WGU Biology C190 Vocabulary

WGU Biology C190 Vocabulary Leave the first rating Students also studied Terms in this set (283) Science Biology Life Science Save WGU C190 Intro to Biology 311 terms ellen_nicole_allen Preview Elementary Science Curriculum - D6...291 terms damraePreview

Unit 6 Test: Classical Genetics

13 terms kirby_tjolandPreview Inputs/ 43 terms pey AbioticAn adjective that describes nonliving materials in the environment, such as sunlight, rain, gases in the air, rocks, and chemicals in the soil.BiospereAll areas on, within, and around the planet Earth that are capable of supporting life.MoleculeTwo or more atoms held together by a chemical bond.populationAll the individuals of the same species that occupy the same area and are likely to breed with one another.AtomThe basic unit of matter that cannot be further broken down without losing its unique properties. One atom consists of a dense nucleus surrounded by a cloud of electrons.CellThe smallest fundamental unit of structure and function in life. Cells are fluid-filled spaces bound by a membrane. When first formed, all cells include DNA and other macromolecules and are organized to grow, reproduce, and respond to changes in the external environment.OrganA collection of tissues grouped together based on a common general function.Some common organs in the human body are the heart, lungs, and kidneys.TissueA groups of similar cells carrying out the same detailed function within an organism. In the lung, for instance, the lining of airways comprises one type of

tissue: a layer of similar cells that forms a sealed surface.

BioticAn adjective that describes living organisms or their remains. Common characteristics of biotic (living) things are that they use energy and raw materials to grow, sense, and respond to changing environments; they reproduce; and they consist of one or more cells.CommunityAll of the populations interacting with each other within a specified area.Organ SystemAn organ system is an integrated collection of organs in the body that work together to perform a vital function. This course will organize the organ systems of the body based on the vital functions defined earlier.BiomeA group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms EcosystemAll the living (biotic) things in a particular area together with the abiotic (nonliving) materials and conditions in that area; i.e., a biological community and its physical environment.OrganelleA specialized structure within a cell formed when a specific set of molecules bond, creating a subunit that has a specific function. Most, but not all, organelles are enclosed by a membrane. In eukaryotes, organelles are membrane-bound compartments that contain specific groups of macromolecules that carry out specific cellular functions. Although, prokaryotes are less complex than eukaryotes, they contain subunits (non-membrane bound structures) that perform specific functions, such as the flagellum and the ribosome.BiologyThe scientific study of life. Biology is a vast subject divided into many branches or subdivisions representing areas of specialization. Branches of biology include anatomy, biochemistry, ecology, evolution, genetics, immunology, and physiology.MacromoleculeA large and complex molecule formed by combining smaller subunits producing a larger unit consisting of many atoms with new properties. Biological macromolecules are special large macromolecules produced by living organisms that contain carbon atoms covalently bonded to hydrogen atoms. There are four main types of biological macromolecules (sometimes referred to as biomolecules

or biomacromolecules) that you will be learning about in this course:

carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins.OrganismAn organism is an individual living entity that survives and reproduces as a unit.Examples include a single bacterial cell, a plant grown from a single seed, or you —as an individual human being. Any life form - animal, plant, fungus, bacteria, protist, or single-celled entity.Scientific InquiryThe application of scientific observation, experimentation, and the scientific method to study, interpret, and predict natural phenomena in the world around us.Biological MacromoleculesRelatively large ("macro") molecules made by living organisms from smaller

molecular building blocks. There are four classes of biological macromolecules:

proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and polysaccharides/complex sugars. For example, starch is a biological macromolecule made by plants from smaller subunits, glucose; all proteins are made of amino acids, and nucleic acids are made from nucleotides.

CarbohydratesThe extracellular surface of the cell membrane is decorated with carbohydrate groups attached to lipids and proteins. These short carbohydrates play a role in giving a cell its identity (i.e., distinguishing self from non-self) and are the distinguishing factor in human blood types.LipidsOrganic marcromolecules that are largely nonpolar (electrons are evenly distributed among atoms in a molecule) and as a result are hydrophobic (“water- fearing”). Lipids perform many functions in the cell including storage of energy for long-term use in the form of fats, insulation from the environment, and building blocks for hormones. Lipids include fats, oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.ProteinsAn organic macromolecule consisting of folded chains of amino acids. Proteins play a key role both structurally and functionally. Enzymes are proteins, and catalyze all of the chemical reactions in the cell.Nucleic AcidsOrganic macromolecules, built from nucleotides, that carry out two main functions in the cell: storage of genetic information and synthesis of proteins.DNA and RNA are both nucleic acids. They are made up of repeating subunits or

monomers. Contains three building blocks: a phosphate, a sugar, and a

nitrogenous base.ProtonsA positively charged subatomic particle that is contained in the nucleus and has a mass of approximately 1 atomic mass unit.NeutronsSubatomic particle with a neutral charge that is contained in the nucleus and has a mass of approximately 1 atomic mass unit.Electronshave a negative charge designated by the negative sign (-) Chemical BondsAttractions between atoms that hold atoms and molecules together. There are three major types of chemical bonds that are important in biology: i) covalent, ii) ionic, and iii) hydrogen bonds. Covalent bonds occur when two atoms share electrons. Ionic bonds occur when two oppositely charged ions stick together.Covalent Bonds (Co-Exist)Covalent bonds represent the sharing of the electrons (negatively charged subatomic particles between atoms). The number of covalent bonds that can form is dictated by the number of unpaired electrons in the outer valence shell of the atom.Ionic BondAn attractive force generated by the interactions between ions of opposite charges. An ionic bond forms due to an attraction between a positive and a negative ion. No electron sharing occurs in the ionic bond. In the formation of an ionic bond, electrons are said to be transferred from one atom to another.Hydrogen BondHydrogen bond (H-bond) is an interaction between a partially positive hydrogen atom and a partially negative atom with an unshared (lone) pair of electrons. In order for hydrogen to have a sufficient partial positive charge, hydrogen must be covalently attached to a very electronegative atom (O, N, P). A partially negative atom with a lone pair of electrons must also be a highly electronegative atom like oxygen or nitrogen.

ElectronegativityThe tendency of an atom to hold shared electrons more close to its nucleus.Atoms like oxygen have a high electronegativity. This means when oxygen forms a covalent bond with an atom of lower electronegativity, the shared electrons will stay closer to the oxygen atom than to the other atom. Strongly electronegative atoms bonded to weakly electronegative hydrogen atoms, in a molecule, result in hydrogen bonding. The most important strongly electronegative elements in biological systems are oxygen and nitrogen.ElectronNegatively charged subatomic particle that occupies shells surrounding the nucleus and has a mass that is so small it is considered to be zero.NeutronSubatomic particle with a neutral charge that is contained in the nucleus and has a mass of approximately 1 atomic mass unit.ProtonA positively charged subatomic particle that is contained in the nucleus and has a mass of approximately 1 atomic mass unit.AdhesionThe attraction of water molecules to molecules other than water. Capillary action (in which water will spontaneously climb up the walls of a tube without pumping) is a result of the adhesion of water molecules with the surface of a tube containing the water.Surface TensionThe capacity of a liquid's surface to resist being ruptured when placed under tension or stress.CohesionDescribes a property of matter in which particles tend to stick together. Liquid water is cohesive and forms spherical droplets because of its hydrogen bonds, which attract the individual water molecules to each other.SoluteComponent of a solution that is present in the smallest quantity and which dissolves in a solvent.HydrophilicHydrophilic (from Greek meaning "water-loving") refers to molecules that are water soluble. Hydrophilic molecules contain polar functional groups that can form hydrogen bonds or ionic bonds with water.SolutionHomogeneous mixtures of solvent and solute.HydrophobicHydrophobic, or water-fearing, molecules do not interact with water and are characterized by a complete lack of electronegative atoms. In aqueous solutions, the hydrophobic molecules are driven together to the exclusion of water.SolventComponent of a solution that is present in the greatest quantity and in which something else is dissolved.Amino AcidsA 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 distinguishes one amino acid from another. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.