Chemotaxis

Chemotaxis is the phenomenon in which bodily cells, bacteria, and other single-celled or multicellular organisms direct their movements according to certain chemicals in their environment. This is important for bacteria to find food (for example, glucose) by swimming towards the highest concentration of food molecules, or to flee from poisons (for example, phenol). In multicellular organisms, chemotaxis is critical in development as well as normal function. Additionally, it has been recognized that mechanisms that allow chemotaxis in animals can be subverted during cancer metastasis.

Related Topics:
Bacteria - Multicellular - Glucose - Poison - Phenol - Cancer - Metastasis

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