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Answer for the clue "An orienting response to light ", 12 letters:
phototropism

Word definitions for phototropism in dictionaries

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
Phototropism is the growth of an organism which responds to a light stimulus. It is most often observed in plants , but can also occur in other organisms such as fungi . The cells on the plant that are farthest from the light have a chemical called auxin ...

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Phototropism \Pho*tot"ro*pism\, n. [Photo- + Gr. ? to turn.] (Plant Physiol.) The tendency of growing plant organs to move or curve under the influence of light. In ordinary use the term is practically synonymous with heliotropism . (Microbiology) exhibiting ...

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1899, from German phototropie (1892), from photo- + tropism .

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. (context biology English) the movement of a plant towards or away from light

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. an orienting response to light

Usage examples of phototropism.

Sun in its course across the sky was evidence of a literal miracle before we knew about phototropism and plant hormones.

Because we know something about phototropism and plant hormones, we can understand the opening of the morning glory independent of divine microintervention.

This plant exhibits a highly sophisticated degree of negative phototropism.

The fact that we cannot now produce a detailed understanding of, say, altered states of consciousness in terms of brain chemistry no more implies the existence of a `spirit world' than a sunflower following the Sun in its course across the sky was evidence of a literal miracle before we knew about phototropism and plant hormones.

The fact that we cannot now produce a detailed understanding of, say, altered states of consciousness in terms of brain chemistry no more implies the existence of a 'spirit world' than a sunflower following the Sun in its course across the sky was evidence of a literal miracle before we knew about phototropism and plant hormones.