Latin and Greek in Biology

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Latin and Greek in Biology

• Mrs. Penning
• Mr. McFadden

Biology St. Paul Public Schools
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How does it work in science?

• Latin and Greek prefixes, suffixes, and root
  words can be used to make an infinite amount of
  words

3
Why were Latin and (old) Greek chosen for
scientific terminology?

• Both are more descriptive than English (as well
  as lots of other languages)
• Both are old (dead) languages that are unspoken
  and wont change

4
Overview
Learn Latin and Greek
Learn Biology
micro
Bio
geo
ren
epi
myo
itis
eco
aqua
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. Prefix/Suffix/Root

• Meaning

• Examples

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1) bio-

• life

• biology, biologist, biosphere, biotechnology,
  biotic, biography, bioluminescence, biodiversity,
  symbiosis

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2) -ology

• the study of

• biology, geology, dermatology, zoology

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3) -ologist

• person who studies

• biologist, geologist, zoologist

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4) scien-

• to know knowing

• science, scientist, scientific, omniscient,
  conscience

10
5) geo-

• earth or rock

• geology, geologist, geotropism

11
6) -sphere

• globe or ball

• spherical, biosphere, atmosphere

12
7) gen-, -gen

• to bring to life to create

• genesis, generator, generation, genetics, gene,
  antigen, mutagen, carcinogen

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8) non-, in-, un-

• not

• nonliving, nonverbal, nonviolent, nonpolar,
  inactive, inefficient, intangible, unhealthy,
  unable

14
9) cyto-, -cyte

• cell

• cytology, cytologist, leukocyte, erythrocyte,
  endocytosis, exocytosis, osteocyte

15
10) -scope

• instrument or tool

• microscope, telescope, stethoscope, periscope,
  colonoscopy

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11) micro-

• very small

• microbe, microscope, microbiology, microtubule

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12) uni-

• one

• unicycle, unibrow, uniform, unite, unicellular

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13) multi-

• many

• multicultural, multi-talented, multi-tasking,
  multicellular

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14) cardi-

• heart

• cardiac arrest, cardiovascular, pericardium

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15) myo-

• muscle

• myocyte, myosin, myocardium, myopathy

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16) hema-, hemo-

• blood

• hemoglobin, hemophilia, hematoma, hemolysis,
  hematite

22
17) cereb-

• brain

• cerebrum, cerebral, cerebellum

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18) gastro-

• stomach

• gastrointestinal, gastric juices, gastritis

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19) hepato-

• liver

• hepatitis, hepatic, hepatectomy

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20) nephro-

• kidney

• nephron, nephritis, nephrotomy

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21) ren-

• kidney

• renal (failure), rennin, renal

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22) pulmo-

• lung

• pulmonary, CPR (cardiopulmonary
• resuscitation)

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23) epi-

• upon or above

• epidermis, epicenter, epiglottis, epidemic,
  epithelial (tissue), epiphyte

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24) -derm-

• skin or covering

• dermatologist, epidermis, endoderm, echinoderm

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25) -itis

• inflammation of swelling

• dermatitis, gingivitis, hepatitis,
  conjunctivitis, endocarditis

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26) osteo-

• bone

• osteoporosis, osteology, osteocyte, periosteum

32
27) eco-

• habitat environment

• ecology, ecosystem, ECOLAB

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28) aqua-

• water

• aquarium, aquatic, aquatennial

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29) terra-

• earth land

• terrace, terrarium, terrestrial, terra firma

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30) inter-

• between

• interview, intersection, interoffice (memo),
  interphase, interdependent, intervertebral

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31) intra-

• within

• intravenous, intrauterine device (IUD),
  intracellular

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32) extra-

• outside, beyond

• extraordinary, extravaganza, extracurricular,
  extraterrestrial (E.T.), extracellular
  (digestion), extrapolate

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33) sym-/syn -

• together/with

• symphony, sympathy, symbiosis, synthetic,
  synapse, synchronize

39
34) ism-

• belief/ theory

• materialism, sexism, racism, parasitism,
  mutualism, commensalism, gradualism

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35) macro-

• larger

• macroscopic, macromolecule, macroeconomics

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36) carbo-

• containing carbon

• carbon dioxide, carbohydrate, carbonize, carbonic
  (acid)

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37) mon-, mono-

• one

• monopoly, monologue, monotone, monorail,
  monarchy, monomer, monosomy, monocot

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38) di-

• two

• division, dialogue, diploid, dihybrid,
  dichotomous, dicot

44
39) sacch-

• sugar

• saccharin, monosaccharide, disaccharide

45
40) poly-

• many

• polygon, polygraph, polymer, polysaccharide,
  polypeptide, polygenic (trait)

46
41) lip-

• fat, oil, wax

• liposuction, lipid,
• lipid bilayer

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42) -ose

• fullness, origin
• (generally in biology refers to a sugar or
  starch)

• sucrose, dextrose, glucose, lactose, cellulose

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43) lact-, lacto-

• milk

• lactose (intolerant), lactate, lactobacillus,
  lactase

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44) oxy-

• containing oxygen, O

• carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygenate, deoxygenate

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45) de-

• removing

• denature (proteins), deoxyribose sugar,
  DeoxyriboNucleic Acid (DNA), decompose

51
46) -ase

• (generally in biology refers to an enzyme to
  break down an ose)

• cellulase, lactase, salivary amylase, sucrase

52
47) homo-, homeo-

• like, same, similar

• homosexual, homogeneous, homeostasis, homozygous,
  homologous

53
48) therm-, -therm

• heat

• thermometer, ectotherm, endotherm

54
49) neuro-

• nerve

• neuron, neurology, neurotransmitter

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50) photo-

• light
• photograph, photosynthesis, phototropic

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51) graph-

• writing (picture)
• photograph, biography, polygraph, graphite

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52) phospho-

• contains phosphorus P
• phosphate, phospholipid

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53) hydro-

• water
• hydroelectric (dam), hydrant, dehydrate,
  hydrophobic, hydrophilic, hydrolysis, hydroponics

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54) philos, -philic

• loving
• hydrophilic, philharmonic, philately, philosophy

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55) phobia, -phobos

• fearing
• arachnophobic, claustrophobic, hydrophobic,
  xenophobia

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56) bi-

• two
• bicycle, binoculars, bifocals, bipolar, lipid
  bilayer, binomial name, binary fission,
  bilateral, bipedal

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57) -plasm

• jelly-like substance fluid
• cytoplasm, nucleoplasm, protoplasm

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58) chrom-

• colored
• chromosome, chromatography

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59) soma-, -some

• body
• somatic cell, chromosome, lysosome

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60) pro-

• for or before
• prolife, prochoice, prokaryote

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61) -kary-

• nucleus
• prokaryote, eukaryote

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62) eu-

• true, real or good
• eukaryote, eubacteria

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63) endo-

• inner
• endoderm, endotherm, endosperm

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64) ecto-

• outer
• ectoderm, ectotherm, ectoplasm

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65) mito-

• thread-like
• mitochondria, mitosis

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66) -lys-

• break open
• Lysol, analysis, lysosome, hydrolysis, lysogenic,
  catalysis

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67) chlor-

• green
• chlorophyll, chloroplast

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68) phyll

• leaf
• chlorophyll, microphyll

74
69) leuco-, leuko-

• white
• leukemia, leukocyte

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70) erythro-

• red
• erythrocyte, erythromycin

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71) -plast

• particle
• chloroplast, leucoplast

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72) semi-

• part(ly)
• semisweet, semicolon, semiautomatic, semicircle,
  semi-permeable

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73) per-

• through
• perennial, permeate, semi-permeable

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74) hyper-

• over or beyond
• hyperactive, hyperthermia, hyperextended,
  hypertension, hypertonic

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75) iso-

• equal
• isosceles triangle, isotope, isomer, isotonic

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76) hypo-

• under or less than
• hypothermia, hypodermic (needle), hypotonic

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77) exo-

• outer
• exit, exon, exoskeleton, exocytosis

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78) -osis

• process
• symbiosis, exocytosis, endocytosis, osmosis

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79) tri-

• three
• triangle, tricycle, tripod, adenosine
  triphosphate (ATP)

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80) auto-

• self or itself
• autotroph, automatic, autograph, autobiography

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82) troph-

• feeder, feeding
• autotroph, heterotroph, trophic level,trophy

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81) hetero-

• different
• heterosexual, heterogeneous, heterotroph,
  heterozygous

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83) synthesis

• make or produce
• photosynthesis, chemosynthesis

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84) a-, an-

• without
• abiotic, asexual, acellular, amorphous, anaerobic

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85) ) centr-

• central
• centerpiece, egocentric, ethnocentric,
  centrioles, centromere

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86) meta-

• along with many
• metabolism, metamorphosis, metaphase

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87) tele-, telo-

• far away end
• telephone, telegraph, telepathy, telophase

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88) oid

• like or resembling
• spheroid, asteroid, haploid, diploid, humanoid,
  anthropoid

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89) meio-

• less, decrease
• meiosis

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90) gameto-

• reproductive germ cell
• gamete, gametogenesis, gametocyte

96
91) germ

• seed, sprig
• germ cell, germinate, germicide, wheat germ

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92) filia-, -filius-

• daughter/son
• affiliation, first filial (F1), second filial (F2)

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93) zyg-

• tied together
• zygote, homozygous, heterozygous

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94) co-

• with or together
• cooperation, coworker, co-ed, cohesion,
  codominant, coevolution

100
95) heli-

• spiral, screw
• helicopter, helical, double helix (DNA)

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96) trans-

• across
• transport, transplant, transatlantic (flight),
  transaction, transcription, translation,
  translocation

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97) septi-

• rotted
• septic tank, antiseptic, aseptic, septicemia

103
98) anti-

• against
• antibacterial, antibiotic, antiseptic,
  anti-inflammatory, anti-social, anti-perspirant,
  antigen, anticodon

104
99) muta-

• change
• mutilate, mutation, mutate, mutable, mutagen

105
100) onco-

• cancer
• oncology, oncologist, oncogene

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101) carcin-

• cancer
• carcinogen, carcinoma

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102) radia-

• go out from spread out
• radiate, radial (symmetry), radioactive,
  (adaptive) radiation

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103) taxi-

• arrangement
• taxidermy, taxonomy, taxonomist

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104) phyl-

• tribe or class (grouping)
• phylum, phylogeny, phylogenetic tree

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105) nomen-, nomin-

• name
• nominate, misnomer, nomenclature, binomial
  nomenclature

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106) onto-

• being
• ontogeny, ontology, ontological
• Ontogeny capitulates phylogeny.

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107) viru-

• slime, ooze (poison)
• virus, virology, virulent

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108) retro-

• backward
• (in) retrospect, retrospective, retrograde,
  retrovirus

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109) vacc-

• cow
• vaccine, vaccination, vaccinal

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110) -patho(s)-

• disease or suffer
• pathetic, empathy, psychopath, pathology, pathogen

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111) bac-

• rod or stick
• bacteria, bacillus, bacteriocide

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112) -cide

• to kill
• homicide, suicide, insecticide, pesticide,
  herbicide

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113) -cocc-

• round
• streptococcus, pneumococcus

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114) spire-

• coil
• spiral, spirillum

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115) archae-

• ancient, original
• archaic, archaeology, archaebacteria,
  archaeopteryx

121
116) proto-

• first
• prototype, protoplasm, protozoa

122
117) zo-

• animal
• zoo, zoology, zoologist, protozoa

123
118) pseudo-

• false
• pseudonym, pseudoscience, pseudopod

124
119) -ped(e)-, -pod-

• foot, leg
• pedestrian, pedal, pedicure, expedition,
  centipede, millipede, bipedal, podiatrist,
  pseudopod, gastropod

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120) -morph-

• form, shape
• metamorphosis, metamorphic, amorphous, polymorphic

126
121) flagel-

• whip
• flagellum, flagella, zooflagellate

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122) cilia-

• little hairs
• cilium, cilia, ciliophoran

128
123) fung-

• mushroom, toadstool
• fungus, fungi, fungal, fungicide

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124) myco-

• fungus
• mycology, mycologist, mycobacterium

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125) rhizo-

• root
• rhizome, rhizoid, Rhizopus nigrans (bread mold),
  rhizopod

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126) amphi-

• both two kinds
• amphibian, amphibious, amphipod, amphibolite

132
127) herpe-

• reptile, snake
• herpetology, herpetologist

133
128) icthy-

• fish
• ichthyology, icthyologist, icthyoid

134
129) ornitho-

• bird
• ornithology, ornithologist

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130) avi-

• bird
• aviation, avian, aviary, aviculture

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131) herba-

• grass, herb, leafy portion
• herbal, herbivore, herbaceous, herbicide

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132) carni-

• flesh
• carnivore, carnal, carnival

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133) omni-

• many
• omnitheatre, omnivore, omnipotent

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134) -vore-

• eating to devour
• voracious, carnivore, herbivore, omnivore

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Thats All Folks
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Summary

• Tests and quizzes to follow