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



biomonitoring
In the environment, a method of testing water quality at a site by using living organisms.
biomore
An arrangement of biomolecules to form a structure in a cell.
biomorph, biomorphism
1. A nonrepresentational form or pattern that resembles a living organism in shape or appearance.
2. A decorative form or object resembling a living organism.
3. A graphical representation of an organism generated on a computer.
biomorphic
1. A reference to a decorative form representing a living object.
2. A life form often used in primitive art.
biomort, biomortia
The dying of a living organism.
biomotor
An apparatus for producing artificial respiration.
biomythology
Mythological creatures; such as, centaurs, unicorns, icthyocentaurs, chimeras, the sphinx, etc.
bion
1. A living thing; an individual living organism.
2. A living unit including not only cells but also viruses.

There is some confusion among biologists who say the term is considered synonymous with “individual” and by others as a variant spelling of biome. There is further confusion in the literature with biont.

bionanotechnology, nanobiotechnology, nanobiology
1. The harnessing of biological processes on an ultra-small scale in the manufacture and alteration of materials and products.
2. A branch of nanotechnology that either uses biological starting materials, biological design principles, or has biological applications.
3. The practical application of biological knowledge and techniques for industrial purposes; for example, fermentation.
4. The use of contemporary biological techniques to produce new substances or to perform new functions; for example, recombinant DNA technology.
bionavigate
To return to a given site without the use of landmarks, as some birds to their roosts, by means of instinctual abilities of some animals.
bionavigation
1. The instinctual ability of some animals to return to a given site without the use of landmarks, as birds to their roosts or salmon to spawning streams.
2. The ability of certain animals to travel to a precise distant location; such as, a breeding or wintering site, without any evident use of landmarks.
bionecrosis
1. Physiologic or normal death of cells or tissues as a result of changes associated with development, aging, or use.
2. Necrosis of a small area of tissue. Also, necrobiosis.
bionegativity
Abnormality, or bionegativity, may be defined as a personality constellation in which one or more part processes disturb the total function of the organism.

In an entirely healthy neurological organism, the various part processes are integrated in such a way that they subserve and promote the total function of the organism, while in an abnormal condition the integration is impaired and one or more part impedes or disturbs instead of promoting the total function.

bionic
1. Of or pertaining to bionics; having or being an artificial, especially electromechanical, device that replaces parts of the body; having ordinary human capabilities increased (as if) by the aid of such devices.
2. Utilizing electronic devices and mechanical parts to assist humans in performing diffickult, dangerous, or intricate tasks, as by supplementing or duplicating parts of the body: "The scientists used a bionic arm to examine the radioactive materials." 3. Having superhuman strength, speed, or intensity.
bionics
1. The science of biologic functions and mechanisms as applied to electronic chemistry; such as, computers employing various aspects of physics, mathematics, and chemistry; e.g., improving cybernetic engineering by reference to the organization of the vertebrate nervous system.
2. The science of applying the knowledge gained by studying the characteristics of living organisms to the formulation of non-organic devices and techniques.
3. The study of biological functions and mechanisms from the point of view of applying them to electronic devices, such as computers.
4. A combination of biology and technology which has made remarkable progress possible in different areas.

Nature has provided ideas for high-strength materials, low-friction surfaces, dirt-repellent coatings and practical Velcro fastenings, for example.

Many of these inventions are based on, more or less, accidental discoveries from the animal and plant world. For the first time in the case of the Mercedes-Benz bionic car, the engineers at the Mercedes-Benz Technology Center (MTC) looked for a specific example in nature whose shape and structure approximated their ideas for an aerodynamic, safe, spacious, and environmentally compatible car.

In other words, this was not a matter of detailed solutions, but of a complete transfer from nature to technology which is considered a first.

Information about a new bionic hand.


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 Bio-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-.


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