A Particular Form of Chemotaxis: Necrotaxis. An Historical View

Necrotaxis has been defined as chemotaxis toward a dying cell. Chemotaxis, since its discovery in 1888, has been the subject of controversy, both as to its reality and as to an appropriate definition such as directional movement induced by chemical stimuli. Microcinematography has settled both questions. The necrotaxis phenomenon was first described in 1930, then denied and questioned. It was experimentally created, and defined in 1964, after the introduction of new micro-irradiation techniques (UV, laser). As a technique, necrotaxis is particularly useful in the study of chemotaxis. As a biological phenomenon, necrotaxis plays an important role in physiology and pathology.