WGU C190 – Introduction to Biology 2025-2026 100% A+ Success
Guaranteed Complete Study Guide & Practice Questions
AbioticNon-living, may be within or made by a living organism. CORRECT ANSWER
Biotic Living. Matter is considered ______ if it was ever alive at some point in time CORRECT
ANSWER Atom Smallest level. The basic unit of matter. Consists of a dense nucleus
surrounded by electrons. CORRECT ANSWER Molecule Second level. A chemical
structure consisting of at least two atoms held together by a chemical bond. CORRECT
ANSWER MacromoleculeThird level. Biologically important molecules that are technically
polymers. Example: DNA. CORRECT ANSWER Cell 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.
CORRECT ANSWER Organelle 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. CORRECT ANSWER
Microorganism Sixth level. Single-celled life form. Consists of just one cell and include
unicellular organisms such as bacteria and protists. CORRECT ANSWER Tissue
Seventh level. Formed when similar cells work together to fulfill the same detailed
function. CORRECT ANSWER Organ 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. CORRECT ANSWER Organ System Ninth level. Consists of functionally
related organs. Mammals have many. CORRECT ANSWER Organism Tenth Level.
Individual living entities that survive and reproduce as a unit. For example, each tree in a forest.
CORRECT ANSWER Population Eleventh level. Consists of all the individuals of a species
living within a specific area. CORRECT ANSWER CommunityTwelfth level. Populations
can interact with each other in positive and negative ways, and together they form this.
CORRECT ANSWER Ecosystem Thirteenth level. Consists of all the living things in a
particular area together with the abiotic, or nonliving, parts of that environment. CORRECT
ANSWER Biosphere 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. CORRECT ANSWER Emergent Properties Characteristics
of a system that are not present in any of its component parts. CORRECT ANSWER Biology
The scientific study of life and is the branch of science that studies living organisms and
the way organisms interact with their environments. CORRECT ANSWER Homeostasis
The ability or tendency of organisms and cells to maintain stable internal conditions.
CORRECT ANSWER Nutrient Any matter an organism needs but cannot make for itself.
CORRECT ANSWER Energy 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. CORRECT ANSWER Growth An increase in
size. CORRECT ANSWER Development 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. CORRECT ANSWER Reproduction Occurs when
an individual organism passes on its genetic information to a newly independent organism, or
offspring. CORRECT ANSWER Evolution 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. CORRECT
ANSWER Natural Selection 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. CORRECT ANSWER Atomic Mass The sum of the number of protons and the
number of neutrons. The mass of an atom. CORRECT ANSWER Atomic Number The
number of protons in an atom, displayed for each atom in the periodic table. CORRECT
ANSWER Chemical Bonds Attractions between atoms that hold atoms and molecules
together. CORRECT ANSWER Covalent Bonds Strongest chemical bond. Occurs between
atoms of in the same molecule. Electron pairs are shared, creating a strong bond between atoms.
CORRECT ANSWER electron Subatomic particle, located in shells on the outside of the
, nucleus, has a negative charge and almost no mass. CORRECT ANSWER electronegativity
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? CORRECT ANSWER element Atoms
with unique properties, designated by the atomic number. CORRECT ANSWER hydrogen
bond Weak chemical bond. Occurs between atoms in different molecules or parts of molecules.
Weak electrostatic attraction between areas of molecules with opposite partial charges.
CORRECT ANSWER ion Positively or negatively charged atom. CORRECT ANSWER
ionic bond Moderately strong chemical bond. Occurs between atoms in the same molecule.
Electrons transfer from one atom to another. CORRECT ANSWER isotope 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. CORRECT ANSWER matter Anything that occupies space and has mass.
CORRECT ANSWER molecular formulaA formula giving the number of atoms of each of
the elements present in one molecule of a specific compound. CORRECT ANSWER neutron
Subatomic particle, electrically neutral, located in the nucleus. Mass of one amu
CORRECT ANSWER nucleus Center of the atom. Contains equal number of protons and
neutrons. CORRECT ANSWER Periodic Table Chart organizing elements by atomic
number and weight. CORRECT ANSWER proton Subatomic particle, located in the
nucleus, with a positive charge. Mass of one amu. CORRECT ANSWER valence electron
Electrons on the outermost shell of the atom. Involved in chemical bonds. CORRECT
ANSWER Adhesion The attraction between water molecules and other molecules.
CORRECT ANSWER Cohesion Water molecules are attracted to each other, keeping the
molecules together. CORRECT ANSWER Hydrophilic Substances that will dissolve in
water. Polar. They split into positive and negative ions and dissolve in water. Examples: sugars
and alcohols. CORRECT ANSWER Hydrophobic Substances that do not dissolve in
water. Non-polar. Examples: hydrocarbons and fatty acids. CORRECT ANSWER Surface
Tension The capacity of a liquid's surface to resist being ruptured when placed under
tension or stress. CORRECT ANSWER Solute The component(s) present in lower
quantities. CORRECT ANSWER Solution Homogeneous mixtures, with 2 components:
solvent and solutes. CORRECT ANSWER Solvent The component of the solution in the
greatest quantity. CORRECT ANSWER Carbohydrate Biological macromolecule. Sugars.
Guaranteed Complete Study Guide & Practice Questions
AbioticNon-living, may be within or made by a living organism. CORRECT ANSWER
Biotic Living. Matter is considered ______ if it was ever alive at some point in time CORRECT
ANSWER Atom Smallest level. The basic unit of matter. Consists of a dense nucleus
surrounded by electrons. CORRECT ANSWER Molecule Second level. A chemical
structure consisting of at least two atoms held together by a chemical bond. CORRECT
ANSWER MacromoleculeThird level. Biologically important molecules that are technically
polymers. Example: DNA. CORRECT ANSWER Cell 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.
CORRECT ANSWER Organelle 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. CORRECT ANSWER
Microorganism Sixth level. Single-celled life form. Consists of just one cell and include
unicellular organisms such as bacteria and protists. CORRECT ANSWER Tissue
Seventh level. Formed when similar cells work together to fulfill the same detailed
function. CORRECT ANSWER Organ 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. CORRECT ANSWER Organ System Ninth level. Consists of functionally
related organs. Mammals have many. CORRECT ANSWER Organism Tenth Level.
Individual living entities that survive and reproduce as a unit. For example, each tree in a forest.
CORRECT ANSWER Population Eleventh level. Consists of all the individuals of a species
living within a specific area. CORRECT ANSWER CommunityTwelfth level. Populations
can interact with each other in positive and negative ways, and together they form this.
CORRECT ANSWER Ecosystem Thirteenth level. Consists of all the living things in a
particular area together with the abiotic, or nonliving, parts of that environment. CORRECT
ANSWER Biosphere 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. CORRECT ANSWER Emergent Properties Characteristics
of a system that are not present in any of its component parts. CORRECT ANSWER Biology
The scientific study of life and is the branch of science that studies living organisms and
the way organisms interact with their environments. CORRECT ANSWER Homeostasis
The ability or tendency of organisms and cells to maintain stable internal conditions.
CORRECT ANSWER Nutrient Any matter an organism needs but cannot make for itself.
CORRECT ANSWER Energy 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. CORRECT ANSWER Growth An increase in
size. CORRECT ANSWER Development 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. CORRECT ANSWER Reproduction Occurs when
an individual organism passes on its genetic information to a newly independent organism, or
offspring. CORRECT ANSWER Evolution 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. CORRECT
ANSWER Natural Selection 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. CORRECT ANSWER Atomic Mass The sum of the number of protons and the
number of neutrons. The mass of an atom. CORRECT ANSWER Atomic Number The
number of protons in an atom, displayed for each atom in the periodic table. CORRECT
ANSWER Chemical Bonds Attractions between atoms that hold atoms and molecules
together. CORRECT ANSWER Covalent Bonds Strongest chemical bond. Occurs between
atoms of in the same molecule. Electron pairs are shared, creating a strong bond between atoms.
CORRECT ANSWER electron Subatomic particle, located in shells on the outside of the
, nucleus, has a negative charge and almost no mass. CORRECT ANSWER electronegativity
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? CORRECT ANSWER element Atoms
with unique properties, designated by the atomic number. CORRECT ANSWER hydrogen
bond Weak chemical bond. Occurs between atoms in different molecules or parts of molecules.
Weak electrostatic attraction between areas of molecules with opposite partial charges.
CORRECT ANSWER ion Positively or negatively charged atom. CORRECT ANSWER
ionic bond Moderately strong chemical bond. Occurs between atoms in the same molecule.
Electrons transfer from one atom to another. CORRECT ANSWER isotope 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. CORRECT ANSWER matter Anything that occupies space and has mass.
CORRECT ANSWER molecular formulaA formula giving the number of atoms of each of
the elements present in one molecule of a specific compound. CORRECT ANSWER neutron
Subatomic particle, electrically neutral, located in the nucleus. Mass of one amu
CORRECT ANSWER nucleus Center of the atom. Contains equal number of protons and
neutrons. CORRECT ANSWER Periodic Table Chart organizing elements by atomic
number and weight. CORRECT ANSWER proton Subatomic particle, located in the
nucleus, with a positive charge. Mass of one amu. CORRECT ANSWER valence electron
Electrons on the outermost shell of the atom. Involved in chemical bonds. CORRECT
ANSWER Adhesion The attraction between water molecules and other molecules.
CORRECT ANSWER Cohesion Water molecules are attracted to each other, keeping the
molecules together. CORRECT ANSWER Hydrophilic Substances that will dissolve in
water. Polar. They split into positive and negative ions and dissolve in water. Examples: sugars
and alcohols. CORRECT ANSWER Hydrophobic Substances that do not dissolve in
water. Non-polar. Examples: hydrocarbons and fatty acids. CORRECT ANSWER Surface
Tension The capacity of a liquid's surface to resist being ruptured when placed under
tension or stress. CORRECT ANSWER Solute The component(s) present in lower
quantities. CORRECT ANSWER Solution Homogeneous mixtures, with 2 components:
solvent and solutes. CORRECT ANSWER Solvent The component of the solution in the
greatest quantity. CORRECT ANSWER Carbohydrate Biological macromolecule. Sugars.
