chemotaxis

[ kee-moh-tak-sis, kem-oh- ]

noun

, Biology.

1. oriented movement toward or away from a chemical stimulus.

chemotaxis

/ ˌkɛməʊˈtæksɪs /

noun

1. the movement of a microorganism or cell in response to a chemical stimulus

chemotaxis

/ kē′mō-tăk′sĭs,kĕm′ō- /

1. The characteristic movement or orientation of an organism or cell along a chemical concentration gradient either toward or away from the chemical stimulus. Bacteria exhibit chemotaxis when they move toward a source of nutrients.

Derived Forms

• ˌchemoˈtactic, adjective
• ˌchemoˈtactically, adverb

Other Words From

• che·mo·tac·tic [kee-moh-, tak, -tik, kem-oh-], adjective
• chemo·tacti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of chemotaxis¹

First recorded in 1890–95; chemo- + -taxis

Example Sentences

An important example is the process by which cells or organisms move in response to chemical signals in their environment, also known as chemotaxis.

From Science Daily

Over the last century, how researchers understood cell migration was limited to the effects of biochemical signals, or chemotaxis, that direct a cell to move from one place to another.

From Salon

They reach their destination by chemotaxis, following signals that lead them to the goal like a chemical yellow brick road.

From Scientific American

Individual cells, whether cancer cells, skin cells, or single-celled organisms like bacteria, generally know where to go by sensing attractive chemicals in their environments and moving toward them, a process called chemotaxis.

From Science Magazine

The cells chased the attractant through a process called chemotaxis, expanding rapidly across the dish before the local nutrients were depleted, so that most of the population had the nutrients needed to grow.

From Nature