Physics of bacterial chemotaxis

Abstract

Chemotaxis is the ability of some organisms to direct their motion in response to chemical signals. This behavior is important across biological scales, from olfactory navigation in animals, to cell migration in development. Chemotaxis is particularly important for bacteria, many of which are capable of directing their motion towards nutrients and away from toxins. The history of bacterial chemotaxis as a field stretches as far back as the late 19th century when scientists observed various species’ ability to localize around gas bubbles and pipettes filled with nutrients. After these initial observations, however, it would take over 60 years for the mechanisms of this behavior to come into focus.