Bio Sci

I dunno about you guys but when I know the meaning of a term, I understand what that word  means without having to be told. Here’s a few examples of prefixes, suffixes, word roots etc that I hope at least one person will find useful. I have provided an example of each term using a real word at the end.

• adip-, from adipos meaning ‘fat’ (adipocytes)
• alb-, from albicans meaning ‘white’ (albino)
• angio-, from angeion meaning ‘vessel’ (angiotensin)
• -ase, indicates an enzyme (lactase, maltase, etc)
• auto-, meaning self (autoimmune)
• bi-, meaning two (bisexual)
• brachy-, from brachys meaning ‘short’ (brachydactyl)
• brady-, from bradys meaning ‘slow’ (bradycardia)
• carcin-, from karkinos meaning ‘cancer’ (carcinoma)
• cyan-, from kyanos meaning ‘blue’ (cyanosis)
• cyst-, from kystis meaining ‘sack’ (blastocyst)
• cyto- from kytos meaning ‘cell’ (cytology)
• ecto-, from ektos meaning ‘outside’ (ectocytosis)
• endo-, from endon meaning ‘inside’ (endocytosis)
• epi-, meaning ‘upon’ (epistasis)
• erythro-, from erythros meaning ‘red’ (erythrocyte)
• ex-, meaning outside of or away from (exoskeleton)
• -gen or -genic, from gennan meaning ‘to produce’ (mutagen)
• glyco-, from glykos meaning ‘sugar’ (glycogen)
• haemo-, from haima meaning ‘blood’ (haematology)
• hetero-, from hetros meaning ‘other’ (heterosexual)
• homeo-, from homoios meaning ‘similar’ (homeostasis)
• homo-, from homos meaning ‘same’ (homosexual)
• hydro-, from hydros meaning ‘water’ (hydrophilic)
• iso-, from isos meaning ‘equal’ (isotonic)
• -itis, meaning ‘inflammation’ (dermatitis)
• kino-, -kinin, meaning ‘to move’ (bradykinin)
• lac-, lacto-, -lactin, meaning ‘milk’ (lactase)
• leuk-, from leukos meaning ‘white’ (leukocyte)
• lipo-, from lipos meaning ‘fat’ (lipolysis)
• -lyse, -lysis, meaning ‘break open’ (hydrolyse)
• macro-, from makros meaning ‘huge’ (macrophage)
• meta-, meaning ‘after’ (metastasis)
• micro-, from micros meaning ‘tiny’ (microscope)
• mono-, from monos meaning ‘single’ (monosaccharide)
• necro-, from nekros meaning ‘corpse’ (necrosis)
• neo-, meaning ‘new’ (gluconeogenesis)
• oligo-, from oligos meaning ‘a few’ (oligopeptide)
• -oma, meaning ‘swelling’ (carcinoma)
• onco-, from onkos meaning ‘tumour’ or ‘swelling’ (oncology)
• -ose, indicates a sugar (glucose)
• -osis, meaning ‘state’ or ‘condition’ (apoptosis)
• path-, patho-, from pathos meaning ‘disease’ (pathology)
• peri-, meaning ‘around’ (perimysium)
• phago-, meaning ‘to eat’ (phagocyte)
• -phil, -philia, from philos meaning ‘to love’ (hydrophilia)
• -phobia, from phobos meaning ‘fear’ (hydrophobia)
• polys-, meaning ‘many’ (polysaccharide)
• retro-, from retros meaning ‘backward’ (retrovirus)
• sarco-, from sarkos meaning ‘flesh’ (sarcomere)
• -sis, meaning ‘state’ (metastasis)
• som-, from soma meaning ‘body’ (somatic)
• tachy-, from tachys meaning ‘fast’ (tachycardia)
• telo-, from telos meaning ‘end’ (telomere)
• tox-, from toxikon meaning ‘poison’ (toxic)
• trans-, meaning ‘through’ (transsexual)
• tri-, meaning ‘three’ (trimester)
• vas-, meaning ‘vessel’ (vascular)
• virus, meaning ‘toxic’ (virology)