Word Part

Word Part Meaning

Word Part Example

Meaning of Example

a-, an-, non-, un-

Without, Not

Aphotic, Anaerobic, Nonrenewable

Without light, Without air or oxygen, Not able to replenish naturally

ab-, ef-

Away

Aboral, Efferent neuron

Away from the mouth, nerve cells going away from brain

ad-, af-

Toward

Adductor muscle, Afferent neuron

Muscle movement toward the body, nerve cells going toward the brain

adi-, lip-

Fat

Adipose, Liposuction

Fat tissue, Removing fat tissue

amphi-

Both sides

Amphibian

Both sides of land and water

ana-

Up

Anabolic

Build up of larger molecules from smaller molecules

angio-

Vessel, Container

Angiosperm, Angiogram

Container for seed, Picture of a blood vessel

anti-, contra-

Opposite, Against

Anticodon, Contraception

Opposite of codon, Against conception

avi-, orni-

Bird

Aviary, Ornithologist

Bird cage, Bird studier

bi-, di-, diplo-

Two

Bipedal, Diploid, Diplococcus

Two feet, Two sets of chromosomes, Two round bacteria

deutero-

Second

Deuterostome

Mouth develops second (the anus develops first)

cat-, de-

Down

Catabolic, Decomposer

Break down of big molecules into small molecules, Break down of dead organisms

centi-

100

Centigrams

100 grams

co-, com-, con-

Together, Both

Codominance, Community, Conjugation

Both alleles (trait type – size, color) are dominant, Organisms living together

corp, som

Body

Corpse, Somatic cell

Dead body, Body cell (any cell that is not an egg or sperm)

Word Part

Word Part Meaning

Word Part Example

Meaning of Example

deca-, deci-

10

Dekameter, Deciliter

10 meters, 10 liters

dia-, dif-, dis-

Through, Apart, Across

Diarrhea, Dissect, Diffusion

Flow through, Cut apart, Across (cell membrane)

echin-

Spiny

Echinoderm, Echidna

Spiny skin (sea star), (spiny anteater)

eco-

Where one lives, Home

Ecology

Study of where organisms live

epi-

Upon, Over, Atop

Epidermis, Epicardium, Epiphytes

Upon the dermis (skin), Over the heart, Atop a plant

eu-

True

Eukaryote, Eucoelomate

True nucleus (protective membrane around DNA), True body cavity

ex-, extra-, exo-

Out, Outside, Beyond

Extinct, Extracellular, Extrapolation

Died out, Outside the cell, Beyond known values (on a graph)

hapl-, mono-, uni-

One

Haploid, Monosaccharide, Unicellular

One set of chromosomes, One unit of sugar (glucose), one celled organism

herb-, -phyte

Plant

Herbivore, Epiphyte

Plant eater, Atop a plant

homo (greek)

Same

Homozygous

Same alleles (form of a gene)

Word Part

Word Part Meaning

Word Part Example

Meaning of Example

hyper-

More, Excessive

Hypertonic, Hypertension

More solute (something dissolved in water), Excessive blood pressure

hypo-, sub-

Less, Below

Hypotonic, Hypotension, Subatomic

Less solute, Below normal blood pressure, Below atoms (protons, neutrons, electrons)

kilo-, mill-

1000

Kilogram, Milliliter

1000 grams, 1000^th of a liter

inter-

Between

Intercellular

Between cells

intra-, endo-

Inside

Intracellular, Endoderm

Inside a cell, Inside layer of a developing embryo

meta-

Change

Metamorphosis

Change in shape

oct-

8

Octopus

8 feet

para-

Beside

Parallel, Parapodia

Side by Side, Feet to the side

pent-

5

Pentradial

5 spokes or rays (sea star has 5 rays/arms)

peri-

Around

Pericardium

Around the heart

Word Part

Word Part Meaning

Word Part Example

Meaning of Example

post-

After

Post mortem

After death

pre-

Before

Prenatal

Before birth

quat-, quad, tetra-

4

Quarternary, Quadiceps, Tetrapod

4^th, 4 heads, 4 feet

re-

Again

Reproduce

Produce again

semi-, hemi-

One-Half

Semipermeable, Hemisphere

Allows some (1/2), but not all things through, One-half a sphere (ball-shape)

sym-, syn,- sys

With, Together

Symbiosis, Synthesize, System

Organisms living with each other, Put together, Working together

tert-, tri-

3

Tertiary, Trisomy

3^rd, 3 bodies (chromosomes)

trans-, per-

Across, Through

Transport, Transdermal, Permeable

Across a cell membrane, Through the skin, Through a cell membrane

aero-

Air, Oxygen

Anaerobic

Without oxygen

anthro, homo (latin)

Man, Human

Anthropoid, Homo sapien

Man-like, Man who is wise

Word Part

Word Part Meaning

Word Part Example

Meaning of Example

aqua-, hydr-

Water

Aquatic, Hydration

Of water, With water

arthro-

Joint

Arthropod, Arthritis

Jointed foot, Joint inflamation

auto-

Self

Autotroph

Self feeder (can make their own energy, usually by photosynthesis)

bio-, vita-

Life

Biosphere, Vitamin

Where life exists on earth, Organic molecules necessary for life

card-

Heart

Cardiology

Study of the heart

ceph-

Head

Cephalization

Concentration of sense organs at the front of an animal’s body, its head

cerv-

Neck

Cervical vertebrae

Bones of the neck

carn-

Meat, Flesh

Carnivore

Meat-eater

chloro-

Green

Chlorophyl

Green leaf

chrom-

Color

Chromosome

Colored body

Word Part

Word Part Meaning

Word Part Example

Meaning of Example

-coel (seel)

Space, Cavity, Hollow

Eucoelomate

Having a true body cavity or hollow space  (within the mesoderm germ layer)

-cide

Kill

Herbacide, Insecticide

Plant killer, Insect killer

-cyte

Cell

Erythrocyte, Osteocyte

Red blood cell, Bone cell

dent, dont

Tooth or Teeth

Dental plaque, Orthodontist

Teeth with patches of bacterial growth, Dr. who straightens teeth

derm

Skin

Epidermis, Ectoderm

Top skin layer, Outer layer of tissue/skin during embryo development

dors-, noto-

The Back

Dorsal fin, Notochord

Fin on the back of a fish, A embryonic structure that will become vertebrae

ecto-, exo-

Out, Outside

Ectoderm, Exoskeleton

Outer layer of tissue during embryo development, Skeleton on outside of body

-emia

Blood Condition

Hyperglycemia, Sickle cell anemia

High blood sugar levels, Sickle shaped red blood cells (should be circular)

entomo-, insect

Insect

Entomologist, Insectivore

Insect studier, Insect eater

Equ-, iso-

Equal, Same

Isotonic

Solute levels are equal on both sides of a membrane (inside & outside the cell)

Word Part

Word Part Meaning

Word Part Example

Meaning of Example

erthr-

Red

Erythrocyte

Red blood cell

gastr-

Stomach

Gastrointestinal (GI)

Stomach and intestines

geo

Earth

Geotropim

A plant’s response to the earth’s gravity

lingu

Tongue

Sublingual

Under the tongue

gnath (nath)

Jaw

Agnathan

A fish without a jaw

-gram, -graph

Written or Picture

Electrocardiogram, Sonography

Print out of the heart’s electrical activity, Taking  pictures using sound waves

helix

Spiral, Coil

Double helix

Two strands in a spiraled shape

hem-

Blood

Hemorrhage

Bleed heavily

hepato-

Liver

Hepatitis

Inflammation of the liver

herp-

Reptile

Herpetologist

Study of reptiles (lizards, croc’s, turtles, and snakes)

Word Part

Word Part Meaning

Word Part Example

Meaning of Example

hetero-

Different, Other

Heterozygous, Heterotroph

Offspring gets different forms of same trait (Tt), Other feeder (ex. herbivore)

-ichthyes

Fish

Chondrychthyes, Osteichthyes

Fish with a cartilage skeleton, Fish with a bony skeleton

-itis

Inflammation of

Dermatitis, Laryngitis

Inflammation of the skin, Inflammation of the larynx (voicebox)

leuco-

White

Leucocyte

White blood cell

loc

Place

Locus

Place on a chromosome where a specific gene is found

lys-

To Loosen

Lyses

Process of loosening up or digesting a cell membrane causing cell death

macro-, mega-

Large

Macromolecule, Megafauna

Large molecules (lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids), Big animals

mar-

Sea

Marine Biology

Study of life in the Sea or Ocean

medi-, meso-

Middle

Medial, Mesoderm

Middle, Middle layer of tissue during embryo development

meta-, muta-

Change

Metastasis, Mutation

Cancer cells that change location (spread), Change in the # or sequence of DNA

Word Part

Word Part Meaning

Word Part Example

Meaning of Example

meter

Measurement

Spirometer, Sphygmomanometer

Measures inhalation & exhalation, Measures blood pressure

micro-

Small

Microsporangia, Microbiology

Small spore carriers (male), Study of microbes (bacteria, viruses, etc.)

morph

Shape, Form

Mesomorph, Metamorphosis

Middle form, Change in shape (tadpole to frog)

multi, myria, poly-

Many

Multicellular, Myriapod, Polysaccharide

Organism made of many cells, Organism w/many feet, Many monosaccharides

myo-

Muscle

Myofibril, Fibromyalgia

Muscle cell, Muscle pain

nasal, rhin, probosc

Nose

Nasal septum, Rhinoplasty, Proboscis

Wall dividing nasal cavity, Surgery of reshaping the nose, Elephant’s trunk

neo-

New

Neonatal

Newborn

nephr-, renal

Kidney

Nephron, Renal vein

Part of the kidney that filters/cleans blood, Vessel taking blood to the kidney

nom-

Name

Binomial nomenclature

Two-name naming system (Homo sapien = Humans)

-logy

Study or Science of

Mycology, Virology

Study of Fungi, Study of Viruses

Word Part

Word Part Meaning

Word Part Example

Meaning of Example

-oma

Tumor

Carcinoma, Lymphoma

Cancer-causing tumor, Tumor of the lymphatic system

omni-, toti-

All

Omnivore, Totipotent

Eats all – plants & animals, All important cell (zygote) – becomes all cells

oo-, ov-

Egg

Oogonia, Oviduct, Oviparous

Egg stem cells, Egg carrying tube, Eggs that are hatched outside the mother

orth-

Straight

Orthoptera, Orthodontist

Straight-winged insect order (grasshoppers), Dr. who straightens teeth

oste-

Bone

Osteoarthritis, Osteocyte

Inflammation where bones meet (joint), Bone cell

paleo-, archeo-

Old, Ancient

Paleontology, Archeology

Study of fossils and the history of earth, Study of ancient civilizations

patho-

Disease

Pathogens

Disease-causing organisms (some bacteria, some viruses, etc.)

ped, pod

Feet, Foot

Centipede, Tetrapod

100 feet, 4 feet

phago, troph, vore

To Feed or Eat

Phagocyte, Autotroph, Carnivore

Eating cell (white blood cells), Self-Feeders (photosynthesizers), Meat eater

-phore

Carry, To Bear

Chromatophore

Color or pigment carrying cell

Word Part

Word Part Meaning

Word Part Example

Meaning of Example

photo-, lumin

Light

Photosynthesis, Bioluminescence

Using light to make glucose, Organisms that can create light

-phyte

Plant

Epiphyte

A plant that grows atop of another plant

pino-

Drink

Pinocytosis

Process of a cell engulfing/drinking liquids or dissolved substances

pinn-, plum-, -pter

Wing, Feather, Fin

Pinnepedia, Plummage, Hymenoptera

Using fins for feet (seals), Feather shape & patterns, Straight membraned wings

platy-

Flat

Platyhelminthes, Platypus

Flatworm, Flat foot

dendro-, arbor-

Tree

Dendrochronology, Arboretum

Counting tree rings to determine its age, Place where many different trees grow

chel-

Claw

Cheleped, Chelicerata

Clawed foot (lobster’s big claw), Classification of spiders with small claws

schizo-

Split

Schizocoely, Schizophrenia

Cavity formed at the split of the endo- & ectoderm (protostomes), Split mind

-ose

Sugar

Glucose

A simple sugar or monosaccharide made by photosynthesis in autotrophs

-ase

Enzyme

Amylase, Lipase

Enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates, Enzyme that breaks down lipids

Word Part

Word Part Meaning

Word Part Example

Meaning of Example

-ploid

Chromosome

Haploid, Diploid

One set of chromosomes, Two sets of chromosomes

pneumo-, pulmo-

Lungs

Pneumonia, Pulmonary artery

Infection of the lungs, Vessel taking blood from the heart to the lungs

prim-, prot-

First

Primary consumer, Protozoa

1^st organisms to eat producers (herbivores), 1^st animal (heterotrophic Protists)

pseudo-

False

Pseudocoelomate, Pseudopodium

False body cavity (between ecto- & endoderm), False foot (found in amoeba’s)

sapr-

Rotten

Saprotroph

Feeds on Rotting organic matter/dead organisms (also called decomposers)

-scope

View, See

Microscopic, Macroscopic

To see or view something small, To see or view something w/o using a scope

-sect, -tom

Cut

Bisect, Anatomy

Cut in two, To cut up

sperm

Seed

Spermacide, Spermatid

Sperm killer, A small or immature sperm

spir

Breathe

Inspire, Spiracle

To breathe in, Hole found on insects for air to enter and leave (breathing)

stas, stat

Unchanging

Homeostasis

Unchanging chemical conditions in healthy organisms

Word Part

Word Part Meaning

Word Part Example

Meaning of Example

stom-, ora

Mouth

Stomata, Oral cavity

Hole or mouth in leaves allowing gas exchange (O₂ & CO₂), Mouth space

tax-

Arrange

Taxonomy

A system used to arrange or classify a large number of organisms

telo-

End

Telophase, Telomeres

End of mitosis, End or tip of chromosomes

Terr

Land

Terrestrial ecosystem

All living and nonliving things in a designated area on land

therm

Heat

Thermophile, Thermometer

Bacteria that live in hot areas, Heat measuring instrument

toxic

Poison

Neurotoxin, Hemotoxin

Poison to the nervous system, Poison in the blood

trop, volv

Turn, Change

Phototropism, Evolution

Plant’s response of turning toward light, How organisms change over time

zyg

Yoke (egg + sperm)

Zygote, Homozygous

Union of egg & sperm, Zygote receives the same gene from both egg & sperm

zo

Animal

Zoology

Study of animals

ventr-

Belly

Ventral

Belly portion of an organism (portion of a worm that touches the ground)