Biology Module 4 Root Words

Should be good

Cyto-, Cyte-

Means "cell", examples include Cytology (study of cells), Cytoplasm, Cytoskeleton, Endocytosis, Exocytosis, Phagocytosis, and Pinocytosis

Plasm, Plast

Means "living matter, form, or mold", examples include Cytoplasm ("cell matter") and Cytoplasmic streaming (movement of cell contents)

Gest

Means "carry or bring", examples include Ingestion, Digestion, and Egestion

In-, Il-, Im-, Ir-

Means "in or not", example: Ingestion = "in carrying", the ability of a cell to take in nutrients and absorb dissolved materials

Dia-, Di-

Means "through or across", example: Digestion = "through carrying", the process of breaking food down using enzymes or hydrolysis

Ex-, E-, Ef-, Ec-

Means "out or from", example: Egestion = "out carrying", removing non-soluble, undigested waste from the cell

Karyo-

Means "nucleus of a cell", examples include Prokaryotic cells (no nucleus) and Eukaryotic cells ("true nucleus")

Eu-

Means "true", referring to Eukaryotic cells that have a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles

Mito-

Means "thread", example: Mitochondria are double-membrane organelles that convert nutrients into energy

Some, Soma-

Means "body", examples include Ribosome (protein synthesis), Lysosome (breaks down waste), Peroxisome (decomposes fatty acids and hydrogen peroxide), and Centrosome (organizes microtubules)

Centr-

Means "center", examples include Centrioles (organize fibers for cell division) and Centrosome (main microtubule organizing site)

Chrom-(at)(o)-

Means "color", examples include Chromatin (DNA strands in the nucleus), Chromoplasts (colored plastids), Chloroplasts, and Leucoplasts

Chlor(o)-

Means "green", example: Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll for photosynthesis

Leuko-, Leuco-

Means "white", example: Leucoplasts are non-pigmented plastids that store starches or oils

Vacu-

Means "empty", examples include Vacuoles (storage sacs for food, water, and waste) and the Central Vacuole (holds water in plant cells)

Se-

Means "apart or away", examples include Secretion (release of biosynthesized substances) and Secretory vesicles (transport proteins to the membrane)

Micro-

Means "small", examples include Microtubules, Microfilaments, and Intermediate filaments (components of cell structure)

Tonic, Tonia

Means "muscle, tension, or tone"

Hypo-

Means "under or below", example: Hypotonic solution has lower solute and higher water concentration relative to another solution

Hyper-

Means "over or excessive", example: Hypertonic solution has higher solute and lower water concentration relative to another solution

Iso-

Means "same", example: Isotonic solution has the same solute and water concentration as another solution

Phago-

Means "eat", example: Phagocytosis is "cell eating", where a cell engulfs large solid particles

Pino-

Means "drink", example: Pinocytosis is "cell drinking", where a cell absorbs extracellular fluid containing dissolved particles

Cytolysis

Means "cell rupturing", occurs due to excess internal pressure

Plasmolysis

Means "collapse of a cell’s cytoplasm", caused by a lack of water (in animal cells called crenation)

Exocytosis

Means "moving particles out of the cell", using vesicle fusion with the plasma membrane

Endocytosis

Means "moving particles into the cell", using vesicle formation from the plasma membrane

Structures common to all cells

Include DNA, Plasma membrane, Cytoplasm, and Ribosomes