Bio WGU study for OA c190 Exam Ques ons and
answers Updated 2025/2026 new!!
Adapta on-
The adjustment or changes in behavior, physiology, and structure of an organism to become
more suited to an environment.
Aerobic-
A process that requires oxygen.
Allele -An alterna ve form of a gene. An example would be genes that encode eye color—some
encode blue eyes (one allele), while others encode brown, green, or hazel eye colors (other
alleles).
amino acids -
A small organic molecule with the structure of an amino group, a carboxylic acid group, and an
"R" group, which are all bonded to a single central carbon atom. The difference between the "R"
group is what dis nguishes one amino acid from another. Amino acids are the building blocks of
proteins.
Anaerobic-
A process that occurs without oxygen.
Anaphase-
A stage within the mitosis phase of cell division (also known as cell reproduc on). Anaphase
starts when sister chroma ds separate from each other and ends when each set of separated,
sister chroma ds arrives at the opposite poles of the cell.
anaphase I-
The third stage of Meiosis I—the two homologous chromosomes separate and migrate toward
opposite poles.
anaphase II-
The third stage in Meiosis II—the centromeres separate and the sister chroma ds (now
individual chromosomes) move toward the opposite poles of the cell.
ar ficial selec on-
,Deliberate ma ng between two individuals who were selected based on desired traits.
asexual reproduc on -
A type of reproduc on where gene cally iden cal offspring are created from a single parent.
This type of reproduc on does not u lize meiosis or gametes. Bacteria
and fungi are examples of organisms that reproduce in this manner.
Atom-
The basic unit of ma-er that cannot be further broken down without losing its unique
proper es. One atom consists of a dense nucleus surrounded by a cloud of electrons.
Autosomal-
Describes a trait associated with alleles located on autosomes (non sex chromosomes).
autosomal chromosome-
A chromosome not involved in sex determina on.
biogeochemical cycle-
The processes that transfer chemical elements between bio c and abio c components in an
ecosystem. There are several main cycles: the water cycle, the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle,
and the phosphorus cycle.
Biome-
A large naturally occurring community of plants and animals occupying a major habitat.
Examples include tropical forest and arc c tundra.
Biomes-
A pa-ern of distribu on of ecosystems across the globe, where similar environmental
condi ons lead to similar animal and plant adapta ons. Examples of biomes include tropical
rainforests, deserts, and tundra.
biosphere-
All areas on, within, and around the planet Earth that are capable of suppor ng life.
Calvin cycle (Calvin-Ben
son cycle or light-independent reac on)- The set of chemical reac ons that take place in
chloroplasts during photosynthesis. The cycle is light-independent because it takes place a2er
,the energy has been captured from sunlight. Also called Calvin-Benson Cycle, Benson-Calvin
Cycle.
Carbohydrates-
The extracellular surface of the cell membrane is decorated with carbohydrate groups a-ached
to lipids and proteins. These short carbohydrates play a role in giving a cell its iden ty (i.e.,
dis nguishing self from non-self) and are the dis nguishing factor in human blood types.
carbon cycle-
The biogeochemical cycle through which carbon flows between the atmosphere, water, land,
and ecosystems.
cell cycle-
A series of phases in the life of the cell through which it grows and divides.
cell wall-
Protec ve and reinforcing structure found in certain cells, situated outside the plasma
membrane. Bacterial cell walls are mainly built of pep doglycan, although they may also
contain lipidic molecules. Among eukaryotes, plants and fungi possess cell walls, made of
cellulose and chi n, respec vely.
cellular respira on-
Use of oxygen to release energy from nutrients; also called aerobic respira on.
Centromere-
A specific sec on of a chromosome where spindle fibers a-ach during cell division; also the
connec on point of sister chroma ds.
Chlorophyll-
A plant pigment used to absorb light energy for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll gives plants their
green color because it absorbs red and blue light par cularly well, while reflec ng green.
Chloroplast-
An organelle found in plants and photosynthe c pro sts (single-celled eukaryo c organisms)
that contain pigments such as chlorophyl. Its primary func on is to capture solar energy and
convert it into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis. Chloroplast absorbs
sunlight energy and uses the energy to power the synthesis of organic food molecules (sugars).
A chloroplast contains its own DNA as a single circular chromosome.
, Sister Chroma d -
One of two iden cal copies of a chromosome duplicated during the S phase of the cell cycle. A
centromere connects two sister chroma ds together. When joined together, sister chroma ds
compose one chromosome. Chroma ds are separated from each other during mitosis or
meiosis II.
Citric acid cycle-
The 2nd stage of aerobic cellular respira on that occurs when acetyl CoA combines with a four-
carbon molecule and goes through a cycle of reac ons, ul mately producing ATP, NADH, FADH2,
and CO2.
climate change-
It is the full range of clima c disrup ons that have occurred as a probable result of human
altera on of the atmosphere. In other words, it is recent climate warming—and weirdness—
that is probably caused by human ac vi es and technology use.
Codominance-
A form of dominance where both alleles of a gene pair in a heterozygote are fully expressed.
This results in offspring with a phenotype that is neither dominant nor recessive. A typical
example showing codominance is the ABO blood group system.
Codons-
A sequence of three nucleo des in an mRNA molecule that specifies which amino acid should
be added to a growing polypep de chain.
Commensalism-
A symbio c rela onship in which one species benefits and the other does not, but also is not
harmed.
Compe on-
A type of interspecific interac on where both species are harmed.
complementary base pairing-
Describes the hydrogen bonding that occurs between specific nucleo des on opposing strands
of DNA or RNA. In DNA, adenine is paired with thymine, and guanine is paired with cytosine.
When RNA is made from DNA, adenine is paired with uracil, and guanine is paired with cytosine.
Consumers-
answers Updated 2025/2026 new!!
Adapta on-
The adjustment or changes in behavior, physiology, and structure of an organism to become
more suited to an environment.
Aerobic-
A process that requires oxygen.
Allele -An alterna ve form of a gene. An example would be genes that encode eye color—some
encode blue eyes (one allele), while others encode brown, green, or hazel eye colors (other
alleles).
amino acids -
A small organic molecule with the structure of an amino group, a carboxylic acid group, and an
"R" group, which are all bonded to a single central carbon atom. The difference between the "R"
group is what dis nguishes one amino acid from another. Amino acids are the building blocks of
proteins.
Anaerobic-
A process that occurs without oxygen.
Anaphase-
A stage within the mitosis phase of cell division (also known as cell reproduc on). Anaphase
starts when sister chroma ds separate from each other and ends when each set of separated,
sister chroma ds arrives at the opposite poles of the cell.
anaphase I-
The third stage of Meiosis I—the two homologous chromosomes separate and migrate toward
opposite poles.
anaphase II-
The third stage in Meiosis II—the centromeres separate and the sister chroma ds (now
individual chromosomes) move toward the opposite poles of the cell.
ar ficial selec on-
,Deliberate ma ng between two individuals who were selected based on desired traits.
asexual reproduc on -
A type of reproduc on where gene cally iden cal offspring are created from a single parent.
This type of reproduc on does not u lize meiosis or gametes. Bacteria
and fungi are examples of organisms that reproduce in this manner.
Atom-
The basic unit of ma-er that cannot be further broken down without losing its unique
proper es. One atom consists of a dense nucleus surrounded by a cloud of electrons.
Autosomal-
Describes a trait associated with alleles located on autosomes (non sex chromosomes).
autosomal chromosome-
A chromosome not involved in sex determina on.
biogeochemical cycle-
The processes that transfer chemical elements between bio c and abio c components in an
ecosystem. There are several main cycles: the water cycle, the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle,
and the phosphorus cycle.
Biome-
A large naturally occurring community of plants and animals occupying a major habitat.
Examples include tropical forest and arc c tundra.
Biomes-
A pa-ern of distribu on of ecosystems across the globe, where similar environmental
condi ons lead to similar animal and plant adapta ons. Examples of biomes include tropical
rainforests, deserts, and tundra.
biosphere-
All areas on, within, and around the planet Earth that are capable of suppor ng life.
Calvin cycle (Calvin-Ben
son cycle or light-independent reac on)- The set of chemical reac ons that take place in
chloroplasts during photosynthesis. The cycle is light-independent because it takes place a2er
,the energy has been captured from sunlight. Also called Calvin-Benson Cycle, Benson-Calvin
Cycle.
Carbohydrates-
The extracellular surface of the cell membrane is decorated with carbohydrate groups a-ached
to lipids and proteins. These short carbohydrates play a role in giving a cell its iden ty (i.e.,
dis nguishing self from non-self) and are the dis nguishing factor in human blood types.
carbon cycle-
The biogeochemical cycle through which carbon flows between the atmosphere, water, land,
and ecosystems.
cell cycle-
A series of phases in the life of the cell through which it grows and divides.
cell wall-
Protec ve and reinforcing structure found in certain cells, situated outside the plasma
membrane. Bacterial cell walls are mainly built of pep doglycan, although they may also
contain lipidic molecules. Among eukaryotes, plants and fungi possess cell walls, made of
cellulose and chi n, respec vely.
cellular respira on-
Use of oxygen to release energy from nutrients; also called aerobic respira on.
Centromere-
A specific sec on of a chromosome where spindle fibers a-ach during cell division; also the
connec on point of sister chroma ds.
Chlorophyll-
A plant pigment used to absorb light energy for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll gives plants their
green color because it absorbs red and blue light par cularly well, while reflec ng green.
Chloroplast-
An organelle found in plants and photosynthe c pro sts (single-celled eukaryo c organisms)
that contain pigments such as chlorophyl. Its primary func on is to capture solar energy and
convert it into chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis. Chloroplast absorbs
sunlight energy and uses the energy to power the synthesis of organic food molecules (sugars).
A chloroplast contains its own DNA as a single circular chromosome.
, Sister Chroma d -
One of two iden cal copies of a chromosome duplicated during the S phase of the cell cycle. A
centromere connects two sister chroma ds together. When joined together, sister chroma ds
compose one chromosome. Chroma ds are separated from each other during mitosis or
meiosis II.
Citric acid cycle-
The 2nd stage of aerobic cellular respira on that occurs when acetyl CoA combines with a four-
carbon molecule and goes through a cycle of reac ons, ul mately producing ATP, NADH, FADH2,
and CO2.
climate change-
It is the full range of clima c disrup ons that have occurred as a probable result of human
altera on of the atmosphere. In other words, it is recent climate warming—and weirdness—
that is probably caused by human ac vi es and technology use.
Codominance-
A form of dominance where both alleles of a gene pair in a heterozygote are fully expressed.
This results in offspring with a phenotype that is neither dominant nor recessive. A typical
example showing codominance is the ABO blood group system.
Codons-
A sequence of three nucleo des in an mRNA molecule that specifies which amino acid should
be added to a growing polypep de chain.
Commensalism-
A symbio c rela onship in which one species benefits and the other does not, but also is not
harmed.
Compe on-
A type of interspecific interac on where both species are harmed.
complementary base pairing-
Describes the hydrogen bonding that occurs between specific nucleo des on opposing strands
of DNA or RNA. In DNA, adenine is paired with thymine, and guanine is paired with cytosine.
When RNA is made from DNA, adenine is paired with uracil, and guanine is paired with cytosine.
Consumers-
