Download Biology Etymology

By: Mark Garcia
1. An / Ana
4
2. Ase
5
3. Cat / Cata
6
4. Cis
6
5. Co
7
6. Eu
7
7. Hydro
8
8. Hyper
9
9. Hypo
10
10. Ic
10
11. Iso
11
12. Karyote
12
13. Lysis
12
14. Macro
13
15. Mer
13
16. Meta/Metabol
14
17. Micro
14
18. Mono
14
19. Ose
15
20. Peptide
15
21. Philic
16
22. Phobic
16
23. Photo
16
24. Polar
17
25. Poly
17
26. Pro
18
27. Saccharide
18
28. Synthesis
18
29. Tonic/Tonicity
19
30. Trans
19
31. Valence
20
1. An / Ana
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Up, Upwards
Example:
Anion - any atom (ion) that has acquired at least one additional
electron (the number of electrons has gone up). (Figure 1)
Anabolic Process - process used by organisms to build up more
complex structures from simpler ones.
Figure 1. Electron exchange between sodium and chlorine results in the
formation of sodium and chloride ions. Here, the chloride ion is classified
as the anion.
2. Ase
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Suffix
Origin: French & Greek
Literal Translation: A suffix used in the names of enzymes
Example:
Lactase - the enzyme involved in the metabolism of
the sugar lactose. (Figure 2)
Enzyme
Function
Amylase
Catalyzes the metabolism of starch into smaller subunits
ATP Synthase
Uses the exergonic flow of H+ to drive phosphorylation of ATP
Dehydrogenase
Oxidizes a substrate by facilitating the removal of hydrogens
from it
DNA Polymerase
Involved in the elongation of DNA polymers that occurs during
the process of DNA replication
Helicase
Involved in the “unwinding” of the double helical structure of
nucleic acids
Hexokinase
Phosphorylates a sugar that contains six-carbons
Isomerase
Assists with the transformation, structurally, of isomers
Lactase
Involved in the metabolism of the sugar lactose
Maltase
Involved in the metabolism of the sugar maltose
Protease
Used in the catabolism of various proteins
RNA Polymerase
Involved in the elongation of RNA polymers that occurs during
the process of transcription
Sucrase
Involved in the metabolism of the sugar sucrose
Figure 2. While not all enzymes end in “ase,” typically any term in a biological context that
ends in “ase” describes a molecule that is classified as an enzyme.
3. Cat / Cata
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Down, Downwards
Example:
Cation - any atom (ion) that has lost at least one additional electron
(the number of electrons has gone down). (Figure 3)
Figure 3. Electron exchange between sodium and chlorine results in
the formation of sodium and chloride ions. Here, the sodium ion is
classified as the cation.
Catabolic Process - process used by organisms to break down
more complex structures into simpler ones.
4. Cis
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Latin
Literal Translation: On the Near Side of
Example:
Can be used to denote the spatial arrangement of a geometric
isomer wherein the atom(s) of interest that are attached to either of
the carbons lie on the same (near) side of the isomer. (Figure 4)
Figure 4. Geometric isomer in the cis
orientation.
5. Co
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Latin
Literal Translation: Together
Example:
Covalent bond - a bond between atoms where the electrons in the
valence shell of each atom are shared to give each atom a full
valence. (The valence electrons between the two atoms are
counted together so that both atoms appear to have full valences).
(Figure 5)
Figure 5. Polar Covalent Bonds
between Oxygen & Hydrogen in a
Water Molecule
6. Eu
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Good, Well, True, Genuine
Example:
Eukaryote / Eukaryotic - An organism that has cells with membrane
bound organelles, and genetic material that is housed in a nucleus.
Karyote actually translates to nut or kernel (in this case that can be
taken to mean that the nucleus acts as the kernel of the cell). So,
the term literally translates to a cell or organism that has a genuine
nucleus.
7. Hydro
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Water; Presence of Hydrogen
Example:
Hydrophobic - Describes any substance or molecule that is afraid
of water.
Hydrolysis - Chemical reaction where a water is split as a means
of catabolizing a compound. (Figure 6)
Figure 6. A larger polymer is catabolized into a
smaller polymer and a monomer by means of a
hydrolysis reaction.
Hydrocarbon - Describes a particular structure that is composed
exclusively of carbons and hydrogens. (Figure 7)
Figure 7. A molecule of pentane, which
is also classified as a hydrocarbon.
8. Hyper
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Over; Excessive
Example:
Hypertonic - Describes a solution that has a higher (excessive) solute
concentration compared to that of another solution. (Figure 8)
Figure 8. A bag containing a 10% NaCl
solution is placed in a beaker
containing a 20% NaCl solution. In
this particular example, the solution in
the beaker is hypertonic to the solution
in the bag because the NaCl
concentration is higher in the beaker
than in the bag.
Hyperactive - Can describe the polypeptide(s) that have been produced
from a mutated gene(s) than now exhibit unregulated or excessive activity.
(Figure 9)
Figure 9. Development
of a hyperactive form of
a particular protein due
to a mutation in the
genetic material.
9. Hypo
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Under; Below
Example:
Hypotonic - Describes a solution that has a lower solute
concentration compared to that of another solution. Its solute
concentration is below that of the other solution’s. (Figure 10)
Figure 10. A bag containing a 10%
NaCl solution is placed in a beaker
containing a 20% NaCl solution. In
this particular example, the solution in
the bag is hypotonic to the solution in
the beaker because the NaCl
concentration is lower in the bag than
in the beaker.
10. Ic
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Suffix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Of, relating to, or characterized by
Example:
Hydrophilic - Term used to describe a molecule that is characterized by
its affinity for water.
11. Iso
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Equal; Similar
Example:
Isotonic - Describes a solution that has an equal solute
concentration compared to that of another solution. (Figure 11)
Figure 11. A bag containing a 20%
NaCl solution is placed in a beaker
containing a 20% NaCl solution.
In this particular example, the two
solutions are isotonic to one
another.
Isomer - Describes two molecules that have the same molecule formula,
but different structures. (Figure 12)
Figure 12. Structural isomers that have the same
chemical formula of C5H12 but a different covalent
structure.
Isotope - Describes an atom of a particular element that has the same
number of protons in its nucleus, and therefore the same atomic number,
but has a different number of neutrons, which alters its mass.
12. Karyote
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Suffix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Nut; Kernel
Example:
Eukaryote - An organism that has cells with membrane
bound organelles, and genetic material that is housed in a nucleus.
(in this case that can be taken to mean that the nucleus represent the
kernel of the cell, much like the kernel at the center of a piece of popped
popcorn).
13. Lysis
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Suffix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Loosen, Release
Example:
Hydrolysis - Chemical reaction where a water is split (its bonds are
loosened or released) as a means of catabolizing a compound.
Figure 13. A larger polymer is catabolized into a smaller
polymer and a monomer by means of a hydrolysis
reaction.
Lysis - Occurs when a virus invades a cell and hijack the cell machinery to
produce new viral particles until the internal pressure of the cell is too
great. At this point in time the cell lyses or bursts, which occurs because
the membrane loosens and eventually allows all of the cell contents and
new viral particles to escape. (Figure 14)
Figure 14. The viral lytic cycle wherein a virus invades a cell, and, when enough new viruses have
been assembled, the cell lyses releasing them.
14. Macro
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Long
Example:
Macromolecule - Larger or longer biological molecules that are built
from smaller subunits.
15. Mer
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Suffix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Unit, Part, Portion
Example:
Monomer - A single subunit or part of a larger molecule or biological
structure.
Isomer - Describes two molecules or units that have the same molecule
formula, but different structures.
16. Meta/Metabol
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Change, Alteration
Example:
Metabolism - The combination of anabolic and catabolic processes that
help to maintain an organism’s homeostasis. (Anabolic and Catabolic
processes result in changes to molecular structures and the transformation
between energy states)
17. Micro
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Small
Example:
Microbiology - The study of very small organisms.
18. Mono
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Alone, Single, One
Example:
Monomers - Single subunit of a larger unit or molecule. (Figure 15)
Monosaccharide - Single sugar structure such as Glucose. (Figure 15)
Figure 15. A polysaccharide is shown. The molecule within the
confines of the red box represents one of the glucose monomers that
composes this larger polymer. Furthermore, this glucose molecule is
classified as a monosaccharide.
19. Ose
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Latin
Literal Translation: Full of; Denotes a Carbohydrate
Example:
Glucose - Six carbon sugar (carbohydrate) that is metabolized during
glycolysis and fermentation. Glu actually translates to Sweet, so the word
glucose translates to Full of Sweet. (Figure 16)
Sugar
Amylose
Deoxyribose
Fructose
Glucose
Lactose
Maltose
Ribose
Sucrose
Figure 16. List of various sugars ending with “ose.” Note
that not all sugars or carbohydrates will end with “ose,”
but if a word in a biological context does end with “ose,” it
is most likely a carbohydrate/sugar.
20. Peptide
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Root
Origin: 1905-1910
Literal Translation: Refers to any compound that is composed of two or more amino
acids joined by bonds between their carboxyl and amino
groups
Example:
Polypeptide - A subunit of a protein that is composed of a chain of amino
acids
21. Philic
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Suffix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: To love; Loving
Example:
Hydrophilic - Describes any molecule, compound or particle that has an
affinity (loves) for water.
22. Phobic
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Suffix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: To fear
Example:
Hydrophobic - Describes any molecule, compound or particle that does
not have an affinity for (fears) water
23. Photo
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Light
Example:
Photosynthesis - Process that converts light energy to chemical energy
(glucose precursor). (Figure 17)
Figure 17. Diagram that depicts the process of
photosynthesis as it occurs throughout the
chloroplast and acts to convert light energy to
chemical energy.
24. Polar
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Latin, Greek
Literal Translation: Axis, Pole
Example:
Polar Covalent Bond - A covalent bond wherein electrons are shared
unevenly due to a large enough difference in electronegativities of the two
atoms involved in the bond. The result is that the molecule containing this
bond may have a pole with a slight negative charge, and a pole with a
slight positive charge. (Figure 18)
Figure 18. Water is a polar molecule
due to the uneven way that oxygen
and hydrogen share electrons.
25. Poly
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Many, Much
Example:
Polymer - A molecule made from many smaller subunits.
Polysaccharide - A carbohydrate made from many (three or more)
monosaccharides. (Figure 19)
Figure 19. The polysaccharide shown is composed from many
monosaccharides, making it a polymer.
26. Pro
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Before
Example:
Prokaryote / Prokaryotic - An organism that has cells without membrane
bound organelles, and its genetic material exists in an undefined nuclear
region of the cytoplasm. Karyote actually translates to nut or kernel (in
this case that can be taken to mean that the nucleus acts as the kernel of
the cell). So, the term literally translates to before nucleus.
27. Saccharide
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Sugar
Example:
Monosaccharide - A single sugar.
28. Synthesis
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix, Root & Suffix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: Syn means with or together; the means to put or place, sis means
the action of
Example:
Protein Synthesis - The action of putting together smaller subunits to
make a protein. (Figure 20)
Figure 20. Shows the synthesis
of a protein as it occurs during
translation at the ribosome.
29. Tonic/Tonicity
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Greek
Literal Translation: The Osmotic Pressure of a Solution
Example:
Isotonic - Instance where the osmotic pressure of a solution is equal to
that of another solution (solute concentrations are equal)
30. Trans
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Latin
Literal Translation: Across, Beyond
Example:
Can be used to denote the spatial arrangement of a geometric
isomer wherein the atom(s) of interest that are attached to either of
the carbons lie on opposite sides of the isomer (they are across from one
another). (Figure 21)
Figure 21. Geometric isomer in the cis
orientation.
31. Valence
Root, Prefix or Suffix: Prefix
Origin: Latin
Literal Translation: To be strong; Strenght
Example:
Valence Shell - The outer most shell of an atom containing electrons. The
electrons in the valence shell of an atom will have the highest level of
potential energy of all the electrons in that atom (their potential energy
will be the strongest). (Figure 22)
Figure 22. An atom of oxygen is shown
will all of its total number of electrons
occupying two shells. The outermost
shell in the diagram represents the
valence shell.
References:
1. (2011). In Dictionary.com. Retrieved July 16, 2011, from Dictionary.reference.com
All prefixes, suffixes, and root meanings for this document were obtained by using
Dictionary.com. This document is intended for educational purposes only, and is not meant to be
reproduced or sold for any purpose.