The automatic movement of an organism toward or away from gravity or the earth.
From Greek 'geo-' (earth) + 'taxis' (arrangement, movement toward/away). This term emerged in 19th-century biology to describe how organisms respond to gravitational forces, distinguishing between gravitropism and other directional movements.
Earthworms and insect larvae show positive geotaxis, meaning they naturally move downward into soil—this isn't learned behavior but an innate biological compass programmed by gravity! Scientists use geotaxis to study how organisms perceive direction, and understanding it helps explain why some parasites always find their way to the deepest parts of the body.
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