Definition of "chemotaxis" [chem•o•tax•is]

• The characteristic movement or orientation of an organism or cell along a chemical concentration gradient either toward or away from the chemical stimulus. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "THE HUMAN BRAIN chemical nature of their surroundings by swimming away, and a positive chemotaxis, which is an adaptive response to the type of chemical change brought about by the presence of something edible."
• ""These same issues of microbial 'navigation,' or so-called chemotaxis, are important for microbial processing of biofuels," said Paul Gilna, director of the ORNL-led DOE BioEnergy"
• "Using a system of chemical communication known as chemotaxis, bacteria shape the structure of their colonies, sometimes sending an attractive signal, sometimes sending chemicals that tell others to 'stay away.'"