Idioma Moderno II

English for Biotechnology

 Week 4 – English for the sciences

bjectives
• Review useful words and expressions used to describe materials and methods

• Identify the meanings of common affixes used in biomedical science

• Talk about figures, numbers and units

• Identify language used to describe changes

• Describe a line graph of 2 or more variables

 Last week, I asked you to think about a
lab procedure you have done during
your studies.

• Tell your table mates about it.

• Try to use the passive voice (where appropriate) and words like
once, next, then, etc.!
Review - prepositions
To complete each sentence, write the form of the verb in the passive voice, then choose the correct preposition (a, b or c).

1. First, leucine (separate) ____________________________________ other amino acids in the protein hydrolysate.
a. for b. from c. with

2. Many bacteria, such as Bacillus spp., can (isolate) _________________________________ insects.

a. from b. to c. with

3. Subsequently, the specimens (embed) __________________________________ methylmethacrylate.

a. at b. in c. to

4. The sections (stain) _______________________________ uranylacetate and lead citrate solutions.

a. with b. to c. under

5. MIP-1 β was added to wells which had (coat) ______________________________ bovine serum albumin (BSA).
a. by b. from c. with

6. pH (maintain) _________________________________ 6.5, using Waterlife Buffer and Sera pH Minus.

a. at b. in c. to

Discuss:
In the field of pharmacy, what other things do you you… separate? isolate? embed? stain? coat? maintain?
The following are common passive verbs used to describe different procedures. Can you
match up each one with a possible alternative?

Quantify 1. Adjusted: …and the pH was adjusted to 7.5

Identify 2. Allocated: The animals were randomly allocated to three groups

Apply 3. Combined: The samples were combined for analysis

Modify 4. Detected: Antibody binding was detected using chemiluminescence

Assign 5. Excised: HPRT was excised from the plasmid using Bam HI

Merge 6. Housed: Mice were housed individually under a 12 h light / dark cycle

Steep 7. Immersed: Slides were immersed in fixative for 10 min

Remove 8. Measured: Gene expression was measured using real-time RT-PCR

Contain 9. Swabbed: Skin was swabbed with 70% EtOH before surgery

If you finish early, try to come up with 1-2 sentences using the verbs + words in blue
Last week, we looked at connectors and active vs. passive voice verbs to describe
procedures. Let’s practice with this example. Use the verbs in blue to describe the process.
(Carbon nanotube)
Once the carbon
nanotube has been
funtionalised…

encapsulate

cap

locate

internalise

remove

release
This process includes a common word you are probably familiar with. What does it mean?

Endocytosis
Greek and Latin roots
Greek and Latin roots

Prefix: hypo - Stem: glyc(o)- Stem:- (a)emia

Greek meaning: under From the Greek glykys, Again from Greek,
certain level, low or meaning: Sweet. Related meaning: related to or
insufficient to sugar or glucose present in the blood

+ +

= low blood sugar

 Greek and Latin roots
The list may seem endless, but taking the time to commit these Greek and Latin roots to memory
may actually save you time down the line.

Greek and Latin roots

An Introduction to Medical Terminology by George Banay provides some background and examples:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC194697/pdf/mlab00247-0013.pdf

Start learning some of the more common medical stems and affixes by using the resources above. Use it to help you to break
down the technical terms below and match them with their definition.

neuralgia | cardiogram | nephrosclerosis | endoscopy | endocytosis | tachycardia | anemia | hypertension

Hardening of A drawn record A procedure to The process of Rapid Excessively Pain A lack of
the kidney of the heart’s view inside the matter entering movements of high blood experienced healthy red
impulses body inside a cell the heart pressure along a nerve blood cells

1.___________ 2.___________ 3.___________ 4.___________ 5.__________ 7.___________ 8.___________

6.___________
Vocabulary
Matching

Please open Handout 1.

International System of Units
Vocabulary practice
Describing changes
Language focus
Figures and trends

Sentence transformation practice

Language focus
Figures and trends

Use the words below

to describe the
changes:

• Peak
• Slight
• Sharply
• Steady
• Gradual
 Questions?

Thank you!!!

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