Bio2 Root Words Examples

Practice vocabulary flashcards covering common biological prefixes, suffixes, meanings, and examples.

anaerobic

in the absence of air, avascular.

aerobic

in the presence of air or oxygen.

ameboid

movement which is done by changing shapes.

amylase

an enzyme which breaks down starch.

anabolism

building up of molecules opposite of catabolism.

antibiotic

a substance that prevents microbial growth.

archaeobacteria

"ancient" bacteria.

ascomycetes

a baglike structure which is referred to a group of fungi.

autotroph

self-feeder refers to plants and some bacteria.

bacillus

rod-shaped refers to bacteria.

basidomycetes

a group of fungi.

biology

the study of life.

Bivalent

a molecule that has two covalent bonds.

bovine

cattle.

carcinoma

cancer.

eucaryote

a cell with a membrane-enclosed nucleus.

chlorophyll

green-pigmented molecule.

chromosome

readily stained structure

metachromatic intracellular colore granules

intracellular colore granules

bactericide

an agent that kills bacteria.

cilia

a hairlike structure that some cells possess.

coccus

a spherical cell.

colon

large intestine

Escherichia coli (E. coli)

a bacterium found in the large intestine.

cyanobacteria.

blue bacteria

cystitis

inflammation of the urinary bladder.

cytology

the study of cells.

dipolcocci

pairs of cocci

disaccharide

two sugar molecules attached to each other

dysfunction

disturbed function.

ec-, ex-, ecto-

ectoparasite; parasite that live outside of their host, excretion; release of hormones outside, exergonic reaction; a chemical reaction that release energy.

en-, em-

in, inside. Ex: endoparasite; parasites that live inside of their host.

entero-

intestine. Ex: enterobacater; a type of bacteria.

epi-

upon, over. Ex: epidemiology; study of the occurrence of diseases.

erythro-

red. Ex: erythrocyte; red blood cells.

eu-

well, proper, true. Ex: eucaryote, a true cell.

exo-

outside, outer layer. Ex: exogenous, from outside the body.

extra-

outside, beyond. Ex: extracellular, outside the cells of an organism.

flagell-

a whip. Ex: flagellum, a structure that some prokaryotic and eucaryotic cells possess.

fruct-

fruit. Ex: fructose, fruit sugar.

galacto-

milk. Ex: galactose, a monosaccharide found only in milk.

gamet-

to marry. Ex: gamete, a reproductive cell.

gastr-

stomach. Ex: gastrointestinal tract; stomach and the intestine.

-gen

an agent that initiates. Ex: pathogen, any agent that produces disease.

-genesis

formation. Ex: spermatogenesis, production of sperm.

-gony

reproduction. Ex: gametogony; production of gametes.

halo-

salt. Ex: halophile, an organism that can live in high salt concentrations.

haplo-

one, single. Example: haploid, half the number of chromosomes or one set.

hema-, hemato-, hemo-

blood. Ex: hemoglobin; a molecule in the red blood cell.

hepat-

liver. Ex: hepatocytes; liver cells.

herpes

creeping. Ex: herpes, or shingles, lesions appear to creep along the skin.

hetero-

different, other. Ex: heterotroph, feed upon other organic nutrients from other organisms, heterozygous; different alleles on a gene.

hist-

tissue. Ex: histology, the study of tissues.

hom-, homo-

same. Ex: homozygous; same allele on a gene.

hydr-, hydro-

water. Ex: dehydration, loss of body water.

hyper-

excess. Ex: hypertonic, having a greater osmotic pressure in comparison with another.

hypo-

below, deficient. Ex: hypotonic, having a less solute outside of the cell than inside of the cell.

im-

not, in. Ex: impermeable, not permitting passage.

inter-

between. Ex: intercellular, between the cells.

intra-

within, inside. Ex: intracellular, inside the cell.

iso-

equal, same. Ex: isotonic, having the same concentration of solute inside and outside of the cell.

itis-

inflammation of. Ex: encephalitis, inflammation of the brain.

lacti-

milk. Ex: lactose, the disaccharide in milk.

leuko-

white. Ex: leukocytes, white blood cells.

lip- , lipo-

fat, lipid. Ex: lipase, an enzyme that breaks down fats.

-logy

the study of. Ex: parasitology, the study of parasites.

-lysis

loosening, to break down. Ex: hydrolysis; break down of chemical reactions by water molecules

macro-

large. Ex: macronucleus; large nucleus found in ciliata

meso-

middle. Ex; mesophile, an organism whose optimum temperature is in the middle range.

meta-

beyond, between, transition. Ex: metaphase; when chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell

micro-

small. Ex: microbiology; study of the small organisms.

mnesia-

memory. Ex: amnesia, loss of memory; anamnesia, return of memory.

mono-

single. Ex: monosaccharide; single sugar molecule.

morpho-

form. Ex: morphology, the study of the form and structure of organisms.

multi-

many. Ex: multicellulra; having many cells.

mut-

to change. Ex: mutation a change in characteristics.

myco-, -mycetoma, -myces

fungus. Ex: mycology; study of fungi.

oligo-

small, few. Ex: oligosaccharide, a carbohydrate made up of a few monosaccharides.

-oma

tumor. Ex: lymphoma, a tumor of the lymphatic tissues.

osis-, sis-

condition of. Ex: lysis, the condition of loosening; symbiosis, the condition of living together

pan-

all, universal. Ex: pandemic, an epidemic affecting a large region.

para-

beside, near. Ex: parasite, an organism that "feeds beside" another.

peri-

around. Ex: periosteum; membrane of fibrous connective tissue that covers the external surface of bones of the skeleton.

phago-

eat. Ex: phagocytosis, the process of cell eating.

philo-, -phil

liking, preferring. Ex: thermophile, an organism that prefers high temperatures.

-phyll

leaf. Ex: chlorophyll, the green pigment found in leaves.

phyte-

plant. Ex: saprophyte, a plant that obtains nutrients from decomposing organic matter.

pil-

a hair. Ex: pilus, a hairlike projection from a cell found in bacteria.

pod-

foot. Ex: pseudopod, a false footlike structure.

poly-

many. Ex: polypeptide; a molecule that is composed of several amino acids.

post-

after, behind. Ex: posterior, a place behind a (specific) part.

pre-, pro-

before, ahead of. Ex: procaryote, a cell with the first nucleus; pregnant, before birth.

pseudo-

false. Ex: pseudopod, false foot.

rhizo-

root. Ex: mycorrhiza, a fungus that grow in or on roots of some plants.

saccharo-

sugar. Ex: disaccharide, a sugar molecules that has two simple sugars.

semi-

half, some. Ex: semipermeable, allowing some materials to get through the membrane.

soma-

body. Ex: somatic cells, cells of the body other than gametes.

spiro-

coil. Ex: spirochete, a bacterium with a coiled cell.

sporo-

spore. Ex: sporangium, a structure that holds spores.

staphylo-

grapelike cluster. Ex: Staphylococcus, a bacterium that forms clusters of cells, like grapes.