Analyzing Science Terms

Unlock science vocabulary! Learn to decode biology terms using prefixes and suffixes.

The study of biology requires an understanding of many technical terms. Sometimes you can find the meaning of an unfamiliar term by looking at its parts. In this activity, you will analyze such parts to help you understand many of the terms you will encounter in biology.Many words have prefixes and suffixes that provide clues to their meanings. The following table contains a list of prefixes and suffixes that are often part of biological terms. Look at the table and study it carefully. Use the meanings of the prefixes and suffixes in the table to form words that will match each of the following definitions. Excretion- Removal of waste products from the body. Microbiology- study of small forms of life. (three parts) Zoology- the study of animals. Hydrometer- An instrument used to measure water and other liquids. Hydrophyll- A plant that grows in water. Autoation- the process of making something self operating. Microphyll- small leaf Intracellular- within a cell Protoplast- first organized particle. Each groups of words below share certain parts. The first two words in the group are defined for you. The part of the word and the part of the definition that correspond are capitalized. Use these words to help you define each word that follows the first two words. endoSPORE- inner layer of the wall of a SEEDMICROscope- Instrument used to see SMALL objectsMicroscopre- small seed PhotoTROPISM- RESPONSE to lightCHEMOtherapy- treatment that involves CHEMICALSChemotropism- response to chemicals pestiCIDE- AN AGENT USED TO DESTROY pestsHERBaceous- related to leafy PLANTSHerbicide: an agent used to destroy plants DERMatology- study of the structure and diseases of the SKIN.SCLEROsis- diseases in which body tissues HARDENScleroderma- Hardening of the skin ARTHritis- inflammation of the JOINTSPODiatrist- doctor who treats and care for the human FOOTArthropod- jointed foot