WGU C683 NATURAL SCIENCE LAB EXAM COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS LATEST
VERSION
1. Q: What is the primary function of the cell membrane? ANSWER
To regulate what enters and exits the cell, maintaining homeostasis and
protecting the cell's internal environment.
2. Q: What are the three main components of the cell theory?
ANSWER All living things are made of cells, cells are the basic unit of
life, and all cells come from pre-existing cells.
3. Q: What is the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
ANSWER Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles, while eukaryotic cells have both a nucleus and membrane-
bound organelles.
4. Q: What is the function of mitochondria? ANSWER Mitochondria
are the powerhouses of the cell, producing ATP through cellular
respiration.
5. Q: What is ATP and why is it important? ANSWER Adenosine
triphosphate (ATP) is the primary energy currency of cells, storing and
transferring energy for cellular processes.
6. Q: What is the difference between passive and active transport?
ANSWER Passive transport doesn't require energy and moves
substances down their concentration gradient; active transport requires
energy (ATP) and moves substances against their concentration gradient.
7. Q: What is osmosis? ANSWER Osmosis is the diffusion of water
across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of high water
concentration to low water concentration.
8. Q: What is the function of ribosomes? ANSWER Ribosomes
synthesize proteins by translating mRNA into amino acid sequences.
,9. Q: What is the difference between DNA and RNA? ANSWER DNA
is double-stranded, contains deoxyribose sugar and thymine; RNA is
single-stranded, contains ribose sugar and uracil instead of thymine.
10.Q: What are the four nitrogenous bases in DNA? ANSWER Adenine
(A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G), and Cytosine (C).
11.Q: What is transcription? ANSWER Transcription is the process of
copying genetic information from DNA to RNA.
12.Q: What is translation? ANSWER Translation is the process of
synthesizing proteins from mRNA using ribosomes and tRNA.
13.Q: What is the function of the endoplasmic reticulum? ANSWER
The rough ER synthesizes proteins, while the smooth ER synthesizes
lipids and detoxifies substances.
14.Q: What is the function of the Golgi apparatus? ANSWER The
Golgi apparatus modifies, packages, and distributes proteins and lipids to
their destinations.
15.Q: What are enzymes? ANSWER Enzymes are biological catalysts
(usually proteins) that speed up chemical reactions without being
consumed.
16.Q: What is the lock-and-key model of enzyme activity? ANSWER
The lock-and-key model describes how enzymes have specific active
sites that fit only specific substrates, like a key fits a lock.
17.Q: What factors affect enzyme activity? ANSWER Temperature, pH,
substrate concentration, and the presence of inhibitors or cofactors.
18.Q: What is photosynthesis? ANSWER Photosynthesis is the process
by which plants convert light energy, carbon dioxide, and water into
glucose and oxygen.
19.Q: What is cellular respiration? ANSWER Cellular respiration is the
process of breaking down glucose to produce ATP, occurring in three
stages: glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and electron transport chain.
20.Q: What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic
respiration? ANSWER Aerobic respiration requires oxygen and
produces more ATP; anaerobic respiration occurs without oxygen and
produces less ATP (fermentation).
, Genetics (21-40)
21.Q: What is a gene? ANSWER A gene is a segment of DNA that
contains the instructions for making a specific protein or functional RNA
molecule.
22.Q: What is a chromosome? ANSWER A chromosome is a structure
made of DNA and proteins that carries genetic information; humans have
46 chromosomes (23 pairs).
23.Q: What is the difference between genotype and phenotype?
ANSWER Genotype is an organism's genetic makeup, while phenotype
is the observable physical or biochemical characteristics.
24.Q: What is a dominant allele? ANSWER A dominant allele is one that
expresses its trait even when only one copy is present.
25.Q: What is a recessive allele? ANSWER A recessive allele only
expresses its trait when two copies are present (homozygous recessive).
26.Q: What is Mendel's Law of Segregation? ANSWER Each parent
contributes one allele for each trait to their offspring, and these alleles
separate during gamete formation.
27.Q: What is Mendel's Law of Independent Assortment? ANSWER
Genes for different traits are inherited independently of each other.
28.Q: What is a Punnett square used for? ANSWER A Punnett square is
used to predict the probability of offspring inheriting particular genotypes
and phenotypes.
29.Q: What is a mutation? ANSWER A mutation is a change in the DNA
sequence that can be inherited or occur during an organism's lifetime.
30.Q: What are the three types of point mutations? ANSWER Silent
mutations (no amino acid change), missense mutations (different amino
acid), and nonsense mutations (premature stop codon).
31.Q: What is natural selection? ANSWER Natural selection is the
process by which organisms with favorable traits are more likely to
survive and reproduce.
32.Q: What is evolution? ANSWER Evolution is the change in heritable
characteristics of populations over successive generations.
QUESTIONS AND 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS LATEST
VERSION
1. Q: What is the primary function of the cell membrane? ANSWER
To regulate what enters and exits the cell, maintaining homeostasis and
protecting the cell's internal environment.
2. Q: What are the three main components of the cell theory?
ANSWER All living things are made of cells, cells are the basic unit of
life, and all cells come from pre-existing cells.
3. Q: What is the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
ANSWER Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus and membrane-bound
organelles, while eukaryotic cells have both a nucleus and membrane-
bound organelles.
4. Q: What is the function of mitochondria? ANSWER Mitochondria
are the powerhouses of the cell, producing ATP through cellular
respiration.
5. Q: What is ATP and why is it important? ANSWER Adenosine
triphosphate (ATP) is the primary energy currency of cells, storing and
transferring energy for cellular processes.
6. Q: What is the difference between passive and active transport?
ANSWER Passive transport doesn't require energy and moves
substances down their concentration gradient; active transport requires
energy (ATP) and moves substances against their concentration gradient.
7. Q: What is osmosis? ANSWER Osmosis is the diffusion of water
across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of high water
concentration to low water concentration.
8. Q: What is the function of ribosomes? ANSWER Ribosomes
synthesize proteins by translating mRNA into amino acid sequences.
,9. Q: What is the difference between DNA and RNA? ANSWER DNA
is double-stranded, contains deoxyribose sugar and thymine; RNA is
single-stranded, contains ribose sugar and uracil instead of thymine.
10.Q: What are the four nitrogenous bases in DNA? ANSWER Adenine
(A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G), and Cytosine (C).
11.Q: What is transcription? ANSWER Transcription is the process of
copying genetic information from DNA to RNA.
12.Q: What is translation? ANSWER Translation is the process of
synthesizing proteins from mRNA using ribosomes and tRNA.
13.Q: What is the function of the endoplasmic reticulum? ANSWER
The rough ER synthesizes proteins, while the smooth ER synthesizes
lipids and detoxifies substances.
14.Q: What is the function of the Golgi apparatus? ANSWER The
Golgi apparatus modifies, packages, and distributes proteins and lipids to
their destinations.
15.Q: What are enzymes? ANSWER Enzymes are biological catalysts
(usually proteins) that speed up chemical reactions without being
consumed.
16.Q: What is the lock-and-key model of enzyme activity? ANSWER
The lock-and-key model describes how enzymes have specific active
sites that fit only specific substrates, like a key fits a lock.
17.Q: What factors affect enzyme activity? ANSWER Temperature, pH,
substrate concentration, and the presence of inhibitors or cofactors.
18.Q: What is photosynthesis? ANSWER Photosynthesis is the process
by which plants convert light energy, carbon dioxide, and water into
glucose and oxygen.
19.Q: What is cellular respiration? ANSWER Cellular respiration is the
process of breaking down glucose to produce ATP, occurring in three
stages: glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and electron transport chain.
20.Q: What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic
respiration? ANSWER Aerobic respiration requires oxygen and
produces more ATP; anaerobic respiration occurs without oxygen and
produces less ATP (fermentation).
, Genetics (21-40)
21.Q: What is a gene? ANSWER A gene is a segment of DNA that
contains the instructions for making a specific protein or functional RNA
molecule.
22.Q: What is a chromosome? ANSWER A chromosome is a structure
made of DNA and proteins that carries genetic information; humans have
46 chromosomes (23 pairs).
23.Q: What is the difference between genotype and phenotype?
ANSWER Genotype is an organism's genetic makeup, while phenotype
is the observable physical or biochemical characteristics.
24.Q: What is a dominant allele? ANSWER A dominant allele is one that
expresses its trait even when only one copy is present.
25.Q: What is a recessive allele? ANSWER A recessive allele only
expresses its trait when two copies are present (homozygous recessive).
26.Q: What is Mendel's Law of Segregation? ANSWER Each parent
contributes one allele for each trait to their offspring, and these alleles
separate during gamete formation.
27.Q: What is Mendel's Law of Independent Assortment? ANSWER
Genes for different traits are inherited independently of each other.
28.Q: What is a Punnett square used for? ANSWER A Punnett square is
used to predict the probability of offspring inheriting particular genotypes
and phenotypes.
29.Q: What is a mutation? ANSWER A mutation is a change in the DNA
sequence that can be inherited or occur during an organism's lifetime.
30.Q: What are the three types of point mutations? ANSWER Silent
mutations (no amino acid change), missense mutations (different amino
acid), and nonsense mutations (premature stop codon).
31.Q: What is natural selection? ANSWER Natural selection is the
process by which organisms with favorable traits are more likely to
survive and reproduce.
32.Q: What is evolution? ANSWER Evolution is the change in heritable
characteristics of populations over successive generations.
