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In biology, as in other disciplines such as anatomy, prefixes and suffixes are often used to easily name different elements, sections, or individuals that have common characteristics.
In this case, the prefix proto- derives from the Greek word protos , which literally means “first.” Proto – can also mean “primary”, “primitive”, or “original”.
Examples of words with proto-
Due to the use of the prefix proto- , most of these terms refer to something that is primitive or original. They are often used to name words related to cells or primary parts of organisms, such as:
| Term | Meaning |
| Protoplast | It is a word formed by the prefix proto- and the Greek suffix -plasto , which means “to mold”. It is used to refer to an initial cell that is in the early stages of development and will later become organs or other elements. |
| protoderm | Layer of cells that will create the epidermis of the stem and other parts of a plant. |
| protofibril | Primary group of cells that form to develop a fiber. |
| protonema | It is a filament that arises from the spores of the moss during its initial stage of development. |
| protophloem | They are the primary cells of the phloem, the vascular tissue of a plant. |
| protoxylem | It is the part of the xylem of a plant that develops first. |
| protowake | It is a cylinder formed by a xylem and a phloem without marrow, which is part of the stem and roots of plants. |
| Protoplasm | It is the fluid content of a cell that includes the cytoplasm and the nucleoplasm. |
| protozoa | They are single-celled protists, including amoebas, flagellates, and ciliophores. |
| Protozoan | It is another way of naming protozoa. |
| protozoic | Relating to protozoa. |
| protopod | Pertaining to the initial phase of development of the limbs of an insect. |
| protostome | It is an invertebrate animal whose mouth develops before the anus during its development in the embryonic stage. |
Other examples of words with proto-
In addition to the examples mentioned above, the following terms with the prefix proto are also used in biology and other sciences :
| Term | Meaning |
| protozoology | It is the branch of zoology that is dedicated to the study of protozoa. |
| protozoologist | He is the person who studies protozoa. |
| Protoporphyrin | It is an organic compound that forms hemoglobin and chlorophyll. |
| protobiology | It is the discipline that deals with the study of primitive life forms. |
| protogalaxy | It is a cloud of gas that will later form a galaxy. |
| protolith | It is the original state of a rock before metamorphism. |
| protolithic | It is a period before the Stone Age. |
| Prototype | It is the primitive form of a species. |
| prototroph | It is an organism that can obtain its food from inorganic resources. |
| Proton | It is the first particle of an atom. |
| Protosol | It is the initial mass of hydrogen that gives rise to a star. |
| protopathic | It is a term related to the initial and imprecise detection by the nervous system of stimuli, such as pain and heat. |
Bibliography
- Martin Lopez, E.; Martin Lopez, S.; Martín Duce, A. Prefixes: Educated vocabulary for high school and university students. (2020, Kindle Edition). Spain. University of Alcala.
- Fester Kratz, R.; Siegfried, DR Biology for Dummies. (2017). Spain. Planet.
- Hernandez, B.; Gomez-Aguado, F.; Lawrence, MI; Simón, F. Molecular biology and cytogenetics . (2020). Spain. Editorial Altamar.
- Proto- . Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy. Available at https://dle.rae.es/proto- .
