Biology Root Words Starting with Ab or Abs
In biology, the root words ab and abs come from Latin meaning “away” or “from.” They appear in terms like abscission (shedding of plant parts), ablation (removal of a structure), and abaxial (leaf surface away from the axis). These words help explain plant physiology, genetics, and morphology. Many root words have the prefixes ab-, abs-, a-, and apo-. These prefixes have the Latin meaning of "away, from," which is where these root words come from.
This Story also Contains
- Examples of Root Words with Ab, Abs
- What is Abscission?
- What is Ablation in Biology?
- What is Abaxial Surface?
- Ab, Abs Root Word NEET MCQs
- FAQs on Ab, Abs Root Word
Understanding the root word "ab and abs" helps in learning biology vocabulary. It provides a common thread that connects various terms of different fields. The terminology helps to maintain easiness to understand the terms.
Examples of Root Words with Ab, Abs
A few examples of words that begin with ab, ad, or abs in Biology:
Abscission,
ablation,
adaxial, and
aphasia
What is Abscission?
The word "abscission" comes from the Latin words "ab," which means "away," and "scindere," which means "to cut." It is a cutting-off action or procedure. It is the organic separation of plant components, such as fruit ripening and dropping. It is a biologically defined program of controlled cell separation at the abscission zones (AZs) at certain locations on the plant body. Some phytohormones and environmental elements regulate abscission.
Traits of Abscission Zone
Their cytoplasm is thick.
They may differ in the cell's composition and have smaller intercellular gaps.
They react differently to plant hormones like auxins and ethylene.
Mechanism of Abscission
Abscission is one of the important physiological processes and plants that involves the shedding of various organs such as leaves, fruits and flowers. It is also important as it plays a very important role in the development agent and response to the environmental stimuli of the plant. Some important mechanism of Abscission is discussed below:
Type of Abscission | Explanation |
General Mechanism |
|
Fruit Abscission |
|
Leaf Abscission |
|
Abscission Signaling
Abscission signaling in plants is influenced by several factors including environmental stresses and production of reactive oxygen species. Some of the basics of Abscission signalling are discussed below:
Environmental stresses such as UV exposure, cold, salt, bright light and pathogen infections lead to the production of reactive oxygen species which include H2O2 superoxide singlet Oxygen and hydroxyl radicals.
It requires the expression of the cell wall which degrades enzyme cellulase that functions downstream of ethylene in the abscission signaling.
Increased in the level of H2O2 also guesses the execution of the space which indicates the environment of cell wall degradation.
What is Ablation in Biology?
Ablation in biology is the removal of a biological structure or functionality, such as an organ or a cellular component. Ablation of genes and organs are two examples. Genetic slicing is also known as gene ablation.
What is Abaxial Surface?
It refers to a position away from the axis or the opposite side of the axis. It is used in botany to describe the various positions of the plant. Example: the abaxial surface of a leaf.
Ab, Abs Root Word NEET MCQs
Q1. The abaxial surface of a leaf is:
a) The surface facing the axis
b) The surface away from the axis
c) The upper surface only
d) None of these
Correct answer: b) The surface away from the axis
Explanation:
The abaxial surface is the lower side of the leaf that faces away from the stem or axis. It usually contains more stomata than the upper surface (adaxial surface), which is exposed to sunlight. This adaptation helps in efficient gas exchange and transpiration.
Hence, the correct answer is b) The surface away from the axis.
Q2. Abscission in plants is regulated mainly by:
a) Auxin and ethylene
b) Gibberellin and cytokinin
c) ABA and cytokinin
d) GA and IAA only
Correct answer: a) Auxin and ethylene
Explanation:
Abscission is the process by which plants shed leaves, flowers, or fruits. It is regulated by hormones, mainly auxin and ethylene. Ethylene promotes abscission by stimulating enzymes that weaken cell walls in the abscission zone, while auxin delays it. The balance between these two hormones determines the timing of shedding.
Hence, the correct answer is a) Auxin and ethylene.
Q3. Ablation in biology refers to:
a) Shedding of leaves
b) Removal of a structure or function
c) Growth of new tissue
d) Photosynthetic activity
Correct answer: b) Removal of a structure or function
Explanation:
Ablation in biology refers to the removal or destruction of biological tissue or a body part. For example, in medicine, ablation is used to remove tumors or abnormal tissues. In ecology, the term may also refer to the loss of ice or snow from a glacier surface. Thus, it broadly means elimination or removal of a part.
Hence, the correct answer is b) Removal of a structure or function.
FAQs on Ab, Abs Root Word
What does ab, abs mean in biology?
The root words "ab" or "abs" in biology mean "away" or "from." These prefixes are used to describe processes or structures that involve movement away from something or separation. Understanding this root helps in decoding many biological terms. Example: abscission (cutting off leaves/fruits), abaxial (surface away from the axis).
What is abscission in plants?
Abscission is the natural process in which plants shed leaves, flowers, or fruits. It occurs in a special region called the abscission zone. It is present at the base of the organ. It is one of the important physiological processes and plants that helps plants conserve energy, discard damaged parts, and prepare for seasonal changes.
What is ablation in biology?
Ablation means the removal, destruction, or loss of a biological structure or tissue. In medicine, it refers to removal of diseased tissue (e.g., tumor ablation), while in ecology it can mean the loss of ice or snow from glaciers.
What is the abaxial surface of a leaf?
Abaxial refers to the side of a plant organ facing away from the axis or stem. The "ab-" prefix relates to the "away from" meaning, describing the surface furthest from the plant's central axis.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A study of life is called biology. The Greek words "bios" and "logos," which both mean "life," are the origin of the word "biology."
The term bio's Greek source means "life." Examples of terms from this root word that are often used in the English lexicon include biological, biography, and amphibian. Biology, the study of "life," is a simple term that might be useful in recalling the definition of "bio."
Repetition is the main linguistic capacity present in mixed transcortical aphasia, a kind of aphasia. It is a rare form of aphasia. Isolation aphasia is another name for mixed transcortical aphasia.
When large amounts of the phytohormone Auxin get to the AZ cells, abscission is not triggered. Although abscisic acid was formerly thought to be the hormone that causes abscission (for which the hormone was called), it has now been established that it does not have a major function. Additionally, ethylene plays a significant role in controlling abscission signalling. In reaction to indoleacetic acid (IAA), leaf abscission is delayed, whereas in response to gibberellic acid, abscission often accelerates (GA).
The primary distinction between abscission and senescence is that the former refers to the detachment of a plant portion or organ from the plant body, whilst the latter refers to the degeneration of plant organs caused by ageing. Senescence, which is defined as "the process of ageing," is the opposite of abscission, which is a regulated process.