Betty I. Roots

Betty Ida Roots (21 October 1927 – 24 October 2020) was a British-born zoologist and neurobiologist based at the University of Toronto in Canada. Her research examined how animals respond to changes in their environment, with particular reference to the nervous system, glial cells, and neuron–glia relationships from a comparative perspective. She completed a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology at the University of London's University College, a Diploma in Education at the Institution of Education (1950). and later, a doctorate in comparative physiology at the University of London (1981). Roots held a number of teaching and visiting scientist positions at a variety of institutions, including the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine and the University of Illinois' Department of Physiology and Biophysics, before immigrating to Canada and joining the University of Toronto as an Associate Professor of Zoology in 1969. Her research interests included the responses of animals to environmental change with particular reference to the nervous system, and the structure and function of glial cells and neuron–glia relationships across species.

Selected bibliography Paul R Laming, H Kimelberg, S Robinson, A Salm, N Hawrylak, C Müller, B Roots, and K Ng. Neuronal–glial interactions and behaviour. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2000. B Roots. Neurofilament accumulation induced in synapses by leupeptin. Science. 1983. Patricia V Johnston and Betty I Roots. Brain lipid fatty acids and temperature acclimation. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. 1964. B Roots. Phospholipids of goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) brain: the influence of environmental temperature. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. 1968. B Roots. The water relations of earthworms: II. Resistance to desiccation and immersion, and behaviour when submerged and when allowed a choice of environment. Journal of Experimental Biology. 1956.