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Latin and Greek in BiologyLatin and Greek in Biology

Mrs. PenningMr. McFadden

BiologySt. Paul Public Schools

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How does it work in science? How does it work in science?

Latin and Greek prefixes, suffixes, and root words can be used to make an infinite amount of words

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Why were Latin and (old) Greek Why were Latin and (old) Greek chosen for scientific terminology?chosen for scientific terminology? Both are more

descriptive than English (as well as lots of other languages)

Both are old (“dead”) languages that are unspoken and won’t change

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Overview Overview

epi

aqua

itis

renmyo

eco

geomicroBio

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#.#. Prefix/Suffix/Root Prefix/Suffix/Root

Meaning

Examples

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1)1) bio-bio-

“life”

biology, biologist, biosphere, biotechnology, biotic, biography, bioluminescence, biodiversity, symbiosis

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2)2) -ology-ology

“the study of”

biology, geology, dermatology, zoology

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3)3) -ologist-ologist

“person who studies”

biologist, geologist, zoologist

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4)4) scien-scien-

“to know; knowing”

science, scientist, scientific, omniscient, conscience

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5)5) geo-geo-

“earth or rock”

geology, geologist, geotropism

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6)6) -sphere-sphere

“globe or ball”

spherical, biosphere, atmosphere

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7)7) gen-, -gengen-, -gen

“to bring to life; to create”

genesis, generator, generation, genetics, gene, antigen, mutagen, carcinogen

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8)8) non-, in-, un-non-, in-, un-

“not”

nonliving, nonverbal, nonviolent, nonpolar, inactive, inefficient, intangible, unhealthy, unable

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9)9) cyto-, -cytecyto-, -cyte

“cell”

cytology, cytologist, leukocyte, erythrocyte, endocytosis, exocytosis, osteocyte

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10)10) -scope-scope

“instrument or tool”

microscope, telescope, stethoscope, periscope, colonoscopy

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11)11) micro-micro-

“very small”

microbe, microscope, microbiology, microtubule

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12)12) uni-uni-

“one”

unicycle, unibrow, uniform, unite, unicellular

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13)13) multi-multi-

“many”

multicultural, multi-talented, multi-tasking, multicellular

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14)14) cardi-cardi-

“heart”

‘cardiac’ arrest, cardiovascular, pericardium

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15)15) myo-myo-

“muscle”

myocyte, myosin, myocardium, myopathy

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16)16) hema-, hemo-hema-, hemo-

“blood”

hemoglobin, hemophilia, hematoma, hemolysis, hematite

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17)17) cereb-cereb-

“brain”

cerebrum, cerebral, cerebellum

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18)18) gastro-gastro-

“stomach”

gastrointestinal, gastric juices, gastritis

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19)19) hepato-hepato-

“liver”

hepatitis, hepatic, hepatectomy

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20)20) nephro-nephro-

“kidney”

nephron, nephritis, nephrotomy

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21)21) ren-ren-

“kidney”

renal (failure), rennin, renal

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22)22) pulmo-pulmo-

“lung”

pulmonary, CPR (cardiopulmonary

resuscitation)

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23)23) epi-epi-

“upon or above”

epidermis, epicenter, epiglottis, epidemic, epithelial (tissue), epiphyte

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24)24) -derm--derm-

“skin or covering”

dermatologist, epidermis, endoderm, echinoderm

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25)25) -itis-itis

“inflammation of ; swelling”

dermatitis, gingivitis, hepatitis, conjunctivitis, endocarditis

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26)26) osteo-osteo-

“bone”

osteoporosis, osteology, osteocyte, periosteum

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27)27) eco-eco-

“habitat; environment”

ecology, ecosystem, ECOLAB

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28)28) aqua-aqua-

“water”

aquarium, aquatic, aquatennial

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29)29) terra-terra-

“earth; land”

terrace, terrarium, terrestrial, terra firma

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30)30) inter-inter-

“between”

interview, intersection, interoffice (memo), interphase, interdependent, intervertebral

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31)31) intra-intra-

“within”

intravenous, intrauterine device (IUD), intracellular

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32)32) extra-extra-

“outside, beyond”

extraordinary, extravaganza, extracurricular, extraterrestrial (E.T.), extracellular (digestion), extrapolate

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33)33) sym-/synsym-/syn - -

“together/with”

symphony, sympathy, symbiosis, synthetic, synapse, synchronize

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34)34) ism-ism-

“belief/ theory”

materialism, sexism, racism, parasitism, mutualism, commensalism, gradualism

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35) macro-35) macro-

“larger”

macroscopic, macromolecule, macroeconomics

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36)36) carbo-carbo-

“containing carbon”

carbon dioxide, carbohydrate, carbonize, carbonic (acid)

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37)37) mon-, mono-mon-, mono-

“one”

monopoly, monologue, monotone, monorail, monarchy, monomer, monosomy, monocot

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38)38) di-di-

“two”

division, dialogue, diploid, dihybrid, dichotomous, dicot

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39)39) sacch-sacch-

“sugar”

saccharin, monosaccharide, disaccharide

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40)40) poly-poly-

“many”polygon, polygraph,

polymer, polysaccharide, polypeptide, polygenic (trait)

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41)41) lip-lip-

“fat, oil, wax” liposuction, lipid, lipid bilayer

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42)42) -ose-ose

“fullness, origin” (generally in biology refers to a “sugar or

starch”)

sucrose, dextrose, glucose, lactose, cellulose

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43)43) lact-, lacto-lact-, lacto-

“milk”

lactose (intolerant), lactate, lactobacillus, lactase

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44)44) oxy-oxy-

“containing oxygen, O”

carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygenate, deoxygenate

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45)45) de-de-

“removing”

denature (proteins), deoxyribose sugar, DeoxyriboNucleic Acid (DNA), decompose

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46)46) -ase-ase

(generally in biology refers to “an enzyme to break down an –ose”)

cellulase, lactase, salivary amylase, sucrase

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47)47) homo-, homeo-homo-, homeo-

“like, same, similar”

homosexual, homogeneous, homeostasis, homozygous, homologous

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48)48) therm-, -thermtherm-, -therm

“heat”

thermometer, ectotherm, endotherm

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49)49) neuro-neuro-

“nerve”

neuron, neurology, neurotransmitter

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50) photo- 50) photo-

“light” photograph,

photosynthesis, phototropic

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51) –graph- 51) –graph-

“writing (picture)” photograph,

biography, polygraph, graphite

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52) phospho- 52) phospho-

“contains phosphorus – P” phosphate, phospholipid

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53) hydro- 53) hydro-

“water”hydroelectric (dam),

hydrant, dehydrate, hydrophobic, hydrophilic, hydrolysis, hydroponics

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54) –philos, -philic 54) –philos, -philic

“loving” hydrophilic, philharmonic, philately,

philosophy

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55) –phobia, -phobos 55) –phobia, -phobos

“fearing” arachnophobic, claustrophobic,

hydrophobic, xenophobia

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56) bi- 56) bi-

“two” bicycle, binoculars, bifocals, bipolar, lipid

bilayer, binomial name, binary fission, bilateral, bipedal

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57) -plasm 57) -plasm

“jelly-like substance; fluid” cytoplasm, nucleoplasm, protoplasm

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58) chrom- 58) chrom-

“colored” chromosome, chromatography

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59) soma-, -some 59) soma-, -some

“body” somatic cell, chromosome, lysosome

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60) pro-60) pro-

“for or before”prolife, prochoice, prokaryote

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61) -kary- 61) -kary-

“nucleus” prokaryote, eukaryote

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62) eu- 62) eu-

“true, real or good” eukaryote, eubacteria

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63) endo- 63) endo-

“inner” endoderm, endotherm, endosperm

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64) ecto- 64) ecto-

“outer” ectoderm, ectotherm, ectoplasm

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65) mito- 65) mito-

“thread-like” mitochondria, mitosis

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66) -lys- 66) -lys-

“break open” Lysol, analysis, lysosome, hydrolysis,

lysogenic, catalysis

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67) chlor- 67) chlor-

“green” chlorophyll, chloroplast

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68) –phyll 68) –phyll

“leaf”chlorophyll, microphyll

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69) leuco-, leuko- 69) leuco-, leuko-

“white” leukemia, leukocyte

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70) erythro- 70) erythro-

“red” erythrocyte, erythromycin

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71) -plast 71) -plast

“particle” chloroplast, leucoplast

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72) semi- 72) semi-

“part(ly)” semisweet, semicolon, semiautomatic,

semicircle, semi-permeable

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73) per- 73) per-

“through”perennial, permeate,

semi-permeable

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74) hyper-74) hyper-

“over or beyond”hyperactive, hyperthermia, hyperextended,

hypertension, hypertonic

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75) iso-75) iso-

“equal” isosceles triangle, isotope, isomer, isotonic

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76) hypo-76) hypo-

“under or less than”hypothermia, hypodermic (needle),

hypotonic

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77) exo- 77) exo-

“outer” exit, exon, exoskeleton, exocytosis

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78) -osis 78) -osis

“process” symbiosis, exocytosis, endocytosis,

osmosis

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79) 79) tri-tri-

“three” triangle, tricycle,

tripod, adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

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80) 80) auto-auto-

“self or itself”autotroph,

automatic, autograph, autobiography

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82) –82) –troph-troph-

“feeder, feeding” autotroph,

heterotroph, trophic level,…trophy…

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81) 81) hetero-hetero-

“different”heterosexual,

heterogeneous, heterotroph, heterozygous

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83) 83) synthesissynthesis

“make or produce”

photosynthesis, chemosynthesis

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84) 84) a-, an-a-, an-

“without”abiotic, asexual,

acellular, amorphous, anaerobic

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85) 85) ) centr-) centr-

“central”centerpiece,

egocentric, ethnocentric, centrioles, centromere

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86) 86) meta-meta-

“along with many”metabolism,

metamorphosis, metaphase

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87) 87) tele-, telo-tele-, telo-

“far away; end” telephone,

telegraph, telepathy, telophase

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88) 88) –oid–oid

“like or resembling”spheroid, asteroid, haploid, diploid,

humanoid, anthropoid

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89) 89) meio-meio-

“less, decrease”meiosis

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90) 90) gameto-gameto-

“reproductive germ cell”gamete, gametogenesis, gametocyte

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91) 91) germgerm

“seed, sprig”germ cell, germinate,

germicide, wheat germ

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92) 92) –filia-, -filius-–filia-, -filius-

“daughter/son”affiliation, first filial (F1), second filial (F2)

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93) 93) –zyg-–zyg-

“tied together”zygote,

homozygous, heterozygous

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94) 94) co-co-

“with or together”cooperation, coworker, co-ed, cohesion,

codominant, coevolution

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95) 95) heli-heli-

“spiral, screw”helicopter, helical, “double helix” (DNA)

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96) 96) trans-trans-

“across” transport, transplant, transatlantic (flight),

transaction, transcription, translation, translocation

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97) 97) septi-septi-

“rotted”septic tank, antiseptic, aseptic, septicemia

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98) 98) anti-anti-

“against”antibacterial, antibiotic, antiseptic, anti-

inflammatory, anti-social, anti-perspirant, antigen, anticodon

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99) 99) muta-muta-

“change”mutilate, mutation,

mutate, mutable, mutagen

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100)100) onco- onco-

“cancer”oncology, oncologist, oncogene

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101) 101) carcin-carcin-

“cancer”carcinogen, carcinoma

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102) radia- 102) radia-

“go out from; spread out”

radiate, radial (symmetry), radioactive, (adaptive) radiation

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103) taxi-103) taxi-

“arrangement” taxidermy,

taxonomy, taxonomist

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104) phyl-104) phyl-

“tribe or class (grouping)”

phylum, phylogeny, phylogenetic tree

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105) nomen-, nomin-105) nomen-, nomin-

“name” nominate, misnomer,

nomenclature, binomial nomenclature

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106) onto-106) onto-

“being” ontogeny, ontology,

ontological “Ontogeny capitulates

phylogeny.”

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107) viru-107) viru-

“slime, ooze (poison)”

virus, virology, virulent

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108) retro-108) retro-

“backward” (in) retrospect,

retrospective, retrograde, retrovirus

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109) vacc-109) vacc-

“cow” vaccine, vaccination,

vaccinal

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110) -patho(s)-110) -patho(s)-

“disease or suffer” pathetic, empathy,

psychopath, pathology, pathogen

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111) bac-111) bac-

“rod or stick”bacteria, bacillus,

bacteriocide

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112) -cide112) -cide

“to kill” homicide, suicide,

insecticide, pesticide, herbicide

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113) -cocc-113) -cocc-

“round” streptococcus,

pneumococcus

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114) spire-114) spire-

“coil” spiral, spirillum

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115) archae-115) archae-

“ancient, original” archaic, archaeology,

archaebacteria, archaeopteryx

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116) proto-116) proto-

“first” prototype,

protoplasm, protozoa

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117) zo-117) zo-

“animal” zoo, zoology,

zoologist, protozoa

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118) pseudo-118) pseudo-

“false” pseudonym,

pseudoscience, pseudopod

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119) -ped(e)-, -pod-119) -ped(e)-, -pod-

“foot, leg” pedestrian, pedal,

pedicure, expedition, centipede, millipede, bipedal, podiatrist, pseudopod, gastropod

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120) -morph-120) -morph-

“form, shape” metamorphosis,

metamorphic, amorphous, polymorphic

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121) –flagel-121) –flagel-

“whip” flagellum,

flagella, zooflagellate

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122) cilia-122) cilia-

“little hairs” cilium, cilia, ciliophoran

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123) fung-123) fung-

“mushroom, toadstool” fungus, fungi, fungal,

fungicide

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124) myco-124) myco-

“fungus”mycology, mycologist,

mycobacterium

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125) rhizo-125) rhizo-

“root” rhizome, rhizoid,

Rhizopus nigrans (bread mold), rhizopod

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126) amphi-126) amphi-

“both; two kinds” amphibian,

amphibious, amphipod, amphibolite

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127) herpe-127) herpe-

“reptile, snake” herpetology,

herpetologist

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128) icthy-128) icthy-

“fish” ichthyology,

icthyologist, icthyoid

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129) ornitho-129) ornitho-

“bird”ornithology,

ornithologist

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130) avi-130) avi-

“bird” aviation, avian,

aviary, aviculture

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131) herba-131) herba-

“grass, herb, leafy portion”

herbal, herbivore, herbaceous, herbicide

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132) carni-132) carni-

“flesh” carnivore, carnal,

carnival

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133) omni-133) omni-

“many” omnitheatre,

omnivore, omnipotent

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134) -vore-134) -vore-

“eating; to devour” voracious, carnivore,

herbivore, omnivore

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That’s All FolksThat’s All Folks

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SummarySummary

Tests and quizzes to follow