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Root words in biology are important for understanding complex terms. It has two components: a prefix (the starting word) and a suffix (the ending word).
- A root word is derived from Latin and Greek words with specific meanings.
- Some examples of prefixes in biology are -bi, -di, -tri, -mono, -hyper, -halo, -iso, -bio, etc.
- -cide, -phore, -phyll, -phage, are all examples of suffixes used in biological terms.
| Table of Contents |
Root Words for -Cide in Biology
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Various terms in biology contain the -cide at the end of the word. Words added at the end are called suffixes. Cide has been derived from the Latin root which means to cut, kill, or fall. A few examples of the root words for cide in biology are insecticide, pesticide, herbicide, rodenticide, etc. We will discuss these examples one by one:
Pesticide
Pesticides are harmful chemicals used to kill plants, animals, or fungi which may affect the economy in agriculture by destroying crops, animals, and man.
- They are widely used by farmers to kill disease-causing pests in the crops.
- Examples of pesticides are carbamate, pyrethroid, organophosphate, boric acid, etc.
Insecticide
An insecticide is a toxic substance used to kill insects. It is one of the types of pesticides.
- Humans use them to control pests, boost up crop yields, spread diseases.
- One of the commonly used bacterium insecticides is Bacillus Threunginesis (Bt). It helps in eradicating all the leaf-eating insects.
Fungicides
Fungicides are synthetic substances that are usually sprayed on plants to stop the growth of fungal spores or fungi.
- The use of fungicides may result in increased crop yield and reduction in plant diseases.
- Fungicides are either sprayed on the plant or injected into the soil.
Algaecide
An algaecide is a chemical substance used to kill and control the growth of algae.
- It is used to kill toxic algae like cyanobacteria also known as blue-green algae.
- Examples of algaecides include copper sulfate, copper chelates, and endothall.
Aphicide
A chemical component used to kill small sap-sucking insects is called aphicide.
- These small insects which suck the sap of the plants are green or black colored and are called aphids.
- They cause serious damage to plants by affecting their growth and transferring diseases.
Bactericide
The most common chemical substance used to kill bacteria is called bactericide.
- Antiseptics, disinfectants, and antibiotics are examples of bactericides.
- These are used in hospitals, and food industries to sterilize the working areas.
Icthyocides
The chemicals used to destroy or kill fish are called Icthyocides.
- Examples of Icthyocides include copper sulfate, calcium hypochlorite, sodium sulfite, etc.
- Rotenone is the most commonly used icthyocides that kills fish.
Nematicides
Nematicides are the chemicals used to kill nematodes.
- Nematodes are organisms that appear as parasites in animals, soil, and freshwater.
- Neem is a natural nematicide used by farmers to control root-knot nematodes.
The table below shows the different types of biological words with the root word -cide along with their meanings:
| Words | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Avicide | A substance used to kill birds. | DRC-1339 and Avitrol. |
| Bactericide | A chemical substance used to kill bacteria. | Antibiotics, disinfectants, antiseptics. |
| Biocide | A chemical used to kill living things or control infections. | Antibacterials, Antivirals, pesticides, insecticides. |
| Miticide | The chemical used to control mites or ticks. | Azobenze, Dicofol, Ovex, etc. |
| Nematocide | It is a chemical agent that kills nematodes. (parasites) | Fumigants |
| Ovicide | The chemical substance used to kill the eggs of insects. | Methoprene, Hydroprene. |
| Rodenticide | A harmful substance used to kill rodents. (mice, rats, squirrels) | Bromadiolone, chlorophacinone, warfarin, etc. |
Things to Remember
- A root word is a part of a word to which prefixes and suffixes are added in order to form a meaningful term.
- There are several root words used in biology such as -mono (one), -bi (two), -tri (three), etc.
- Cide is a prefix that means ‘cutting or ‘killing’. For example, a fungicide is responsible for killing fungi.
- Rodenticides are the chemical agents used to kill rodents like rats, mice, squirrels, etc.
- Farmers commonly use insecticides and Pesticides to protect plants from deteriorating.
Sample Questions
Ques. Answer the following: (2 marks)
- What is the meaning of the root word -esis?
- Mention the Latin or Greek roots of the -cide root word.
Ans.
- a) The root word -esis means process. Photosynthesis is a common example having the suffix -esis.
- b) The word -cide has been derived from the Latin word “caedere” meaning ‘to cut’ or ‘to kill’.
Ques. Differentiate between an insecticide and a pesticide. (2 marks)
Ans. The table below shows the difference between insecticides and pesticides:
| Insecticide | Pesticide |
|---|---|
| They are used against insects. | They are used against unwanted plants, bacteria, and insects. |
| They are used on insects like spiders, flies, bugs, etc. | They are used against rusts, weeds, mice, etc. |
| Example- DDT, Carbofuran. | Example- aldrin, parathion. |
Ques. What are the different types of root words in biology? Write their meanings and examples. (2 marks)
Ans. The different types of root words in biology are shown in the table below:
| Root Word | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Hyper- | above | Hyperthyroidism, Hyperventilation |
| -cide | kill | Avicide, Fungicide |
| -phil- | affinity | Acidophile, Halophile |
| Dis- | separate | Dislocate, Dissect |
Ques. Write the applications of herbicides. (2 marks)
Ans. Chemicals employed in the agriculture sector are known as herbicides. The following are the uses of herbicides:
- They are employed to eradicate or suppress the growth of undesirable plants, such as weeds.
- Herbicides increase plant growth and agricultural yield.
Ques. What are biocides? Are antiseptic and disinfectants examples of biocides? (2 marks)
Ans. Biocides are the chemical substances that kill or control the effect of harmful organisms.
- Antiseptic and disinfectant are examples of biocides and are used to sterilize workplaces in health care, or food industries.
- Other types of biocides include herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and pesticides.
Ques. Could you provide some instances of both synthetic and natural pesticides? (2 marks)
Ans. Synthetic pesticides are made in laboratories using chemical processes, whereas natural pesticides are derived from plants, animals, or microorganisms like bacteria or fungi
- Natural pesticides include boric acid, rotenone, Nicotine, and diatomaceous earth powder.
- Synthetic pesticides include Dichloro - Diphenyl trichloroethene (DDT), chloranil, parathion, etc.
Ques. Classify the insecticides based on their toxicity. (3 marks)
Ans. Insecticides are the chemical agents that destroy harmful insects. They are classified on the levels of toxicity:
- Low-toxicity: They cause less damage to the environment and are used in integrated pest management plans.
- Moderate-toxicity: Careful application of these insecticides is required as they cause harm to humans and the environment.
- High-toxicity: To use in moderation and with care, one should only apply these insecticides when necessary.
Ques. What negative consequences result from applying biocides? (3 points)
Ans. Biocides can damage the environment and people too. When biocides are handled improperly or disposed of wrongly, they can cause severe harm to humans as well.
- It is estimated that 30% of all existing biocides are poisonous or cancer-causing for water-dwelling organisms.
- It can affect the respiratory system, nervous system, skin, eyes, and other organs of the body.
Ques. Is preservative a biocide? (2 marks)
Ans. Yes, preservative is a biocide. Insecticides, pesticides, disinfectants, sanitizers, and antiseptics are other examples.
- These preservatives are added to a material to protect it from deterioration of microorganisms.
- It increases the shelf-life of products like wood, rubber, textiles, paints, paper, leather, etc.
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