem: Consists of all the living things in a particular area together with the abiotic parts of that
environment.
22. Biosphere: the of all ecosystems on Earth. Includes all habitable zones on the planet, including land, soil, rocks
the Earth's crust, water and ice, and the atmosphere.
23. Organization of Biosphere: Molecule, Cell, Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem
24. Homeostasis: the ability to maintain a stable internal environment
1/5
, WGU C190 Introduction to Biology
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_5vn25v
25. Nutrient: Any matter an organism needs but cannot make for itself
26. Waste: Matter that is not used by an organism tat is excreted
27. Energy: the capacity to do work or to make a change in the location, temperature, or structure of matter.
28. Evolution: Scientific theory that explains how and why life changes over time.
29. natural selection: A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and
reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.
30. sceintific inquiry: an approach to asking and answering questions
31. Protons: Positively charged particles
32. Neutrons: the particles of the nucleus that have a neutral charge
33. electron: A subatomic particle that has a negative charge
34. covalent bond: A chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule
35. ionic bond: A chemical bond resulting from the attraction between oppositely charged ions.
36. hydrogen bond: weak attraction between a hydrogen atom and another atom
37. organic molecules: contain skeleton structures of carbon with hydrogen and oxygen
38. inorganic molecules: non-carbon based molecules
39. monomers: A chemical subunit that serves as a building block of a polymer.
40. polymer: A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together.
41. Carbohydrates: (sugars)store energy; provide structural support; facilitate communication
42. lipids: (fatty acids) provide energy (long term); serve as structural components of membranes
43. nucleic acids: (nucleotides) store genetic information, used in protein synthesis
44. proteins: (amino acids) serve as structural components of tissues; facilitate and speed up biochemical reactions
(enzymes); participate in communication
45. cell membrane: provides a barrier between the interior and exterior of the cell it regulates the flow of
substances in and out of the cell
46. Cytoplasm: fluid inside the cell in which the chemical reactions that enabe life take place
47. Ribosomes: build all the proteins needed by the cell
48. cell wall: strong, supporting layer around the cell membrane in some cells
49. flagellum: a slender threadlike structure, especially a microscopic whiplike appendage that enables many
protozoa, bacteria, spermatozoa, etc., to swim.
50. Nucleus: Control center of the cell. Contains DNA.
51. nuclear envelope: A double membrane that surrounds the nucleus in the cell
52. Mitochondria: Powerhouse of the cell, organelle that is the site of ATP (energy) production
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