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
biotoxic
A reference to a poisonous substance produced by a living organism.
biotoxication
An intoxication resulting from a plant or animal poison (biotoxin).
biotoxicology
1. The study of poisons produced by living organisms (plants or animals), their causes, detections, and their effects, and of the treatment of those conditions produced by them.
2. The branch of toxicology concerned with biotoxins (poisons produced by and derived from the cells or secretions of a living organism, either plant or animal).
biotoxin
1. Any toxic substance formed in an animal body, and demonstrable in its tissues or body fluids, or both.
2. Any poison produced by and derived from the cells, or secretions, of a living organism; either plant or animal.
biotransformation (s) (noun), biotransformations (pl)
The conversion of molecules from one form to another within an organism, often associated with change in pharmacological or the activities of drugs: Biotransformation simply means the changes of chemicals in the body; such as, nutrients, amino acids (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen) and toxins (poisons) all of which can be modified for good or bad conditions.

The anaerobic environment (absence of air) of the intestines promotes biotransformation of chemicals with bacteria.

biotrepy
The study of the body by means of its reactions to chemical substances.
biotron
1. A chamber with a controlled climate; used in experiments to determine the effects of environment on organisms.
2. A place in a laboratory in which temperature and several other environmental conditions can be controlled.
3. A controlled laboratory environment designed to provide uniform experimental conditions with the aim of producing uniform organisms for use in experiments.
biotroph
1. A reference to a parasite deriving nutrients from the tissues of a living host.
2. An organism that can live and multiply only on another living organism; such as, parasitic or symbiotic bacteria and fungi, carnivores, herbivores, etc.
biotrophic
biotrophy
biotropism
An obsolete term for a theory that a drug eruption may be due to activation of a latent allergy by the drug.
bioturbation (s) (noun), bioturbations (pl)
The mixing of a soil or sediment by the digging, feeding, or other activities of living organisms: Bioturbation can be exemplified by worms and burrowing clams in the bottom of a lake or in a seabed.
biotype
1. A group with the same genetic constitution that is characteristic in a species.
2. A population of genetically identical organisms.
3. A specific anatomical, or physiological, configuration of an organism as a result of its adaptation to specific environmental conditions; such as, a high-altitude plant growing at sea level.
biotypology
The study of anthropological types with their constitutional variations, inadequacies, etc.
bioultrasonics
1. The use of ultrasonics for biological applications; such as, ultrasonic medical tomography, ultrasonic microscopy, and physical therapy.
2. The study of the interaction of sound at frequencies above about 20 000 hertz with living systems.
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-.