Taxis

Definition

Taxis is a directional movement of an organism in response to a stimulus. It can be positive (toward the stimulus) or negative (away from the stimulus).

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Taxis differs from kinesis, which is a non-directional response to stimuli.
2. Chemotaxis is the movement toward or away from chemical stimuli.
3. Phototaxis involves movement toward or away from light sources.
4. Geotaxis refers to movement in response to gravity, such as roots growing downward.
5. The directionality of taxis allows organisms to navigate their environment efficiently.

Review Questions

• What distinguishes taxis from kinesis?
• Give an example of phototaxis in nature.
• How does taxis contribute to an organism's survival?

Related terms

Kinesis: A non-directional response to stimuli resulting in random movement.

Chemotaxis: Movement towards or away from chemical stimuli.

Phototropism:

Growth of an organism in response to light direction.