Bio Words referring to “life” :
“biophysics” to “biopyoculture”
Part 12 of 20
bio-, bi-, -bia, -bial, -bian, -bion, -biont, -bius, -biosis, -bium, -biotic, -biotical, -biotic (Greek: life; living, live, alive).
Don’t confuse this element with another bi- that means “two”.
If you would like to take a self-scoring quiz over some of the words in this section, then click
Bio-Quiz so you can see how much you know about the following
“bio” words.
biophysics:
1. The science dealing with the mechanical and electrical properties of the parts of a living organism.
2. The study of biological processes and materials by means of the theories and tools of physics.
3. The study of physical processes (e.g., electricity, luminescence) occurring in organisms.
biophysiolography:
Structural or descriptive biology.
biophysiologist:
One who investigates the physiology of living beings.
biophysiology:
That part of biology that includes organogeny, morphology, and physiology.
biophyte:
A plant that feeds on other living organisms; a parasitic or predatory plant; or plants that get sustenance from living organisms.
biopiracy:
The patenting of plants, genes, and other biological products that are indigenous to a foreign country; for example, some developing tropical nations are saying that if the West cries foul over piracy of intellectual property or computer software, then biopiracy in Western labs of jungle extracts should also be considered a high economic crime.
bioplasm, bioplasmic:
Protoplasm, especially in its relation to living processes and development. Protoplasm is the viscid, translucent, polyphasic colloid with water as the continuous phase that makes up the essential material of all plant and animal cells.
bioplast:
A functional independent mass of living protoplasm.
biopoesis, biopoeic:
1. The (hypothetical) origin or evolution of living or lifelike structures from lifeless matter; abiogenesis. 2. The origin of life, including the abiotic synthesis of macromolecular systems and the transformation (eobiogenesis) of these systems into the first living organisms (eobionts).
biopolymer:
1. A macromolecule occurring in a living organism such as a protein, polysaccharide, or nucleic acid.
2. Biodegradable polymer produced by living organisms; for example, polysaccharide gums (xanthans) produced by the bacterium Xanthomonas.
biopotency:
The capability of or extent to which a chemical substance, such as a hormone, acts within a biological system.
bioprocess:
Any method for producing commercially useful biological material.
biopsy, bioptic:
1. Examination of tissue, etc., removed from the living body; also, the removal of such tissue.
2. The process of removing tissue from living patients for diagnostic examination.
3. A specimen obtained by biopsy.
bioptome:
Of or relating to a biopsy.
biopsychic:
Pertaining to mental phenomena in their relations to the living organism.
biopsychology:
An interdisciplinary area of study involving psychology, biology, physiology, biochemistry, the neural sciences, and related fields.
biopsychosocial:
Involving interplay of biological, psychological, and social influences.
biopyoculture:
A culture made from purulent (pus) exudate (fluid) in which various cells, including the phagocytes, are still viable.
You may take a self-scoring quiz over some of the words in this section by just clicking on
Bio Quiz #4 to check your word knowledge.