Download Combination Words and Word Combinations

Combination Words and Word Combinations
Many scientific words are based either on combinations of prefixes/suffixes of Greek,
Latin, Indo-European or other origin linked to descriptive words or are combinations of
short independent words included together as part of descriptive phrases. Examples of
combination links include: af- (inward; toward), ecto- (outside; outer), endo- (inside; on
the surface), ef- (outward; away), exo- (outside; without), geno- (inherited), geo- (rock),
meso- (middle), meta- (occurring after; later; beyond), -ology (study of), -omics (a field
of study), onto- (being), tauto- (same), venti- (wind; force), etc. On the other hand,
many common word combination start with “in …”.
affect (n): the manner in which something is physically affected, influenced or disposed;
spec. the actual state or disposition of the body; senses relating to the mind; feeling
(Oxford English Dictionary; OED). Example: She was surprised to discover that the
lack of integrase could markedly affect virus particle production.
afferent (adj.): bearing or conducting inward; specifically : conveying impulses toward
the central nervous system < afferent neurons> — compare EFFERENT. (MerriamWebster Dictionary; MWD). Example: In the nervous system, afferent neurons
(otherwise known as sensory or receptor neurons), carry nerve impulses from receptors
or sense organs toward the central nervous system.
ectoderm (n): the outer cellular membrane of a diploblastic animal (as a jellyfish) ; the
outermost of the three primary germ layers of a gastrula embryo that is the source of
various tissues and structures (e.g. the epidermis, the nervous system, and the eyes
and ears). Example: The plasticity of the ectoderm layer of the early embryo is
remarkable.
ectotherm (n): a cold-blooded animal; an organism with a variable body temperature
that tends to fluctuate with and is similar to or slightly higher than the temperature of its
environment: POIKILOTHERM. — ENDOTHERM. Example: The tree frog is an
ectotherm that often rests on the top branches for warmth.
ectopic (adj.): occurring in an abnormal position or in an unusual manner or form
<ectopic lesions> (MWD). Example: The first warning signs of an ectopic pregnancy
are often pain in the pelvis and abdomen.
effector (n.): : a cell or organ (as a gland or muscle) that produces a physiological
response when stimulated by a nerve impulse or other activating agent; a molecule (as
an inducer or a corepressor) that activates, controls, or inactivates a process or action
(as protein synthesis) (MWD), Example: Effector cells are the relatively short-lived
activated cells (e.g., lymphocytes, granulocytes, mast cells, monocytes, etc.) that
defend the body in an immune response.
efferent (adj.) conducting outward or away from a part or organ; specifically : conveying
nervous impulses to an effector <efferent neurons> — compare AFFERENT (MWD).
Example: Efferent nerves – otherwise known as motor or effector neurons – carry nerve
impulses away from the central nervous system to effectors such as muscles or glands.
endocrinology (n): a branch of medicine concerned with the structure, function, and
disorders of the endocrine glands (MWD). Example: Even as an undergraduate student
he knew he wanted to get an advanced degree in endocrinology.
endocytosis (adj): incorporation of substances into a cell by phagocytosis or
pinocytosis (MWD). Example: Selectivity of the most widely used pharmacological
inhibitors of clathrin- and lipid raft/caveolae-mediated endocytosis is rather limited.
endoderm (n): the innermost of the three primary germ layers of an embryo that is the
source of the epithelium of the digestive tract and its derivatives and of the lower
respiratory tract (MWD). Example: During embryonic development it has been
demonstrated that it is the prechordal plate and not the head endoderm that provides
the early signals essential for establishment of the hypothalamus.
endogamy (n): the fusion of reproductive cells from closely related parents, i.e.,
“inbreeding”; marriage within a specific group as required by custom or law; compare
EXOGAMY (OED). Example: In many isolated populations endogamy is common.
endogenous (adj.): caused or produced by factors inside the organism or system;
growing or produced by growth from deep tissue (MWD). Example: This is a peculiar
trait endogenous to the subspecies.
endolymph (n): the watery fluid in the membranous labyrinth of the inner ear (OED).
Example: Potassium is the main cation of endolymph which means that it, and not
sodium, is carried as the depolarizing electrical current in the hair cells.
endometrium (n): the mucous membrane lining the uterus. Example: The
endometrium is comprises a mucus-secreting layer, which is shed during menstruation,
and a basal layer, which proliferates to form the upper layer.
endomitosis (n): division of chromosomes not followed by nuclear division that results
in an increased number of chromosomes in the cell (MWD). Example: Drug-induced
endomitosis is commonly used to produce new species of polyploidy plants.
endonuclease (n): an enzyme that breaks down a nucleotide chain into two or more
shorter chains by cleaving the internal covalent bonds linking nucleotides; compare
EXONUCLEASE (MWD). Example: HindIII is a type II site-specific endonuclease that
cleaves the palindromic DNA sequence AAGCTT in the presence of the cofactor Mg2+
via hydrolysis of the phosphodiester backbone.
endosome (n): a vesicle formed by the invagination and pinching off of the cell
membrane during endocytosis (MWD). Example: We analyzed the endosome contents
of a receptor-recycling fraction isolated from livers of estradiol-treated rats.
endosperm (n): a nutritive tissue in seed plants formed within the embryo sac by
division of the endosperm nucleus (MWD). Example: The endosperm was targeted as
a storage site for the transgenic protein.
endospore (n): an asexual spore developed within the cell especially in bacteria
(MWD). Example: Endospore staining involves the application of dyes such as
Malachite green that stains endospores green and safrinin that stains vegetative cells
pink.
endothelium (n) : an epithelium of mesodermal origin composed of a single layer of
thin flattened cells that lines internal body cavities and the lumens of vessels; the inner
layer of the seed coat of some plants (MWD). Example: We investigated the impact of
infection of the endothelium by different viruses on subsequent granulocyte adherence
endotoxin (n): : a toxic heat-stable lipopolysaccharide substance present in the outer
membrane of gram-negative bacteria that is released from the cell upon lysis (MWD).
Example: We tested for bacterial endotoxin on medical devices following FDA approved
guides.
endotherm (n): an animal that can generate and maintain heat within its body
independently of the environmental temperature; compare EXOTHERM (OED).
Example: Mammals and birds are endotherms and are often referred to as being warmblooded.
endothermic (adj.): characterized by or formed with absorption of heat; compare
EXOTHERMIC (MWD). Example: So much heat was absorbed by the endothermic
reaction that the room cooled by several degrees Centigrade during the experiment.
exocrine (adj.) : producing, being, or relating to a secretion that is released outside its
source (MWD). Example: Exocrine pancreatic cells produce enzymes that are secreted
into the small intestine and help digest food as it passes through the gastrointestinal
tract.
exocytosis (n): the release of cellular substances (as secretory products) contained in
cell vesicles by fusion of the vesicular membrane with the plasma membrane and
subsequent release of the contents to the exterior of the cells; in dermatology: infiltration
of the epidermis by inflammatory or circulating blood cells; compare ENDOCYTOSIS.
Example: Evidence indicates that the drug affects the coupling of synaptotagmin-1 to
the SNARE complex and thus could act as negative regulator of exocytosis.
exogamy (n): the fusion of reproductive cells from distantly related organisms, i.e.,
outbreeding ; marriage outside of a specific group especially as required by custom or
law; compare ENDOGAMY (MWD). Example: Driving away of the young males from a
primarily female herd is one mechanism for maintaining exogamy for the group.
exogenous (adj.): describing substances, stimuli, etc., that originate from outside an
organism ; produced by growth from superficial tissue; compare ENDOGENOUS
(MWD). Example: Since humans do not synthesize cobalamin (vitamin B12) it must be
supplied in the diet from an exogenous source.
exon (n): a polynucleotide sequence in a gene that codes information for protein
synthesis and that is copied and spliced together with other such sequences to form
messenger RNA (MWD). Example: Exon ‘skipping’ during the processing of
presenillin-2 messenger RNA is frequently associated with the development of
Alzheimer’s disease.
exonuclease (n): an enzyme that breaks down a nucleic acid by removing nucleotides
one by one from the end of a chain — compare ENDONUCLEASE (MWD). Example :
Exonuclease III has a double-strand specific, nonprocessive 3´to 5´ exodeoxyribonuclease activity.
exothermic (adj.): characterized by or formed with evolution of heat; compare
ENDOTHERMIC (MWD). Example: The exothermic reaction was so intense it melted
the plastic beaker.
exotoxin (n): a soluble poisonous substance produced during growth of a
microorganism and released into the surrounding medium; compare ENDOTOXIN
(MWD). Example: Exotoxins produced by parasites are frequently highly potent and
can cause major damage to the host.
genome (n): the genetic material of an organism; one haploid set of chromosomes with
the genes they contain (MWD). Example: Completion of the human genome project
was the biological equivalent of landing a man on the moon.
genotoxicity (adj.): damaging to genetic material. Example: The genotoxicity of many
common environmental chemicals are only now becoming recognized.
genotype (n): all or part of the genetic constitution of an individual or group (MWD).
Example: the genotype of an organism often limits its ability to adapt to new
environments.
geotaxis (n): a taxis in which the force of gravity is the directive factor (MWD).
Example: The most pronounced examples of geotaxis are found in invertebrates.
mesoderm (n): the middle of the three primary germ layers of an embryo that is the
source especially of bone, muscle, connective tissue, and dermis (MWD). Example:
The mesoderm first makes its embryological appearance following gastrulaton.
mesophyll (n): the internal tissue of a leaf blade; an organism growing at a moderate
temperatures. Example: Mesophyll cells are specialized for photosynthesis.
mesophyte (n); any plant adapted to grow in soil that is well supplied with water and
mineral salts. Example: The majority of flowering plants are mesophytes.
mesothelium (n): epithelium derived from mesoderm that lines the body cavity of a
vertebrate embryo and gives rise to epithelia (as of the peritoneum, pericardium, and
pleurae), striated muscle, heart muscle, and several minor structures (MWD). Example:
Phagocytosis of asbestos particles by cells of the mesothelium can lead to diseases
such as malignant mesothelioma.
Mesozoic: the geological era that extended about 250 million years ago to about 65
million years ago. It is called the Age of Dinosaurs because most dinosaurs developed,
and went extinct, during that time. Example: Many believe that birds are present day
descendents of the flying dinosaurs from the Mesozoic Era.
-ology: is a suffix in the English language, used with words originally adapted from
Ancient Greek language ending in -λογία (-logia). The earliest English examples were
anglicizations of the French -logie, which was in turn inherited from the Latin -logia. It
has two main senses in English: a combining form used in the names of sciences or
bodies of knowledge (e.g. theology or sociology); and, the root word nouns that refer to
kinds of speech, writing or collections of writing (e.g. eulogy or trilogy) (Wikipedia).
Example:
-omics: The English-language neologism -omics informally refers to a field of study in
biology ending in -omics, such as genomics or proteomics. The related suffix -ome is
used to address the objects of study of such fields, such as the genome or proteome,
respectively (Wikipedia). Example: Currently there are so many –omics bandied about
(metabolomics, transcriptomics, parasitomics, etc.) one wonders how we ever survived
before while studying the same things but under different names.
in silico (adv. or adj.): an expression used to mean "performed on computer” or via
“computer simulation." Example: Today many biological classes are employing in silico
simulations to dissect frogs and other organisms.
in situ (adv. or adj.): in the natural or original position or place (OED). Example: An in
situ cancer confined to the breast duct is easily removed by surgery.
in utero (adv. or adj.): in the uterus; before birth (MWD). Example: Certain sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs) can be passed to the fetus in utero.
in vitro (adv. or adj.): Biol. [lit. ‘in glass’.] in a test tube, culture dish, etc.; hence,
outside a living body, under artificial conditions; also attrib., performed, obtained, or
occurring in vitro. Applied to phenomena that are observed in experiments carried out
in the laboratory with microörganisms, isolated cells, digestive ferments, and other
agents, but that may not necessarily occur within the living body (Oxford English
Dictionary; OED). Example: Alexis Carrel was awarded the Nobel Prize for his
pioneering efforts in the culture of cells and organs in vitro.
in vivo Biol. within the living organism; also attrib., performed, obtained, or occurring in
vivo (OED). Example: In vivo experiments with transgenic mice demonstrated that the
gene was truly oncogenic.
ventifact (n): a stone shaped, polished, or faceted by windblown sand. Example: The
sedimentary rock in Death Valley looks like concrete and open grooves in the
ventifacts are called flutes.
ventilate (v): to examine, discuss, or investigate freely; to make public (MWD).
Example: The professor took every opportunity to ventilate his views to an audience.
ventilation (n): the process by which a continuous exchange of gases is maintained
across respiratory surfaces; a system or means of providing fresh air (OED). Example:
In air-breathing vertebrates ventilation is the movement of air into and out of the lungs.