Biology Prefixes and Suffixes: blast-, -blast

Definition:

The affix (blast) refers to an immature stage of development in a cell or tissue, such as a bud or germ cell.

Examples:

Blastema (blast-ema) - precursor cell mass that develops into an organ or part. In asexual reproduction, these cells may develop into a new individual.

Blastobacter (blasto-bacter) - a genus of aquatic bacteria that reproduce by budding.

Blastocoel (blasto-coel) - a cavity containing fluid found in a blastocyst (developing fertilized egg). This cavity is formed in the early stages of embryonic development.

Blastocyst (blasto-cyst) - developing fertilized egg in mammals that undergoes multiple mitotic cell divisions and becomes implanted in the uterus.

Blastoderm (blasto-derm) - layer of cells that surround the blastocoel of a blastocyst.

Blastoma (blast-oma) - type of cancer that develop in germ cells or blast cells.

Blastomere (blast-omere) - any cell resulting from the cell division or cleavage process that occurs following the fertilization of a female sex cell (egg cell).

Blastopore (blasto-pore) - an opening that occurs in a developing embryo that forms the mouth in some organisms and the anus in others.

Blastula (blast-ula) - an embryo in an early stage of development in which the blastoderm and blastocoel are formed. The blastula is called a blastocyst in mammalian embryogenesis.

Examples:

Ameloblast (amelo-blast) - precursor cell involved in the formation of tooth enamel.

Embryoblast (embryo-blast) - inner cell mass of a blastocyst containing embryionic stem cells.

Epiblast (epi-blast) - the outer layer of a blastula prior to the formation of germ layers.

Erythroblast (erythro-blast) - immature nucleus-containing cell found in bone marrow that forms erythrocytes (red blood cells).

Fibroblast (fibro-blast) - immature connective tissue cells that form protein fibers from which collagen and various other connective tissue structures are formed.

Megaloblast (megalo-blast) - abnormally large erythroblast that typically results from anemia or vitamin deficiency.

Myeloblast (myelo-blast) - immature white blood cell that differentiates into immune cells called granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils).

Neuroblast (neuro-blast) - immature cell from which neurons and nervous tissue are derived.

Osteoblast (osteo-blast) - immature cell from which bone is derived.

Trophoblast (tropho-blast) - outer cell layer of a blastocyst that attaches the fertilized egg to the uterus and later develops into the placenta. The trophoblast provides nutrients for the developing embryo.