CHEMOTROPISM Meaning and
Definition
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Chemotropism is a biological phenomenon in which the growth or movement of an organism is influenced by the presence or concentration of certain specific chemical substances in its environment. It is a type of tropism, which refers to the directional growth or movement of an organism in response to a stimulus.
In chemotropism, the organism exhibits a positive or negative response towards a chemical stimulus. If the organism shows growth or movement towards the source of the chemical, it is termed positive chemotropism, while if it grows or moves away from the chemical, it is known as negative chemotropism.
Chemotropism is commonly observed in various organisms such as plants and microorganisms. For example, in plants, the roots may exhibit positive chemotropism by growing towards areas with higher concentrations of specific nutrients or water. Similarly, certain bacteria may display positive chemotropism by moving towards higher concentrations of a chemical substance as a means of finding food or resources.
The phenomenon of chemotropism plays an essential role in the survival, growth, and reproduction of organisms, as it allows them to adapt to their environment and obtain essential resources for their sustenance. Researchers and scientists often study chemotropism to better understand the behavior and responses of organisms towards chemical stimuli, which can have implications in areas such as agriculture, medicine, and ecology.
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The capacity or impulse, possessed by cells or cellular organisms, to turn or progress in a certain direction under the influence of definite chemical stimuli; chemotaxis.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for CHEMOTROPISM
- xhemotropism
- vhemotropism
- fhemotropism
- dhemotropism
- cgemotropism
- cbemotropism
- cnemotropism
- cjemotropism
- cuemotropism
- cyemotropism
- chwmotropism
- chsmotropism
- chdmotropism
- chrmotropism
- ch4motropism
- ch3motropism
- chenotropism
- chekotropism
- chejotropism
- chemitropism
Etymology of CHEMOTROPISM
The word "chemotropism" is derived from two Greek terms: "chemo" and "tropism".
1. "Chemo", from the Greek word "khemia" (χημεία), refers to chemical substances or reactions. It is related to the root "khymos" (χυμός), meaning "juice" or "fluid". The word "khymos" eventually came to denote the practice of "alchemy", which involved transformations and chemical processes.
2. "Tropism" comes from the Greek word "tropein" (τροπεῖν), meaning "to turn" or "to direct". In the scientific context, it refers to the orientation or movement of an organism or cell in response to external stimuli.
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