WGU C190 Intro to Biology

Abiotic - answer-Non-living, may be within or made by a living organism. Biotic - answer-Living. Matter is considered ______ if it was ever alive at some point in time Atom - answer-Smallest level. The basic unit of matter. Consists of a dense nucleus surrounded by electrons. Molecule - answer-Second level. A chemical structure consisting of at least two atoms held together by a chemical bond. Macromolecule - answer-Third level. Biologically important molecules that are technically polymers. Example: DNA. Cell - answer-Fourth level. The fundamental unit of life. Essentially a tiny droplet of water and other molecules enclosed by a fluid "skin" or membrane. The smallest and simplest entity that possesses all the characteristics of life. Organelle - answer-Fifth level. Compartments inside the cell that contain specific groups of macromolecules and carry out specific cellular functions. One of these organelles is the nucleus; it encloses the DNA within the cell. Microorganism - answer-Sixth level. Single-celled life form. Consists of just one cell and include unicellular organisms such as bacteria and protists. Tissue - answer-Seventh level. Formed when similar cells work together to fulfill the same detailed function. Organ - answer-Eighth level. Collections of tissues that work together to carry out a common general function. Present not only in higher level animals but also in plants. Organ System - answer-Ninth level. Consists of functionally related organs. Mammals have many. Organism - answer-Tenth Level. Individual living entities that survive and reproduce as a unit. For example, each tree in a forest. Population - answer-Eleventh level. Consists of all the individuals of a species living within a specific area. Community - answer-Twelfth level. Populations can interact with each other in positive and negative ways, and together they form this. Ecosystem - answer-Thirteenth level. Consists of all the living things in a particular area together with the abiotic, or nonliving, parts of that environment. Biosphere - answer-Fourteenth level. The highest level of organization in living systems. The collection of all ecosystems on Earth. Includes all habitable zones on the planet, including land, soil, and rocks to a great depth in the Earth's crust; water and ice; and the atmosphere to a great height. Emergent Properties - answer-Characteristics of a system that are not present in any of its component parts. Biology - answer-The scientific study of life and is the branch of science that studies living organisms and the way organisms interact with their environments. Homeostasis - answer-The ability or tendency of organisms and cells to maintain stable internal conditions. Nutrient - answer-Any matter an organism needs but cannot make for itself. Energy - answer-The capacity to do work or to make a change in the location, temperature, or structure of matter. Does not have mass and it does not take up space, but it can be measured in terms of what it does. Growth - answer-An increase in size. Development - answer-Structure and function change in an orderly way as an organism passes through its life cycle. An individual's pattern of _______ is partly determined by genetic instructions. Reproduction - answer-Occurs when an individual organism passes on its genetic information to a newly independent organism, or offspring. Evolution - answer-A scientific theory that explains how and why life changes over time. Provides the explanation for why all living organisms share profound similarities, and yet, the life forms on our planet are so incredibly diverse. Natural Selection - answer-Individuals are always a bit different from their parents and from each other, partly because of changes to their genes. These differences may be helpful or harmful to the individuals that inherit them. In nature, individuals often have very low odds of surviving to reproduce. Individuals with slightly harmful or even average characteristics might be less likely to make it, and those with traits that fit in very well with the local habitat will have the greatest chance to survive and reproduce. This sorting process goes on generation after generation. Atomic Mass - answer-The sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons. The mass of an atom. Atomic Number - answer-The number of protons in an atom, displayed for each atom in the periodic table. Chemical Bonds - answer-Attractions between atoms that hold atoms and molecules together. Covalent Bonds - answer-Strongest chemical bond. Occurs between atoms of in the same molecule. Electron pairs are shared, creating a strong bond between atoms. electron - answer-Subatomic particle, located in shells on the outside of the nucleus, has a negative charge and almost no mass. electronegativity - answer-A measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons. How strongly does an atoms attract bonding electrons to itself? element - answer-Atoms with unique properties, designated by the atomic number. hydrogen bond - answer-Weak chemical bond. Occurs between atoms in different molecules or parts of molecules. Weak electrostatic attraction between areas of molecules with opposite partial charges. ion - answer-Positively or negatively charged atom. ionic bond - answer-Moderately strong chemical bond. Occurs between atoms in the same molecule. Electrons transfer from one atom to another. isotope - answer-Any or two or more forms of a chemical element, having the same number of protons in the nucleus, or the same atomic number, but having different numbers of neutrons in the nucleus, or different atomic weights. matter - answer-Anything that occupies space and has mass. molecular formula - answer-A formula giving the number of atoms of each of the elements present in one molecule of a specific compound. neutron - answer-Subatomic particle, electrically neutral, located in the nucleus. Mass of one amu nucleus - answer-Center of the atom. Contains equal number of protons and neutrons. Periodic Table - answer-Chart organizing elements by atomic number and weight. proton - answer-Subatomic particle, located in the nucleus, with a positive charge. Mass of one amu. valence electron - answer-Electrons on the outermost shell of the atom. Involved in chemical bonds. Adhesion - answer-The attraction between water molecules and other molecules. Cohesion - answer-Water molecules are attracted to each other, keeping the molecules together. Hydrophilic - answer-Substances that will dissolve in water. Polar. They split into positive and negative ions and dissolve in water. Examples: sugars and alcohols. Hydrophobic - answer-Substances that do not dissolve in water. Non-polar. Examples: hydrocarbons and fatty acids. Surface Tension - answer-The capacity of a liquid's surface to resist being ruptured when placed under tension or stress. Solute - answer-The component(s) present in lower quantities. Solution - answer-Homogeneous mixtures, with 2 components: solvent and solutes. Solvent - answer-The component of the solution in the greatest quantity. Carbohydrate - answer-Biological macromolecule. Sugars. Essential for energy storage, cellular communication and structural support. Store energy; provide structural support; facilitate communication Chemical potential energy - answer-The energy stored in the chemical bonds of a substance. inorganic molecule - answer-Molecules like water, oxygen gas, carbon dioxide, and ionic salts. Relatively stable, simple, and store little chemical energy. lipid - answer-Biological macromolecules. Fatty acids. Essential for energy storage and maintaining a boundary between the living organism and its environment. Provide energy (long term); serve as structural components of membranes nucleic acid - answer-Biological macromolecules. Nucleotides. Essential for information storage within a cell and passing on this information to the next generation. Examples: DNA. Store genetic information, used in protein synthesis. organic molecule - answer-Any molecule that contains a carbon to hydrogen covalent bond. Often complex and many store a lot of chemical potential energy. Examples: glucose, methane, DNA, protein and fat. protein - answer-Biological macromolecules. Amino acids. Essential for carrying out most of the necessary functions of life. Serve as structural components of tissues; facilitate and speed up biochemical reactions (enzymes); participate in communication Dietary Fiber - answer-Indigestible carbohydrates, which cannot be degraded by human digestive enzymes. Disaccharide - answer-2 sugar subunits. Lactoss: dairy products. Sucrose: 'Table sugar', sugarcane, sugar beets, candy. Maltrose: germinating seeds, beer. Glycogen - answer-Polysaccharide. Mainly used for energy storage in animals. Monosaccharide - answer-Simple sugars. 1 sugar subunit. Glucose: many plants and fruits, honey, sports drinks. Fructos: fruit, honey, sweetener in many processed foods. Polysaccharide - answer-Complex carbohydrates. 3 or more sugar subunits. Starch: plants and roots, potatoes, wheat, corn, rice. Cellulose: plants. Starch - answer-Polysaccharides. Mainly used for energy storage in plants. Cholesterol - answer-Used to build steroid hormones, including testosterone and estradiol. Precursor to vitamins D & K. Helps in the absorption of fats from the digestive system into the body. In animals, maintains the proper consistency of the cell membrane. Endotherm - answer-Animals that live in cold polar regions, like penguins, whiles and seals. They have thick insulating 'blubber' beneath the skin. Fatty Acid - answer-Carboxylic acids consisting of hydrocarbon chain and a terminal carboxyl group, especially any of those occurring as esters in fats and oils. Lipoprotein - answer-Carrier that transports cholesterol around the body to the cells that need it. Phospholipid - answer-Type of Lipid. Provides structure to cell membranes; a protective barrier surrounding the cell or separating compartments and forming organelles within the cell. Ex: lipid bilayer membrane. Saturated Fat - answer-Have 3 fatty acid 'tails' - all of which are linear in shape. Compact shape helps them pack together efficiently and form a solid at room temperature. Steroid - answer-Type of lipid. Provides structure to membranes; regulates many developmental, metabolic and energy processes. Ex: Cholesterol; naturally occurring hormones like estrogen and testosterone. Triglyceride - answer-Type of lipid. Stores energy for use at a later time. Saturated fats, unsaturated fats, trans fats. Unsaturated Fat - answer-Have at least one fatty acid. 'Kinky' fatty acids. Do not pack into a regular structure and remain fluid at room temperature. Wax - answer-Type of lipid. Forms protective layers on plants and animals that repel water. Ex" Beeswax, bird feathers, carnauba wax, jojoba oil, lanolin. Active Site - answer-The binding site on enzymes. contains amino acids that both bind the substrate and aid in its conversion to product. Amino Acid - answer-Building block of proteins. A small organic chemical that is made up of four parts. One end has nitrogen-amino group, other end has carboxylic acid groups linked by a single carbon atom called the alpha carbon, and the variable 'R group' also attached to the alpha carbon. Catalyst - answer-A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change. Denatured State - answer-When a folded protein is unfolded but is irreversibly tangled, forming an aggregate and precipitating out of solution. Caused by extremes of temperature and ph. enzyme - answer-Proteins that catalyze chemical reactions by accelerating the rate at which chemical reactions take place in a cell. Ex: Amylase protein. peptide bond - answer-The bond between amino acids that make up proteins. protein - answer-Nitrogenous organic compound that consists of large molecules composed of one or more long chains of amino acids and are an essential part of all living organisms. substrate - answer-A substance on which an enzyme acts. Antibodie - answer-Proteins that identify and neutralize foreign substances. Ex: IgE Protein Hormone - answer-Proteins that regulate the rate of cell processes (growth, metabolism, development). Ex: insulin. Mechanical Protein - answer-Proteins that provide flexibility, elasticity, and support for movement. Ex: Actin and Myosin. Nutrient Protein - answer-Proteins that provide support for growth and overall health. Ex: casein Structural Protein - answer-Proteins that provide organisms with structure, support, and elasticity. Ex: collagen and keratin Transport Protein - answer-Proteins that carry substances from one part of the organism to another. ex: hemoglobin protein DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) - answer-the genetic material that stores information for making proteins in all living organisms. Stores and transmits inherited genetic information; and contains the coded directions for making proteins Nitrogenous base - answer-A type of organic molecule that consists of one or two ring structures. 5 types: adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, uracil. Nucleic acid - answer-macromolecules that carry out two main functions in the cell: storage of genetic information and synthesis of proteins. Nucleotide - answer-Base of nucleic acid. Chains of this make up nucleic acids. Contains a phosphate, a sugar and a nitrogenous base.