1. Biology prefixes, root words, and suffixes
Mrs. Harris
2015

2. pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis?

3. pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolc anoconiosis?

4. What Makes Biology So Hard?
Vocabulary – If you knew the prefixes and suffixes, you can tackle the tough words!!!
Have you ever heard of pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolc anoconiosis?

5. Yes, this is an actual word. What does it mean?
It is an obscure term ostensibly referring to a lung disease caused by silica dust, sometimes cited as one of the longest words in the English language.

6. What do these terms mean?
Ursus maritimus
Odocoileus virginianus
nocturnal enuresis
borborygmi.
gustatory rhinitis
horripilation.
crepitus

7. Biology can be filled with words that sometime seem incomprehensible
Biology can be filled with words that sometime seem incomprehensible. By "dissecting" these words into discrete units, even the most complex terms can be understood. The following pages are designed to give you the tools needed to understand the most common prefixes and suffixes in biology. By using these prefixes and suffixes, even the most difficult words like the one above can be easily understood.

8. Means - A or An – Not or without Examples – asexual, abiotic

9. Anti Means – Against or opposite Example - Antibiotic

10. Aqua - water

11. -ase meaning – enzymes
Example - Lactase

12. Auto – meaning: self Examples - autotroph

13. Bacter – bacteria
Examples: Bacteria

14. Bi Means – two, twice, double Example - biceps

15. Example - biotechnology
Means – life
Example - biotechnology

16. Carcin- meaning: cancer causing
Examples - carcinogen

17. Carn Means – meat or flesh Example - Carnivore

18. Cholor- Means - green Example - chlorophyll

19. Example – suicide, pesticide
Means - kill
Example – suicide, pesticide

20. Cilia Means – hair like Example - ciliates

21. Co - Means – together or with Example - coevolution

22. Cyt- Means - cell Example - cytoplasm

23. Di - Means –two Example – diurnal & dichotomous

24. Eco Means – house Example – ecosystem

25. Endo Means – inner Example - endoderm

26. Eu- Means – true or good Example – eukaryotic cells

27. Epi- Means –above or upon Example - epidermis

28. Ex(o)
Means – out or from
Example - exocytosis

29. gene Means – origin or birth Example - biogenesis

30. Glyco() Means – sugar Example - glycogen

31. Gluc- Means – sugar Example - glucose

32. Herb Means – plant Example - herbivore

33. Means – other or different Example - heterosexual
Mr. & Mrs. Forman July 2004

34. Hibern – Means – Sleep Example - Hibernate

35. Homo or Homeo Means – same Example - homocercal

36. Hyper- Means – above, greater than normal Example – hypertension

37. Hydr Means – water Example - hydrology

38. Hypo- Means – below or less than normal Example - hypotonic

39. -ist Means – person who studies Example - cytologist

40. -itis Means – inflammation Example - arthitis

41. Karyo- Means – cell nucleus Example – prokaryotic cell

42. -lys Means – decompose, split, dissolve Example – analysis or cell lysis

43. Macr(o)- Means – large Example - Macromolecule

44. Micro- Means – small Example – microscope

45. Multi- Means – many Example – multicellular

46. ology Means – study of Example – paleontology

47. -phil Means – love Example – hydophilia or hemophilia

48. phob Means – fear Example – arachnophobia

49. photo Means – light Example – photosynthesis or phototropism

50. -phyll Means –leaf Example – chlorophyll

51. -plasm Means – jelly or formative substance Example -cytoplasm

52. -pod Means – foot Example - arthopod

53. Poly- Means – many Example – polymers usually used in chemistry

54. Pseudo- Means – false Example – pseudopod

55. sacchar Means – sugar Example - polysaccaride

56. syn Means – to put together Example - photosynthesis

57. Means – nourishment or one who feeds Example - Autotroph

58. -therm Means – heat Example – endothermic or exothermic

59. uni-
Means – one or single
Example - unicellular

60. -vor-
means- devour or eat
Examples - carnivore

61. Zo/zoa Means – animal Example – protozoa – protist that are animal like - consumer

62. Zyg- Means – union or to form Example - zygote

63. Homework
Monday 8/18 There will be a matching quiz on these words. Create at least 20 flash cards to study – due day of quiz Practice!