Biology Prefixes And Suffixes With Examples

Front 1

a~, an~

Back 1

not; without

EX. Asymmetrical - Not symmetrical; not the same on both sides

Front 2

geo~

Back 2

earth

EX. GEOlogy - The study of the earth

Front 3

photo~

Back 3

light


EX. PHOTOsynthesis - Turning light energy into food

Front 4

semi~

Back 4

half

EX. SEMI permeable - Some things can go through it

Front 5

bi~

Back 5

two

EX. BIlateral - Having two sides

Front 6

cyto~

Back 6

cell; cells

EX. CYTOkinesis - Process in which the cytoplasm of a cell is split

Front 7

myo~, mys~

Back 7

muscle

EX. MYOglobin - Oxygen storing protein found in muscle cells

Front 8

osteo~

Back 8

bone

EX. OSTEOporosis - Thinning of bones

Front 9

chondr~

Back 9

cartilage

EX. CHONDRoma - Tumor in cartilage

Front 10

peri~

Back 10

around

EX. PERIcardium - Sack around heart

Front 11

macro

Back 11

large

EX. MACRObiology - The study of large living organisms

Front 12

auto~

Back 12

self

EX. AUTOmatic - Having the capability of starting, operating, moving, etc., independently

Front 13

syn~

Back 13

together

EX. SYNthesis - The combination of two or more entities that together form something new

Front 14

neuro~

Back 14

nerve

EX. NEUROblast - Embryonic cell that develops into a nerve cell

Front 15

iso~

Back 15

equal

EX. ISOmetric - Having equal measurement

Front 16

homo~

Back 16

same; alike

EX. HOMOgeneous - Of the same or a similar kind or nature

Front 17

hetero~

Back 17

different; other

EX. HETEROgeneous - Consisting of dissimilar or diverse ingredients

Front 18

endo~

Back 18

in; into; within

EX. ENDOtherm - Organism that generates heat internally to maintain a constant body temperature

Front 19

exo~

Back 19

out; exit

EX. EXOskeleton - The external skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body

Front 20

epi~

Back 20

upon; above

EX. EPIphyte - A plant that grows on the surface of another plant for support

Front 21

nomen~

Back 21

name

EX. agNOMEN - An additional name, or an epithet appended to a name

Front 22

zoo~

Back 22

animal

EX. ZOOid - An organic cell or organized body that has independent movement within a living organism

Front 23

~in

Back 23

protein

EX. caseIN- The protein found in milk

Front 24

~ase

Back 24

enzyme

EX. lactASE - A type of enzyme that breaks down lactose

Front 25

~chord

Back 25

nerve or spinal cord

EX. CHORDae - Nerves at the bottom of spinal chord

Front 26

~therm

Back 26

heat

EX. THERMometer - An instrument used to measure heat

Front 27

~phage

Back 27

eat; engulf

EX. PHAGocyte - A cell that engulfs and absorbs waste material, harmful microorganisms, or other foreign bodies in the bloodstream and tissues

Front 28

~soma

Back 28

body; object

EX. psychoSOMAtic - Relating to a disorder having physical symptoms, but mental or emotional causes

Front 29

~genesis

Back 29

origin; producing, birth

EX. bioGENESIS - The creation of substances by living organisms

Front 30

~logy

Back 30

study of

EX. bioLOGY - The study of living organisms

Front 31

~derm

Back 31

skin; covering

EX. taxiDERMy - The act of preparing, preserving, and mounting the skins of animals

Front 32

~vore

Back 32

to eat

EX. herbiVORE - An organism that only eats plants

Front 33

~ose

Back 33

carbohydrate (sugar)

EX. glucOSE - A simple sugar found in plants

Front 34

~cardia

Back 34

heart

EX. tachyCARDIA - Very fast heartbeat

Front 35

~troph

Back 35

feeding; nourish

EX. autoTROPH - Organism that is self nourishing or capable of generating its own food

Front 36

~sis

Back 36

process

EX. osmoSIS - The process of solvent molecules moving through a membrane into an area of higher solute concentration to equalize the solute concentrations on both sides

Front 37

~lysis

Back 37

burst

EX. diaLYSIS - A process for removing waste and excess water from the blood

Front 38

~pore

Back 38

hole

EX. PORous - Having many holes or other small spaces that can hold a gas or liquid or allow it to pass through

Front 39

~ped

Back 39

foot

EX. PEDestrian - A person traveling on foot

Front 40

~nomy

Back 40

ordered knowledge

EX. asrtoNOMY - The study of celestial objects

Front 41

~cide

Back 41

killer, killing

EX. pestiCIDE - Substance meant for preventing, destroying or mitigating any pest

Front 42

~blast

Back 42

bud; beginning stage

EX. lymphoBLAST - Immature cells which differentiate to form mature lymphocytes

Front 43

~mer

Back 43

unit; molecule

EX. monoMER - A molecule which can be bonded to other monomers to form a polymer

Front 44

~itis

Back 44

disease; inflammation

EX. arthrITIS - A disease that causes joint inflammation