Meaning of Auto Prefix Used in Biology

The English prefix auto- means self, same, occurring from within, or spontaneous. To remember this prefix, which was originally derived from the Greek word auto meaning self, easily think of common words that you know that share the auto- prefix like automobile  (a car you drive for yourself) or automatic (description for something spontaneous or that works on its own). Take a look at other words used for biological terms that begin with the prefix auto-. Autoantibodies Autoantibodies are  antibodies  that are produced by an organism that attacks the organisms own cells and tissues. Many autoimmune diseases like lupus are caused by autoantibodies. Autocatalysis Autocatalysis is catalysis or the acceleration of a chemical reaction that is caused by one of the products of the reaction acting as a catalyst. In glycolysis, which is the breakdown of glucose to form energy, one part of the process is powered by autocatalysis. Autochthon   Autochthon refers to the indigenous  animals or plants of a region or the earliest known, native inhabitants of a country. The Aboriginal people of  Australia are considered autochthons. Autocoid   Autocoid means the natural internal secretion, such as a hormone, that is produced in one part of the body and affects another part of the organism. The suffix is derived from the Greek acos meaning relief, for example, from a drug. Autogamy Autogamy is the term for self-fertilization as in the pollination of a flower by its own pollen  or the fusion of gametes resulting from the division of a single parent cell that occurs in some fungi and protozoans. Autogenic The word autogenic literally translates from Greek to mean self-generating or it is produced from within. For example, you can use autogenic training or self-hypnosis or mediation in an attempt to control your own body temperature or blood pressure. Autoimmunity   In biology, autoimmunity means that an organism cannot recognize its own  cells  and  tissues, which may trigger an immune response  or attack of those parts. Autolysis Autolysis is the destruction of a cell by its own enzymes; self-digestion. The suffix  lysis  (also derived from Greek) means loosening. In English, the suffix lysis can mean  decomposition, dissolution, destruction, loosening, breaking down, separation, or disintegration. Autonomic Autonomic refers to an internal process that occurs involuntarily or spontaneously. It is used in human biology prominently when describing the part of the nervous system which controls the bodys involuntary functions, the  autonomic nervous system. Autoploid Autoploid relates to a cell that has two or more copies of a single haploid set of chromosomes. Depending on the number of copies, the autoploid can be categorized as  autodiploids  (two sets), autotriploids  (three sets), autotetraploids  (four sets), autopentaploids  (five sets), or  autohexaploids (six sets), and so on. Autosome An autosome is a chromosome that is not a sex chromosome and appears in pairs in somatic cells. Sex chromosomes are known as allosomes. Autotroph An autotroph is an organism that is self-nourishing or capable of generating its own food. The suffix -troph which derives from Greek, means nourishing. Algae is an example of an autotroph.