n., pl., -tax·es (-tăk'sēz).
- Movement of a living organism in response to changes in temperature.
- Normal regulation or adjustment of body temperature.
thermotaxis
| Dictionary: ther·mo·tax·is |
(thûr'mə-tăk'sĭs)
n., pl., -tax·es (-tăk'sēz).
n., pl., -tax·es (-tăk'sēz).
| 5min Related Video: thermotaxis |
| Sports Science and Medicine: thermotaxis |
The normal physiological responses, such as changes in the rate of sweating and metabolic rate, which help to keep a balance between heat losses and heat gains in the body.
| Medical Dictionary: ther·mo·tax·is |
(thûr'mə-tăk'sĭs)
n., pl. -tax·es (-tăk'sēz).
n., pl. -tax·es (-tăk'sēz).
- Movement of a living organism in response to changes in temperature.
- Normal regulation or adjustment of body temperature.
| Veterinary Dictionary: thermotaxis |
1. normal adjustment of bodily temperature.
2. movement of an organism in response to the stimulation of a temperature gradient.
| Wikipedia: Thermotaxis |
Thermotaxis is a behavior in which an organism directs its locomotion up or down a gradient of temperature.
Lab research has determined that some slime molds[1] and small nematodes[2] can migrate along amazingly shallow temperature gradients of less than 0.1C/cm.[3] Theoretical analysis indicates that even this impressive feat is far from pushing the limits set by thermal noise.[4] The natural environment always contains temperature gradients that organisms could respond to, if it were useful. The response of the slime mold and nematode is complicated and thought to allow them to move toward an appropriate level in soil.[5][6] Recent research suggests that mammalian sperm employ thermotaxis to move to an appropriate location in the female's oviduct (see Sperm guidance).
Notes and references
- ^ Poff and Skokut, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 74: 2007-2010 (1977). Thermotaxis by pseudoplasmodia of Dictyostelium discoideum.
- ^ Pline, Diez, and Dusenbery, J. Nematology, 20:605-608 (1988). Extremely sensitive thermotaxis of the nematode Meloidogyne incognita.
- ^ Dusenbery, David B. (1992). Sensory Ecology, p.114. W.H. Freeman, New York. ISBN 0-7167-2333-6.
- ^ Dusenbery, David B. (2009). Living at Micro Scale, pp.159-163. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass. ISBN 978-0-674-03116-6.
- ^ Dusenbery, D.B. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 22:219-223 (1988). Avoided temperature leads to the surface.
- ^ Dusenbery, D.B. Biological Cybernetics, 60:431-437 (1989). A simple animal can use a complex stimulus pattern to find a location.
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 | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Sports Science and Medicine. The Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science & Medicine. Copyright © Michael Kent 1998, 2006, 2007. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Medical Dictionary. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Read more |
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| Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Thermotaxis". Read more |
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Mentioned in
- taxis (in zoology)
- thermoregulation
- Plant movements (plant physiology)
- Motility
- Sel-12
- Sperm guidance
- Sensory ecology
- Chemotaxis
- Caenorhabditis elegans
- List of Greek words with English derivatives
