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?
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What does the prefix An- mean?
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What does the prefix Anti- signify?
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What is the meaning of the prefix Aqua-?
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What does the prefix Archae- mean?
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What does the suffix -ase refer to?
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What does the prefix Auto- mean?
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What is the meaning of the prefix Bi-?
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What does the prefix Bio- signify?
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What does the prefix Carni- mean?
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What does the prefix Carcin- refer to?
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What does the prefix Centi- indicate?
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What does the prefix Cephal- mean?
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What is the meaning of the prefix Chemo-?
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What does the prefix Chloro- signify?
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What does the prefix Chromo- mean?
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What does the prefix Co- refer to?
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What does the suffix -Cide stand for?
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What does the prefix Cyt- mean?
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What does the prefix De- signify?
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What does the prefix Di- mean?
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What does the prefix Derm- refer to?
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What does the prefix Ecto- mean?
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What does the prefix Endo- signify?
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What does the prefix Epid- mean?
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What does the prefix Erythro- indicate?
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What does the prefix Eu- mean?
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What does the prefix Exo- signify?
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What does the prefix Gam- mean?
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What does the prefix Gastro- mean?
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What does the suffix -genesis refer to?
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What does the prefix Geno- mean?
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What does the prefix Geo- signify?
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What does the prefix Hemo- mean?
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What does the prefix Herbi- signify?
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What does the prefix Hetero- mean?
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What does the prefix Homo- signify?
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What does the prefix Hydro- mean?
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What does the prefix Hyper- mean?
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What does the prefix Inter- signify?
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What does the prefix Hypo- mean?
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What does the prefix Iso- signify?
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What does the suffix -itis mean?
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What does the prefix Kilo- mean?
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What does the suffix -lateral indicate?
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What does the suffix -logy refer to?
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What does the suffix -lys signify?
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What does the prefix Macro- mean?
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What does the prefix Meso- signify?
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What does the prefix Meter- mean?
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What does the prefix Micro- signify?
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What does the prefix Mono- mean?
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What does the prefix Morph- refer to?
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What does the prefix Neuro- mean?
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What does the prefix Non- signify?
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What does the prefix Omni- mean?
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What does the prefix Oo- refer to?
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What does the suffix -Ose signify?
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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.