Advanced Placement Biology Summer Assignment
2010-2011 School Year
Below is a list of terms, prefixes, and suffixes that are commonly used in Biology. By knowing these terms before the class
starts, you will be at a significant advantage. Over the summer, become familiar with these terms, and prepare for a quiz over
these on the first day. I would suggest making vocabulary cards to study.
If you have any concerns or questions you can email me at kelly.shaw@metcalfe.kyschools.us. I will check my email weekly
over the summer.
A-,an- absence of something, without
Ab- away from
Abiotic- nonliving
Acid- substance that releases protons in solution
Active site- region of the enzyme that the substrate binds to
Active transport- transport of a substance across a membrane that requires energy
Aerobic- requires oxygen; in the presence of oxygen
Allele- alternate form of a gene
Amino acid- monomer of a protein
Amphi- on both sides; of both kinds
Anabolism- metabolic process in which complex molecules are formed from simpler molecules
Anerobic- absence of oxygen, process that does not require oxygen
Ante- preceding, before
Anion- negatively charged ion
Ant-, Anti- opposed to;
Apical- pertaining to the apex or tip of something; usually a plant
Ase- suffix that indicates the substance is an enzyme
Atom- smallest unit of a chemical element, consists of a protons, electrons, and neutrons.
Autosome- chromosome that codes for all traits except for gender
Bacillus- rod shaped bacteria
Base- substance that can accept a hydrogen ion in solution; opposite of an acid
Bi- two
Bio- life
Bilayer- in membranes a structure that is two lipid layers thick
Biomass- total weight of all the living organisms
Biosphere- synonym for Earth
Biotic- living
Caput- head
Carbohydrate- organic compound with a 1:2:! ratio of C, H, O
Cardio- heart
Catabolism- metabolic process in which complex molecules are broken down into simpler molecules
Cation- positively charged ion
Cephalo- head
Coccus- spherically shaped bacterial cell
Complementary Base Pairing- in DNA Adenine always pairs with Thymine; Guanine always pairs with Cytosine
Corp- body
Covalent bond- chemical bond resulting from sharing of electrons between atoms
Cyto- pertaining to the cell
Cytokinesis- the division of cytoplasm in a dividing cell
Deciduous- trees that lose their leaves but do not die
Deoxyribose- the pentose sugar found in DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
Di- two
Ecology- the study of the interactions between living and nonliving factors in a particular area
Endocytosis- the process by which liquids/substances are taken up by the cell
Endo- within
Enzyme- type of protein that usually serves as a catalyst (speeds up a chemical reaction)
Epi- over or above
Eukaryote- cell that contains organelles
Exo- outside, out of
Exocytosis- the process by which waste leaves the cell
Extra- outside of
Flagell- whip
Gamete- mature sex cell, can be sperm or egg
Gastr- stomach
Glycogen- storage form of energy in animals
Hetero- prefix meaning different
Homo- prefix meaning same
Hyper- prefix meaning above average
Hypo- prefix meaning below average
Intra- within
Iso- prefix meaning same
Ligand- any molecule that binds to the receptor site of another molecule
Lipids- molecules that are lipids include: fats, oils, waxes, and steroids
Lysis- process that involves breaking down or bursting apart
Macro- prefix that indicates a large size
Meiosis- the process of division of sex cells (sperm and egg)
Meso- middle
Micro- prefix that indicates a small size
Mitosis- the process of division of somatic cells (all body cells that aren’t sex cells)
Mono- one
Monomer- small units that when put together make up polymers
Morpho- shape or form
Multi- many, more than one
Myo- muscle
Necro- death
Neo -new
Nucleic acid- monomer of DNA or RNA
Nucleus- control center of the cell
Organelles- collective term for all structures inside a eukaryotic cell
Peri- around
Phago- prefix that means to eat
Photo- prefix that means light
Pino- prefix that means to drink
Poly- multiple or many
Pseudo- fake or false
Prokaryote- cell that does not contain organelles
Protein- polymer consisting of amino acid monomers
Semi- half
Soma- body
Sub- prefix that indicates a structure is below another structure
Super or supra- above
Sym or syn- root that indicates being together
Trans- across
Tri- three
Troph- nourish
Viscero- organ