bio-, bi-, -bia, -bial, -bian, -bion, -biont, -bius, -biosis, -bium, -biotic, -biotical

(Greek: life; living, live, alive)

Don’t confuse this element with another bi- which means "two".

The most important things in life are not things.

—Anonymous
biosensor (s) (noun), biosensors (pl)
1. A device that feels and analyzes biological information: A biosensor is a device such as a thermometer which is used to assess or analyze the temperature of blood pressure, heart rate, or a more sophisticated determination of chemicals and enzymes in body fluids.

The biosensor can also be used in the laboratory or placed within the body.

2. A device to monitor and to transmit information about biological processes. such as the effect of motion on an animal in space: After many trials, the scientists developed a biosensor that worked in the weightlessness of the space capsule.
bioseries
A succession of changes of any single heritable character.
bioseston
Plankton, nekton, and suspended organic particulate matter derived from living organisms; the biological component of seston (the total particulate matter or separate particles that are suspended in water).
biosis
Life, in a general sense; vitality.
biosmosis
Osmosis through a living membrane.
biosocial
1. Of or pertaining to the interaction of biological and social factors.
2. Relating to, or involving, an interaction or combination of social and biological factors.
biosociologiy
The study of the evolution of social forms and the development of social behavior in terms analogous to or correlated with biological studies.
biosolid, biosolids
1. Solid or semisolid material obtained from treated wastewater, often used as fertilizer.
2. A nutrient-rich organic material, or byproduct, resulting from the treatment of municipal wastewater.

Biosolids can be safely recycled; for example, for fertilizers.

Biosolids contain nitrogen and phosphorus along with other supplementary nutrients in smaller doses; such as, potassium, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, copper, and zinc.

Soil that is lacking in these substances can be reclaimed with biosolids use. The application of biosolids to land improves soil properties and plant productivity, and reduces dependence on inorganic fertilizers.

There are some obstacles to sewage sludge reuse because in modern societies; especially, with sewage biosolids reuse in agriculture. Even if problems of pollutant contamination (heavy metals, organic contaminants, pharmaceuticals) and public opinion were resolved, considerable obstacles would still remain.

Cities and intensive livestock production units both lead to localized surpluses of nutrients. Biosolids have relatively low nutrient content compared to high water content.

biosomes
Structural and functional units in cytoplasm; such as, chondriosomes, chromidia and plastids.
biosonar
1. The use of ultrasonic instruments to analyze and map parts of the body.
2. The use by certain animals of echoes of sounds they produce to locate objects in the perceptual field as with bats as they move around.
biospecies (noun) (plural form used as a singular)
1. A biological population of individuals that can breed together: "As far as Barbara understood biospecies, it meant that two animals can mate and conceive offspring; for example, birds, wolves, deer, buffaloes, etc."
2. A species defined primarily on biological characteristics: "An interesting fact of biospecies is that it establishes the likeness of DNA of people, or groups of people. One technique is using genetic fingerprinting."
biospectrometry (s) (noun), biospectrometries (pl)
The use of a device that is used to determine the types and amounts of various substances in living tissues or fluids found in bodies: "The medical laboratory used a biospectrometry in an effort to determine what was causing David's skin disease."
biospeleological
A reference to the study of organisms whose natural habitat is wholly or partly in caves.
biospeleologist
Someone who specializes in the study of organisms that live in caves.
biospeleology
1. The study of organisms whose natural habitat is wholly or partly subterranean.
2. The study of the fauna of caves.
3. The study of organisms that live in caves.
Quiz If you would like to take a series of self-scoring quizzes over some of the words in this bio- unit, then click this Life, Live, Living Quiz link so you can check your knowledge. You may also try several additional quizzes in this listing.

Related life, live-word units: anima-; -cole; vita-; viva-.