Dictionary > Chemokinesis

Chemokinesis

Definition
noun
A behavioral response of a cell or an organism to a soluble chemical that leads to random or directionally non-oriented movement
Supplement
Chemokinesis is the non-oriented or random movement of a motile cell to a soluble chemical. It should not be confused with the other term, chemotaxis. Chemotaxis is a kind of taxis, in which bodily cells, bacteria, and other single-cell 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). It is a response of motile cells or organisms in which the direction of movement is affected by the gradient of a diffusible substance. It differs from chemokinesis in that the gradient alters probability ofmotion in one direction only, rather than rate or frequency of random motion. Similarly though, both chemotaxis and chemokinesis is chemically prompted movement of a cell.
Chemokinesis involves orthokinesis and klinokinesis. Orthokinesis is a form of kinesis in which the speed of movement of the individual depends upon the intensity of the stimulus. An increase in the speed of movement is a positive orthokinesis whereas a decrease in the speed is referred to as negative orthokinesis. Klinokinesis is another form of kinesis wherein the frequency or rate of turning is proportional to the intensity of the stimulus.
Word origin: chemo– (of chemicals) + kinesis
Compare:


You will also like...

squirrel
Animal Water Regulation

Animals adapt to their environment in aspects of anatomy, physiology, and behavior. This tutorial will help you understa..

Plant Water Regulation
Plant Water Regulation

Plants need to regulate water in order to stay upright and structurally stable. Find out the different evolutionary adap..

Water Cycle
The Water Cycle

The water cycle (also referred to as the hydrological cycle) is a system of continuous transfer of water from the air, s..

Adaptation Tutorial
Adaptation Tutorial

Adaptation, in biology and ecology, refers to the process or trait through which organisms or the populations in a habit..

Plant biology
Plant Biology

Plantlife can be studied at a variety of levels, from the molecular, genetic and biochemical level through organelles, c..

Early Earth
The Origins of Life

This tutorial digs into the past to investigate the origins of life. The section is split into geological periods in the..

Related Articles...

No related articles found

See all Related Topics