Prefixes & Suffixes

Scientific Vocabulary

a-

not, without amoral – not moral abiotic – not living

characteristics asexual – not sexual asymmetrical – not

symmetrical anaerobic – without oxygen

auto-

by itself

automatic – weapon that shoots by itself (without reloading)

autotroph – eats what it produces by itself

automobile – moves by itself

bi-

two, 2, both bipedal – walks on 2 feet biracial – born of 2 races bisexual – sex with 2 sexes binary fission – bacteria

reproduction of dividing into 2 parts

bilateral symmetry – symmetry of dividing into 2 sides

binomial nomenclature – naming of species by using 2 names

bio-

life, living

biology – study of living things biosphere – living things on the Earth biochemistry – chemistry of living

things biodiversity – diversity of living things biomolecules – molecules that make

up living things biomass – mass of living things biome – life zone biotic – living characteristics biotechnology – technology dealing

with life

mono-

one, 1 monomer – made out of only 1 unit

monohybrid – cross only 1 way

study of archeology – study of old human cultures

geology – study of the Earth hydrology – study of water psychology – study of human

mind

-logy

hetero-

different, other heterotroph – eats what others produce

heterosexual – sex with the other sex

heterozygous – different alleles

homo-

same, similar homosexual – sex with the same sex

homeostasis – same state (equilibrium)

homozygous – same alleles homologous chromosomes –

chromosomes of the same pair

homologous structures – structures similar because of common ancestry

POLY-

many polymer – made up of many units

polygenic inheritance – inheritance dealing with many genes

almost, half-way

semiconductor – a very weak conductor

semipermeable – somewhat permeable (lets some things through but others)

semifinals – almost finals, but not quite finals

semi-

Photo-

light photosynthesis – synthesis requiring light

photography – picture-making requiring light

photocell – battery cell requiring light