Directions
Did you notice? The names scientists assign to living things are based on ancient Latin and Greek words. These words are called “root words.”
Knowing the meaning of some common root words can tell you a lot about an organism, just by reading its scientific name. Here are some examples of root words:
- aqua = water
- gastro = stomach
- dermis = skin
- philic = liking or loving
- lacto = milk
- macro = large
- thermo = heat
Find a root word in each scientific name. Use these root words as clues for answering questions about bacteria.