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word roots
Microbiology
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| a-, an- | absence, lack. Examples: abiotic, in the absence of life; anaerobic, in the absence of oxygen |
| -able | able to, capable of. Example: viable, having the ability to live or exist |
| aer- | air. Example: aerate, to add air |
| albo- | white. Example: Streptomyces albusproduces white colonies |
| amphi- | around. Example: amphitrichous, tufts of flagella at both ends of a cell |
| ana- | up. Example: anabolism, building up |
| ant-, anti- | opposed tom preventing. Example: antimicrobial, a substance that prevents microbial growth. |
| Archae- | ancient. Example: archaeobacteria, “ancient” bacteria thought to be like the first form of life |
| aur- | gold. Example: Staphylococcusaureus, gold pigmented colonies |
| aut-, auto- | self. Example: autotroph, self-feeder |
| bacillo- | a little stick. Example: bacillus, rod-shaped |
| bio- | life. Example: biology, the study of living things |
| bovi- | cattle. Example: Mycobacteriumbovis, a bacterium found in cattle. |
| brevi- | short. Example: Lactobacillusbrevis, a bacterium with short cells. |
| carcin- | cancer. Example: carcinogen, a cancer causing agent |
| chloro- | green. Example: chlorophyll, green-pigmented molecule. |
| Chrom- | color. Examples: chromosome, readily stained molecule; metachromatic, intracellular colored granules. |
| chryso- | golden. Example: Streptomyceschryseus, bacteria with golden colonies. |
| -cide | killing. Example: bactericide, an agent that kills bacteria |
| cili- | eyelash, hairlike. Example: cilia, a hairlike organelle. |
| co-, con- | together. Examples: concentric, having a common center, together in the center |
| cocci- | a berry/spherical. Example: coccus, a spherical cell |
| col-, colo- | colon. Example: Escherichiacoli, a bacterium found in the large intestine. |
| -cut or cut- | the skin. Example: Firmicutes, bacteria with a firm cell wall, gram positive |
| cyano- | blue. Example: cyanobacteria, blue-green pigmented organisms |
| cyst- | bladder. Example: cystitis, inflammation of the urinary bladder. |
| cyt- | cell. Example: cytology, the study of cells. |
| de- | undoing, reversal, loss, removal. Example: deactivation, becoming inactive |
| di-, diplo- | twice, double. Example: diplococci, pairs of spherical bacteria |
| dia- | through, between. Example: diaphragm, the wall through or between two areas |
| dys- | difficult, faulty, painful. Example: dysfunction, disturbed function. |
| ec-, ex-, ecto- | out, outside, away from. Example: excrete, to remove materials from the body. |
| en-, em- | in, inside. Example: encysted, enclosed in a cyst |
| entero- | intestine. Example: Enterobacter, a bacterium found in the intestine. |
| eo- | dawn, early. Example: Eobacterium, a 3.4 billion-year-old fossilized bacterium. |
| epi- | upon, over. Example: epidemic, number of cases of a disease over the normally expected number |
| eu- | well, proper, new. Example: eukaryote, a cell with a proper “kernel”/nucleus |
| exo- | outside, outer layer. Example:exogenous, from outside the body |
| extra- | outside, beyond. Example: extracellular, outside the cells of an organism |
| firmi- | strong. Example: Bacillusfirmus, forms resistant endospores |
| flagell- | a whip. Example: flagellum, a projection from a cell; in eukaryotes it pulls cells in a whiplike fashion |
| flav- | yellow. Example: Flavobacteriumcells produce yellow pigment. |
| -fy | to make. Example: magnify, to make larger |
| gastr- | stomach. Example: gastritis, inflammation of the stomach |
| gel- | to stiffen. Example: gel, a solidified colloid |
| -gen | an agent that initiates. Example: pathogen, any agent that produces disease |
| -genesis | formation. Example: pathogenesis, production of disease |
| germ, germin- | bud. Example: germ, part of an organism capable of developing |
| -gony | reproduction. Example: schizogony, multiple fission producing many new cells |
| halo- | salt. Example: halophile, an organism that can live in high salt concentrations |
| haplo- | one, single. Example: haploid, half the number of chromosomes |
| hema-, hemato-, hemo- | blood. Example: Haemophilius, a bacterium that requires nutrients from blood cells. |
| hepat- | liver. Example: hepatitis, inflammation of the liver |
| herpes | creeping. Example: herpes, lesions appear to creep along the skin |
| hetero- | different, other. Example: heterotroph, obtains organic nutrients from other organisms; other feeder |
| hist- | tissue. Example: histology, the study of tissues |
| hom-, homo- | same. Example: homofermenter, an organism that produces on one type of acid from carbohydrate fermentation |
| hydr-, hydro- | water. Example: dehydration, loss of body water. |
| hyper- | excess. Example: hypertonic, having a greater osmotic pressure in comparison with another. |
| Hypo- | below, deficient. Example: hypotonic, having a lesser osmotic pressure in comparison with another. |
| inter- | between. Example: intercellular, between cells. |
| intra- | within, inside. Example:intracellular, within a cell. |
| iso- | equal, same. Example:isotonic, having the same osmotic pressure in comparison with another. |
| -itis | inflammation of. Example: colitis, inflammation of the large intestine. |
| -karyo, -caryon | a seed, nut Example:eukaryote, a cell with a membrane-enclosed nucleus |
| kin- | movement. Example:streptokinase, an enzyme that lyses or moves fibrin |
| lacti- | milk. Example:lactose, the sugar of milk |
| leuko- | whiteness. Example:leukocyte, a white blood cell. |
| lip-, lipo- | fat, lipid. Example:lipase, an enzyme that breaks down fats |
| -logy | the study of. Example:pathology, the study of changes in structure and function brought on by disease. |
| -lysis | loosening. Example: hydrolysis, chemical decomposition of a compound into other compounds as a result of taking up water. |
| macro- | largeness. Example:macromolecules, large molecules like lipids, proteins and carbohydrates. |
| meso- | middle. Example:mesophile, an organism whose optimum temperature is in the middle range. |
| meta- | beyond, between, transition. Example:metabolism, chemical changes occurring within a living organism |
| micro- | smallness. Example:microscope,an instrument used to make small objects appear large. |
| -monas | a unit. Example:Methylomonas, a unit (bacterium) that utilizes methane as its carbon source. |
| mono- | singleness. Example:monotrichous, having one flagellum |
| morpho- | form. Example: morphology, the study of the form and structure of organisms |
| multi- | many. Example:multinuclear, having several nuclei |
| mur- | wall. Example: murein, a component of bacterial cell walls |
| mut- | to change. Example:mutation, a sudden change in characteristics |
| myco-, -mycetoma, -myces | a fungus. Example:Saccharomyces, sugar fungus, a genus of yeast |
| myxo- | slime, mucus. Example:Myxobacteriales, an order of slime-producing bacteria. |
| necro- | a corpse. Example:necrosis, cell death or death of a portion of tissue. |
| -nema | a thread. Example:Treponemahas long, threadlike cells |
| nigr- | black. Example:Aspergillus niger, a fungus that produces black conidia (reproductive structures) |
| ob- | before, against. Example:obstruction, impeding or blocking up. |
| oculo- | eye. Example:monocular, pertaining to one eye |
| -oid | like, resembling. Example:coccoid,resembling a coccus. |
| oligio- | small, few. Example:oligiosaccharide, a carbohydrate composed of a few (7-10) monosaccharides |
| -oma | tumor. Example:lymphoma, a tumor of the lymphatic tissues |
| ortho- | straight, direct. Example: orthomyxovirus, a virus with a straight, tubular capsid |
| -osis, -sis | condition of. Example:lysis, the condition of loosening; symbiosis, the condition of living together |
| pan- | all universal. Example:pandemic, an epidemic affecting a large region |
| para- | beside, near. Example:parasite, an organism the “feeds beside” another |
| peri- | around. Example:peritrichous. Projections from all sides |
| phaeo- | brown. Example:Phaeophyta, brown algae |
| phago- | eat. Example: phagocyte, a cell that engulfs and digests particles or cells |
| -phil, -philic, philo- | liking, preferring. Example:thermophile, an organism that prefers high temperatures. |
| -phore | bears, carries. Example:conidophore, a hypha that bears conidia |
| -phyll | leaf. Example:chlorophyll, the green pigment in leaves. |
| -phyte | plant Example: saprophyte, a plant that obtains nutrients from decomposing organic matter |
| pil- | a hair. Example:pilus, a hairlike projection from a cell |
| plankto- | wandering, roaming. Example:plankton, organisms drifting or wandering in water. |
| -pnoea, -pnea | breathing. Example:dyspnea, difficulty in breathing. |
| pod- | foot. Example:psuedopod, footlike structure. |
| poly- | many. Example: polymorphism, many forms |
| post- | after, behind. Example:posterior, a place behind a (specific) part |
| pre-, pro- | before, ahead of. Example:prokaryote, a cell without a nucleus; pregnant, before birth. |
| pseudo- | false. Example:pseudopod, false foot |
| psychro- | cold. Example:psychrophile, an organism that grows best at low temperatures. |
| pyo- | pus. Example: pyogenic, pus forming |
| rhizo- | root. Example:Rhizobium, a bacterium that grows in plant roots; mycorrhiza, a fungus that grows in or on roots |
| rumin- | throat. Example:Ruminococcus, a bacterium associated with a rumen (modified esophagus) |
| saccharo- | sugar. Example:disaccharide, a sugar consisting of two simple sugars. |
| sapr- | rotten. Example:Saprolegnia, a fungus that lives on dead animals |
| schizo- | split. Example: schizomycetes, organisms that reproduce by splitting and an early name for bacteria. |
| scolec- | worm. Example:scolex, the “head” of a tapeworm |
| -scope, -scopic | watcher. Example:microscope, an instrument used to watch small things. |
| semi- | half. Example:semicircular, having the form of a half a circle. |
| sept- | rotting Example: septic, presence of bacteria that could cause decomposition |
| soma- | body. Example:somatic cells, cells of the body other than gametes. |
| speci- | particular things. Example:species, the smallest group of organisms with similar properties; specify, to indicate exactly |
| spiro- | coil. Example:spirochete, a bacterium with a coiled cell |
| sporo- | spore. Example:sporangium, a structure that holds spores. |
| staphylo- | clusters. Example: Staphylococcus, a bacterium that forms grape-like clusters of cells |
| -stasis | arrest, fixation. Example: bacteriostasis, cessation of bacterial growth |
| strepto- | twisted. Example:Streptococcus, a bacterium that forms twistedchains of cell |
| sub- | beneath, under. Example:subcutaneous, just under the skin |
| super- | above, upon. Example:superior, the quality orstate of being above others. |
| sym-, syn- | together, with. Example:synapse, the region of communication between two neurons; synthesis, putting together. |
| -taxi | to touch. Example:chemotaxis, response to the presence (touch) of chemicals. |
| therm- | heat. Example:Thermus, a bacterium that grows in hot springs. |
| thio- | sulfur. Example: Thiobacillus, a bacterium capableof oxidizing sulfur-containing compounds |
| -tone, -tonic | strength. Example: hypotonic, having less strength (osmotic pressure) |
| tox- | poison. Example: antitoxin, effective against poison. |
| trans- | across, through. Example: transport, movement of substances. |
| tri- | three. Example: trimester, three-month period |
| trich- | a hair. Example:peritrichous, hairlike projections from cells |
| -troph | food. Example:autotrophic, organism that can make its own food |
| -ty | condition of, state. Example:immunity, the condition of being resistant to disease or infection |
| undul- | wavy. Example:undulating, rising and falling, presenting a wavy appearance |
| uni- | one. Example: unicellular, pertaining to one cell |
| vaccin- | cow. Example: vaccination, injection of a vaccine (first true vaccine used cow pox virus) |
| vacu- | empty. Example: vacuoles, an intracellular space that appears empty |
| vesic- | bladder. Example: vesicle, a bubble |
| vitr- | glass. Example: in vitro, in culture media in a glass (or plastic) container |
| -vorous | to eat. Example: carnivore, an animal that eats other animals. |
| xero- | dry. Example: xerophyte, any plant that tolerates dry conditions. |
| zoo- | animal. Example: zoology, the study of animals |
| -zyme | ferment. Example: enzyme, any protein in living cells that catalyzes chemical reactions |
| Color red word roots | erythro-, rhodo-, rubri- |
| Color yellow word roots | lute-, luteo-, xantho- |
Created by:
tnrogan
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