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Glite Dictionary
negative chemotaxis

negative chemotaxis

7.8
Movement of a cell or small organism away from a chemical
  • noun
  • /ˈnɛɡətɪv ˌkiːmoʊˈtæksɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : quimiotaxis negativa
  • Certain bacteria exhibit negative chemotaxis by moving away from harmful chemicals in their environment.

Examples

  • The bacteria exhibit negative chemotaxis in response to high salt concentrations.

  • The process of negative chemotaxis allows cells to avoid toxic substances by moving away from them.

  • Scientists observed negative chemotaxis when the cells withdrew from the repellent substance.

  • The process of negative chemotaxis is essential for understanding how immune cells avoid toxic compounds.

  • Can you explain negative chemotaxis in more detail?

  • Certain bacteria exhibit negative chemotaxis by moving away from harmful chemicals in their environment.

  • Scientists observed negative chemotaxis when the cells withdrew from the repellent substance.

Antonyms

positive chemotaxis
  • Specialized
7.9

Movement of a cell toward a stronger chemical signal

Surface Forms

negative chemotaxis singular
negative chemotaxes plural

Morphology

negative + chemotaxis

The term is compositionally transparent: 'chemotaxis' denotes movement directed by a chemical stimulus, and 'negative' signals the opposite or away direction. Therefore a learner who knows both constituent meanings can reliably infer it means movement away from a chemical stimulus, even though the term is technical.

Etymology

Negative chemotaxis paints a clear image: tiny cells or bacteria sense a chemical and move the other way to avoid it. Here chemotaxis means moving because of a chemical and negative means 'moving away', so the phrase means 'movement away from a chemical'.