Taxis
Taxis
Taxis (pronunciation: /ˈtæksɪs/) is a biological phenomenon that refers to the movement of an organism in response to a stimulus such as light or the presence of food. Taxis differs from kinesis in that the response to the stimulus is directed and not random.
Etymology
The term 'taxis' comes from the Greek τάξις, meaning 'arrangement' or 'order'. It was first used in this context in the late 19th century.
Types of Taxis
There are several types of taxis, each named according to the stimulus to which the organism responds. These include:
- Phototaxis: Movement in response to light.
- Chemotaxis: Movement in response to chemicals.
- Thermotaxis: Movement in response to temperature.
- Geotaxis: Movement in response to gravity.
- Rheotaxis: Movement in response to current of water or air.
Related Terms
- Tropism: A similar concept to taxis, but usually refers to the growth of part of a plant in response to a stimulus.
- Kinesis: A non-directional response to a stimulus, as opposed to the directional response seen in taxis.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Taxis
- Wikipedia's article - Taxis
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