Biology terms and prefixes

cyto-

cell   [cytosol = solution in the cell - also called cytoplasm]

lyso-

dissolving, loosening or breaking down [lysosome=organelle that is the digestive system in cell]

phago-

eating or destroying [phagocytosis=cellular process which engulfs and digests large solid particles]

pseudo-

fake or not genuine [pseudopodia=temporary arm like extension on cell’s membrane for movement]

pro-

forward, for, primitive, or before [prokaryotic=a single-celled organism which lacks a nucleus]

trans-

across, beyond, or through [transduction=procress of converting a physical signal, energy, or genetic information into a different form]

co-

together, with, jointly, or mutually [coenzyme=organice molecule that binds to an enzyme to speed up a chemical reaction]

hyper-

over, excessive, above normal, or beyond [hyperlipidemia= medical condition defined by an excess of fats or lipids]

hypo-

 under, below, beneath, or less than normal [hypothyroidism= medical condition where the thyroid gland does not make enough hormones to control how body uses energy]

exo-

outside, external, or outward [exophthalmos= abnormal bulging or protrusion of one or both eyeballs from the eye socket]

glyco-

sugar [glycolysis = metabolic process that breaks down glucose to release energy]

endo-

within, inside, or internal [endoscopy= procedure where a doctor uses a long, flexible tube with a camera to look inside the body]

iso-

equal, same, or similar [isotope= a variant of a chemical element that has the same number of protons but, a different number of neutrons]

hydro-

water or relates to hydrogen [hydrophobic= when a molecule or surface that repels water and fails to mix or dissolve in it]

an-

not, without, or lacking [anaerobic= an organism or cellular process that functions without oxygen]

chemi-

chemical [chemistry= study of matter]

auto-

self, same, or by itself [autocatalysis= a chemical reaction where one of the products acts as a catalyst for that same reaction]

chloro-

 green [chlorophyll= green pigment in plants that absorbs sunlight for photosynthesis]

hetero-

different, other, or dissimilar [heterogeneous= made up of different or unlike parts]

meso-

middle, intermediate, or halfway [mesoderm= middle germ layer in an early animal embryo that forms muscles, bones, and circulatory system]

photo-

 light [photosynthesis= way plants use light to turn water and carbon dioxide into food]

bi-/di-

 two, double, or twice [disaccharide= type of sugar made of two simple sugar units bonded together]

centro-

center [centromere=region of a chromosome that links sister chromatides together]

gen-

birth, origin, race, or that which produces [gene= basic and functional unit of heredity made of DNA]

inter-

between, among, or in the midst [interphase= longest phase of the cell cycle where a cell grows and copies its DNA]

mal-

bad, badly, evil, wrong, or ill [malabsorption= condition where the small intestine cannot properly absorb nutrients from food]

homo-

 same [homopolymer= a polymer chain made up of repeating units from just one single type of monomer]

syn-

together, with, or at the same time [synapsis= pairing and joining together of homologous chromosomes during meiosis]

tetra-

four [tetramer=a chemical compound made of four smaller units]

mono-

one [monomer=single molecule that can chemically combine bind with other similar molecules to create a large chain]

pedi-

foot [pedicel= small stalk supporting a single flower in an inflorescence, fruit or leaf]

poly-

many [polymer= large molecule made of many smaller monomers]

hemo-

blood [hemoglobin = an iron-rich protein in red blood cells]

non-

 not [non-coding DNA= region of an organism’s genome that do not encode proteins]

re-

 again, back, or backward [regeneration = ability of an organism to regrow missing tissue]

semi-

half, partly, or incomplete [semipermeable= membrane that allows some molecules by diffusion while blocking other]

neuro-

nerve [neuroblastoma= rare type of cancer that forms in immature nerve cells]

anti-

against, opposed to, or opposite [antiemetic=medications used to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting]

retro-

backward, back, or behind [retrocardiac= area in the chest located directly behind the heart and in front of the spine]

eu-

good, well, pleasant, or true [eukaryotic= complex cells that contain a nucleus and organelles]

apic-

apex, tip, top, or summit [apical bud= terminal bud located at the apex of the plant and drives upward primary growth]

bio-

life [biology= study of life]

paleo-

old, ancient, or prehistoric [paleontology=study of prehistoric life on Earth through analysis of fossils]

vestigi-

trace, track, footprint, or remnant [vestigial structures = body parts or behaviors that have lost their original ancestral function  or reduced on size]

intra-

within [intraspecific = occurring with or involving members of the same species]

micro-

small [microscope = laboratory instrument that produces enlarged images of objects too small to be seen by the naked eye]

post-

after, later, or behind [postmortem = after death]

sym-

together, within, alike [symbiosis = a close, long-term biological interaction between two or more different species]

thermo-

heat or temperature [thermophile = organism that thrives in very hot environments]

con-

thoroughly or completely [consumer = organism that eats other organisms]

gymno-

naked or exposed [gymnosperms = group of seed producing plants that have unenclosed or naked seeds not contained within an ovary or fruit]

peri-

around [periderm = protective secondary out tissue that replaces the epidermis on the stems and roots of woody plants as they grow]

a-

without [amyloplast= a specialized, colorless organelle found in plants cells that synthesizes and stores starch]

cephal-

head [cephalopod= marine animal with its arms or tentacles attached directly to its head]

ecto-

outside or external [ectotherm= animal that relies on its external environment to control its body temperature]

gastro-

stomach [gastroparesis = condition where the stomach empties food into the small intestine much too slowly]

-pod

foot [gastropod= class of soft-bodied invertebrate animals that includes snail, slugs, and nudibranchs]

arthro-

 joint [arthropod = invertebrate animals with hard outer shells, segmented bodies and jointed legs]

uni-

 single [unicellar = having only one single cell like bacteria or yeast]

vivi-

living [viviparity = development of the embryo leading to live birth]

aqua-

 water [aquatic = plants and animals that grow or live in water]

myco-

fungus [mycology = branch of biology devoted to the study of fungi]

phyto-

plant [phytoplankton = tiny plant-like organisms that live in water]

homeo-

similar or same [homeostasis= process where an organism keeps a stable internal balance]

osteo-

bone [osteocyte= bone cell that helps maintain the daily structure and health of bone tissue]

omni-

all [omnivore= animal that eats both plants and meat]

cardi-

heart [cardiac= pertaining to or relating to the heart ]

erythro-

 red [erythrocyte= red blood cell that contains hemoglobin and carries oxygen through the body]

leuko-

white [leukocyte= white blood cells that helps the body fight off infection and diseases]

myo-

muscle [myocyte= muscle cell]

pulmo-

lungs [pulmonary= pertaining to or affecting the lungs]

counter-

 against [counterselection= selection against a specific trait or genotype]

reni/nephr-

kidney [nephron= basic structural and functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering blood and forming urine]

epi-

upon or outer [epidermis= outermost layer of cells or skin lying over underlying tissues]

-ectomy

removal [appedectomy= removal of the appendix]

soma-

body [soma= main body of a neuron or living parts of an organism]

geo-

earth [geotaxis= organism’s automatic movement or orientation toward or away from the earth’s pull]

de-

removal or without [dehydration= removal or loss of water from the body or molecule]

covalent bond

 two nonmetal atoms share one or more pairs of valence electrons [methane= covalent bond between hydrogen and carbon]

hydrogen bond

a type of covalent bond which is stronger and with hydrogen and fluorine, oxygen or nitrogen [water= made up of hydrogen and oxygen bonds making a polar molecule]

solute

a substance that dissolves in a liquid, solid, or gas solvent to form a uniform mixture called a solution [ex. Table salt]

solvent

 a substance that, usually a liquid, that dissolves another substance to form a solution [ex. water]

denature

to change the natural structure, qualities, or shape of a substance [ex. Cooking an egg]

dehydration synthesis

chemical reaction that joins small molecules (monomers) together to build larger molecules (polymers) by removing water [ex. formation of carbohydrates]

hydrolysis

chemical reaction where a water molecule breaks one or more chemical bonds in a compound [ex. Digestion of food]

ligand

an ion, molecule, or atom that binds to a central metal atom or larger target molecule to perform a specific chemical or biological function [ex. water]

substrate

a foundational surface, a supporting layer, or a target reactant that an enzyme acts upon in a chemical reaction [ex. sucrose]

adaptations

physical or behavioral traits that help a living thing survive and reproduce in its environment [ex. Giraffe neck]

diffusion

passive, spontaneous net movement of particles from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration area [ex. Food coloring]

enzyme

a biological molecule, usually a protein, that speeds up chemical reactions in living things [ex. amylase]

evolution

the process by which groups of living organisms change and pass  on inherited traits over successive generations [ex. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria]

molecule

a group of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds [ex. Carbon dioxide]

monomer

a small molecule that can chemically bond with other similar molecules to form a larger chain or network called a polymer [ex. Amino acid]

protein

an essential macronutrient made of amino acid chain that builds and repairs tissues, powers chemical reactions, and supports immune health [ex. collagen]

symbiosis

any close and long-term biological interaction between two different species [ex. Mutualism, clownfish and sea anemones]

homeostasis

process by which living things maintain a stable, balanced internal environment despite changes in the outside world [ex. Sweating]

taxonomy

scientific or systematic practice of classifying and naming organisms, things, or concepts based on shared characteristics and hierarchical structures [ex. Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species] 

physiology

scientific study of how living organisms, their organs, tissues, and cells perform the physical and chemical processes that keep them alive [ex. Cardiovascular function]

ecology

scientific study of how living thing organisms interact with each other and their physical environment [ex. Mold on bread]

water potential

 potential energy of water per unit of volume