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
biomarker
1. A measurable indicator of a disease, or of vulnerability to a disease, that may or may not be causal.
The term includes molecular, genetic, immunologic, and physiologic signals of events in biological systems that may appear in any of the various steps along the causation pathway of a disorder.
2. In toxicology, a physiological or pharmacological measure that is used to predict a toxic event in an animal.
biomass, bioenergy
1. The total weight of all living things in a given area, biotic community, species population, or habitat; a measure of total biotic productivity.
2. The total weight of the organic substance (as plankton) or organisms in a given area; measured as volume, mass (live, dead, dry or ash-free weight) or energy (calories); standing crop.
3. In ecology, a plant material or vegetation that can be converted to useful fuel and that is considered as a potential energy source.
Biomass is a collective term for all organic substances of relatively recent (non-geological) origin that can be used for energy production, including industrial, commercial, and agricultural wood and plant residues; municipal organic waste; animal manure; and crops directly produced for energy purposes.
Biomass can be solid (for example, wood and straw), liquid (biofuels), or gaseous (biogases).
A quantitative estimate of the entire assemblage of living organisms, both animal and vegetable, of a given habitat, measured in terms of mass, volume, or energy in calories.
biomass combustion
A technology that extracts heat energy from biomass so it can then be used for a variety of heat and power applications.
biomass energy
A general term for renewable energy produced from biomass; such as, wood and wood wastes, agricultural crops and wastes, or municipal and industrial wastes.
Biomass energy is the chemical energy content of non-fossil, energy-containing forms of carbon; such as, land-based and water-based vegetation, and waste materials; such as, municipal solid wastes, biosolids, forestry, and agricultural residues, and some industrial wastes.
biomass [integrated] gasification
A composite system used to convert biomass feedstock into gas fuel for an electricity-generating unit that consists of one or more gas turbines, with a portion of the required energy input provided by the exhaust heat of the turbine to increase efficiency.
biomass oil
A biomass energy feedstock in the form of lipids from animal fats, fish and poultry oils, plant oils, or recycled cooking greases.
biomass resource
Any form of organic material that can be used as an energy source; such as, forest, mill, and agricultural residues, urban wood wastes, and dedicated energy crops.
A biomass resource assessment estimates the quantities of such resources available by locations and price levels.
biomass supply curve
An estimate of the quantity of biomass resources that could be made available, as a function of their price.
biomaterial
1. The total weight of all living things in a given area, biotic community, species population, or habitat; a measure of total biotic productivity.
2. The total weight of the organic substance (as plankton) or organisms in a given area; measured as volume, mass (live, dead, dry or ash-free weight) or energy (calories); standing crop.
3. Material that can safely be implanted into the human body and left there without causing an adverse reaction.
4. A plastic, fabric, or other material used to construct an implantable prosthesis and chosen for its biocompatibility.
biomathematician
Someone who applies the applications of mathematical methods to the study of living organisms.
biomathematics
The application of mathematical methods to the study of the structure and anatomical function of living organisms.
biome
1. The total complex of biotic communities occupying and characterizing a particular geographic area or zone.
2. A biotic community of plants and animals; specifically, such a community in a prehistoric period.
3. A biogeographical region or formation; a major regional ecological community characterized by distinctive life forms and principal plant (terrestrial biomes) or animal (marine biomes) species.
4. A climatically controlled group of plants and animals of a characteristic composition and distributed over a wide area; such as, tropical rain forest, tundra, temperate grassland, desert, savanna, mountain habitats, taiga (a northern coniferous forest zone, especially in Siberia, adjacent to tundra), and other northern coniferous forests, etc.
5. A major regional community of plants and animals with similar life forms and environmental conditions.
It is the largest geographical biotic unit, group, or mass; and is named after the dominant type of vegetation; such as, tropical rain forest, grassland, or coral reef.
6. A complex biotic community existing in a given region, produced by the interaction of climatic factors, living organisms, and substrate.
A community that has developed to take advantage of existing vegetation; such as, tundra, coniferous forest, or grassland.
biomechanics, biomechanical
1. The science concerned with the action of forces, internal or external, on the living body.
2. The study of the mechanical laws relating to the movement or structure of living organisms.
3. The study of body movements and of the forces acting on the musculoskeletal system.
4. The application of mechanics to the structures of living animals; especially, to the forces on the skeleton caused by the muscles, gravity, and resulting movements of the locomotor system.
Biomechanics is a curious blend of mechanical engineering and biology. It was born of the recognitoin that parts of a living organism may be viewed as mechanical devices to which engineering concepts such as fluid pressure, mechanical stress and friction can be applied.
—New York Times, January 16, 1979.
biomechatronics, biomechatronic
1. The interdisciplinary study of biology, mechanics, and electronics.
2. The applications of various aspects of biology, mechanics, and electronics.
3. The use of biomedical knowledge for the development and optimization of mechatronic systems.
Interactivity of biological and electromechanical devices
This covers bionics (biology for engineering) as well as biomedical engineering and its related (engineering for biology).
Biomechatronics focuses on the interactivity of biological organs (including the brain) with electromechanical devices and systems.
- Universities and research centers worldwide have taken notice of biomechatronics in light of its potential for development of advanced medical devices and life-support systems.
- Primitive biomechatronic devices have existed for quite awhile.
- The heart pacemaker and the defibrillator are examples.
- More advanced-pragmatic biometchatronic possibilities that scientists foresee in the near future include:
- Pancreas pacemakers for diabetics.
- Mentally controlled electronic muscle stimulators for stroke and accident survivors.
- Cameras that can be wired into the brain allowing blind people to see.
- Microphones that can be wired into the brain allowing deaf people to hear.
Biomechatronics Research and Development

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