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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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


chemotaxis

/ kē′mō-tăksĭs,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.


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Derived Forms

  • ˌchemoˈtactic, adjective
  • ˌchemoˈtactically, adverb
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Other Words From

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

Origin of chemotaxis1

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

Chemotaxis alone will not explain the continuance of leukocytosis for more than a short time.

Non-phagocytic leukocytosis is probably due more to stimulation of blood-making organs than to chemotaxis.

Pfeffer in 1883 discovered chemotaxis, the directive action of chemical substances on the movement of mobile organisms.

Chemotaxis means simply the effect of the presence of certain substances on vital organisms without specific chemical action.

In general, the response of the leukocytes to chemotaxis is a conservative process.

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chemosynthetic bacteriachemotaxonomy