WGU C190 Introduction to Biology Study Guide

Biology - the scientific study of life 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. The Cell - the smallest unit that displays all characteristics of life Matter - Any substance that has mass and takes up space. All matter can be classified as biotic or abiotic. Biotic - Living or having lived Abiotic - nonliving and never have been alive Atom - Basic unit of matter Molecule - a chemical structure consisting of at least two atoms held together by a chemical bond Macromolecules - Technically polymers, made by combining smaller units called monomers. (Example -Deoxyrbonucleic Acid [DNA]) Two main types of cells - Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Prokaryote - Small and simple, do not have clearly defined compartments inside of them Eukaryotes - organisms made up of one or more cells that have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles Organelles - compartments inside of the cell that contain specific groups of macromolecules and carry out specific cellular functions. microorganism - single-celled life forms Tissues - A group of similar cells that perform the same function. Organs - A collection of tissues that work together to carry out a common general function. organ system - the higher level of organization that consists of functionally related organs Organism - individual living entity that survive and reproduce as a unit Population - all the individuals of a species living in a specific area Community - All the different populations that live together in an area Ecosystem - Consists of all the living things in a particular area together with the abiotic parts of that environment. 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. Organization of Biosphere - Molecule, Cell, Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem Homeostasis - the ability to maintain a stable internal environment Nutrient - Any matter an organism needs but cannot make for itself Waste - Matter that is not used by an organism tat is excreted Energy - the capacity to do work or to make a change in the location, temperature, or structure of matter. Evolution - Scientific theory that explains how and why life changes over time. 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. sceintific inquiry - an approach to asking and answering questions Protons - Positively charged particles Neutrons - the particles of the nucleus that have a neutral charge electron - A subatomic particle that has a negative charge covalent bond - A chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule