2011/10/13 by Jeffrey Guasto, Guasto, Jeffrey S., Jeffrey A. Riffell +5
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Biological Physics (physics.bio-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Fluid Dynamics (physics.flu-dyn) #Micro and Nano Robotics #Orbital Angular Momentum in Optics #Underwater Vehicles and Communication Systems
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1110.2835
openalex publication_date 2011/10/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
In this fluid mechanics video, we explore the kinematics of chemotaxing sperm cells (sea urchin, Arbacia punctulata) swimming in a chemoattractant gradient. We demonstrate that the complex swimming trajectories resulting in chemotactic behavior (`turn-and-run' motility) are comprised of several distinct flagellar maneuvers. These motility patterns likely play an important role optimizing chemotaxic motility and navigation, when the sperm cells are subjected external fluid flows.