Describing organisms or cells that move or propel themselves in different ways or directions.
From Greek hetero- (different) + kinetic (relating to motion), combining to describe differential movement patterns. The term emerged in 20th-century biology to classify organisms with varied locomotion mechanisms.
Some algae are heterokinetic—they have multiple flagella that can beat in totally different patterns to help them navigate toward light or food sources, like having different gears on a biological engine!
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