What does chemotaxis mean?
Chemotaxis is the movement of an organism or cell in response to a chemical stimulus. It is a fundamental process in biology and medicine, allowing cells and organisms to navigate their environment and respond to changes in their surroundings. Chemotaxis can be used to describe both positive and negative responses, such as moving towards a source of nutrients or away from a source of toxins. It is an important concept in fields such as biology, medicine, and ecology, and has many practical applications in areas such as agriculture, biotechnology, and environmental science.
nounThe movement of an organism or cell in response to a chemical stimulus, often towards a source of nutrients or away from a source of toxins.
- The movement of an organism or cell in response to a chemical stimulus.
"The bacteria exhibited chemotaxis towards the glucose-rich environment."
"The bacteria exhibited chemotaxis towards the glucose-rich environment."
"The plant roots exhibited chemotaxis towards the nutrient-rich soil."
The plural form of chemotaxis is used to describe multiple instances of the movement of organisms or cells in response to chemical stimuli.
"The multiple chemotaxes exhibited by the bacteria were studied in the laboratory."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chemotaxis
The word 'chemotaxis' comes from the Greek words 'chemo-' meaning 'chemical' and 'taxis' meaning 'movement'. It was first used in the late 19th century to describe the movement of cells in response to chemical stimuli.
Usage notes
Chemotaxis is often used in biology and medicine to describe the movement of cells or organisms in response to chemical stimuli. It can be used to describe both positive and negative responses, such as moving towards a source of nutrients or away from a source of toxins.