Chemotactic Maneuverability of Sperm

In this fluid mechanics video, we explore the kinematics of chemotaxing sperm cells (sea urchin, $\mathit{\text{Arbacia}}\mathit{\text{punctulata}}$) 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.