Unit One Bio Root/Vocab Words

Pre-AICE Biology vocab and root words from unit 1.1

Bio-

Life

Pro-

Before, In front of, or primative

Eu-

True, good, well, or normal

Kary-

Nucleus

Auto-

Self, or same

Hetero-

Different, other, or dissimilar

A-, An-

Not, without, or lacking

-tropism

A directional growth/movement of an organism.

Archaeo-

Ancient, primitive or from the beginning.

Movement

An action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place.

Respiration

The chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy from metabolism.

Metabolism

The chemical reactions that take place in living organisms.

Sensitivity

The ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal or external environment.

Growth

A permanent increase in size and dry mass.

Reproduction

The processes that make more of the same kind of organism.

Excretion

The removal of waste products of metabolism and substances in excess requirements.

Nutrition

Taking in materials for energy, growth and development.

Common Ancestor

A species that lived in the past, and is thought to have given rise to several different species alive today.

Species

A group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.

Binomial System

A system of naming species that is internationally agreed, in which the scientific name is made up of two parts showing the genus and the species.

Genus

A group of species that share similar features and a common ancestor.

Dichotomous Key

A way of identifying an organism, by working through pairs of statements that lead you to its name.

Kingdoms

Major groups into which all organisms are classified.

Organic Substances

Substances whose molecules contain carbon.

Chlorophyll

A green pigment that absorbs energy from light; the energy is used to combine carbon dioxide with water to make glucose.

Cellulose

A carbohydrate that forms long fibers and makes up the cell walls of plants.

Fungus

An organism whose cells have cell walls, but that does not photosynthesize.

Prokaryote

An organism whose cells do not have a nucleus.

Protoctist

A single celled organism, or one with several very similar cells.

Hypae

Microscopic threads, made of cells linked in a long line, that make up the body of a fungus.

Decomposers

Organisms that break down organic substances outside their bodies, releasing nutrients from them that other organisms use.

Spores

Very small groups of cells surrounded by a protective wall used in reproduction.

Multicellular

Made of many cells.

Unicellular

Made of a single cell.