Biology Root Words Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What does the prefix A- mean?

Without

What does the prefix Aero- indicate?

Needing oxygen or air

What is the meaning of the prefix Amphi-?

Both

What does the prefix Arthro- refer to?

Joint Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix An- mean?

Without, not Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Anti- signify?

Against Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the prefix Aqua-?

Water Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Archae- mean?

Ancient Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -ase refer to?

Enzyme Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Auto- mean?

Self Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the prefix Bi-?

Two Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Bio- signify?

Life Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Carni- mean?

Meat Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Carcin- refer to?

Cancer Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Centi- indicate?

Hundredth Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Cephal- mean?

Head Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the prefix Chemo-?

Chemical Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Chloro- signify?

Green Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Chromo- mean?

Color Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Co- refer to?

Together Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -Cide stand for?

Kill, Killer, Killing Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Cyt- mean?

Cell Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix De- signify?

Away Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Di- mean?

Two Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Derm- refer to?

Skin Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Ecto- mean?

Out Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Endo- signify?

In Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Epid- mean?

Above Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Erythro- indicate?

Red Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Eu- mean?

True, Genuine Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Exo- signify?

Out, external Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Gam- mean?

Marriage, join Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Gastro- mean?

Stomach Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -genesis refer to?

Origin Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Geno- mean?

Breed, kind Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Geo- signify?

Earth Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Hemo- mean?

Blood Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Herbi- signify?

Plant Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Hetero- mean?

Different Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Homo- signify?

Same Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Hydro- mean?

Water Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Hyper- mean?

Above Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Inter- signify?

Between Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Hypo- mean?

Below Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Iso- signify?

Same, Equal Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -itis mean?

Disease or inflammation Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Kilo- mean?

Thousand Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -lateral indicate?

Side Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -logy refer to?

Study of something Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -lys signify?

Breakdown Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Macro- mean?

Large Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Meso- signify?

Middle Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Meter- mean?

Measurement Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Micro- signify?

Small Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Mono- mean?

Single, One Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Morph- refer to?

Shape Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Neuro- mean?

Nerves Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Non- signify?

Not Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Omni- mean?

All Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix Oo- refer to?

Egg Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -Ose signify?

Sugar Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Root Words in Biology

Understanding root words can enhance comprehension of biological terms and concepts.
Many biological terms are derived from Greek and Latin, which indicates their meanings.

Common Prefixes and Suffixes

A-: Meaning without (e.g., abiotic refers to non-living factors).
Aero-: Relating to oxygen or air (e.g., aerobic processes require oxygen).
Amphi-: Meaning both (e.g., amphibian refers to organisms that can live both on land and in water).
Arthro-: Pertaining to joints (e.g., arthropod is a phylum that includes insects with jointed limbs).
An-: Meaning without or not (e.g., anaemic refers to a deficiency of red blood cells).
Anti-: Against (e.g., antibiotic substances work against bacterial infections).
Aqua-: Relating to water (e.g., aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms).

Important Biological Terms

Archae-: Ancient (e.g., archaebacteria are a group of microorganisms distinct from bacteria).
-ase: Suffix indicating enzymes (e.g., lipase breaks down fats).
Auto-: Meaning self (e.g., autotroph organisms produce their own food).
Bi-: Meaning two (e.g., bipedal describes animals that move on two legs).
Bio-: Pertaining to life (e.g., biology is the study of life).

Key Biological Classifications

Carni-: Meaning meat (e.g., carnivore organisms that eat meat).
Carcin-: Relating to cancer (e.g., carcinogen is a substance that can lead to cancer).
Centi-: Indicating a hundred (e.g., centimeter is one hundredth of a meter).
Cephal-: Meaning head (e.g., cephalopod refers to head-footed animals like squids).
Chemo-: Relating to chemicals (e.g., chemosynthesis is the process of transforming chemical energy into food).

Understanding Biological Processes

Chloro-: Signifying green (e.g., chlorophyll is essential for photosynthesis).
Chromo-: Related to color (e.g., chromatography is a method for separating mixtures).
Co-: Together (e.g., coevolution refers to the influence of two species on each other’s evolution).
-Cide: Meaning kill (e.g., herbicide is used to kill unwanted plants).

Cellular Biology Terminology

Cyt-: Meaning cell (e.g., cytoplasm is the fluid inside the cell).
De-: Meaning away (e.g., detrivore refers to organisms that feed on decaying organic material).

Structural and Functional Classifications

Di-: Meaning two (e.g., diploid cell contains two sets of chromosomes).
Derm-: Relating to skin (e.g., epidermis is the outer layer of skin).
Ecto-: Meaning out (e.g., ectotherm refers to organisms that rely on external heat).
Endo-: Meaning in (e.g., endotherm refers to warm-blooded organisms).

Additional Biological Terms

Epid-: Meaning above (e.g., epidermis covers the surface of organisms).
Erythro-: Referring to red (e.g., erythrocyte is a red blood cell).
Eu-: Meaning true (e.g., eukaryote organisms have complex cells with a nucleus).
Exo-: Indicating out or external (e.g., exoskeleton is an external skeleton).
Gam-: Referring to marriage or joining (e.g., gamete is a reproductive cell).

Physiology and Ecology Terms

Gastro-: Relating to the stomach (e.g., gastroenteritis affects the stomach and intestines).
-genesis: Indicating origin (e.g., spermatogenesis is the formation of sperm).
Geno-: Meaning breed or kind (e.g., genotype denotes the genetic constitution of an organism).

Earth and Environmental Terms

Geo-: Pertaining to Earth (e.g., geology is the study of the Earth’s structure).
Hemo-: Relating to blood (e.g., hemophilia is a genetic disorder affecting blood clotting).
Herbi-: Reference to plants (e.g., herbivore describes organisms that eat plants).

Genetic and Hormonal Words

Hetero-: Meaning different (e.g., heterozygous refers to having different alleles).
Homo-: Meaning same (e.g., homozygous involves identical alleles for a gene).
Hydro-: Relating to water (e.g., hydrophilic substances attract water).
Hyper-: Meaning above (e.g., hypertonic solutions have a higher concentration of solutes).
Inter-: Indicating between (e.g., interphase is the phase between cell divisions).

Concentration and Inflammation Terms

Hypo-: Meaning below (e.g., hypotonic solutions have a lower concentration of solutes).
Iso-: Meaning same or equal (e.g., isotonic solutions have equal concentrations).
-itis: Indicating inflammation (e.g., dermatitis is inflammation of the skin).
Kilo-: Meaning thousand (e.g., kilogram is a unit of measurement).
-lateral: Referring to sides (e.g., unilateral involves one side only).

Fields of Study and Measurement

-logy: Denotes the study of a subject (e.g., microbiology is the study of microorganisms).
lys-: Indicating breakdown (e.g., hemolysis is the breakdown of red blood cells).
Macro-: Meaning large (e.g., macroevolution refers to major evolutionary changes).
Meso-: Meaning middle (e.g., mesoderm is the middle layer in embryonic development).
Meter-: Pertaining to measurement (e.g., kilometer is a measure of distance).
Micro-: Meaning small (e.g., microscope is an instrument to view small objects).
Mono-: Meaning single or one (e.g., monosaccharide is the simplest form of sugar).
Morph-: Referring to shape (e.g., morphology is the study of form and structure).
Neuro-: Pertaining to nerves (e.g., neuron is a basic cell unit of the nervous system).
Non-: Indicating not (e.g., nonrenewable denotes resources that cannot be replenished).
Omni-: Meaning all (e.g., omnivore organisms consume both plants and animals).
Oo-: Relating to eggs (e.g., oogonium is a female germ cell).
-ose: Suffix for sugars (e.g., glucose is a simple sugar essential for energy).

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Description

This quiz features flashcards that explore essential root words used in biology. Each card presents a word, its meaning, and examples to help you enhance your understanding of biological terminology. Perfect for students and enthusiasts wanting to deepen their vocabulary.