auxotroph

[ awk-suh-trof, -trohf ]
/ ˈɔk səˌtrɒf, -ˌtroʊf /

noun Biology.

a mutant organism, especially a microorganism, that has a nutritional requirement not shared by the parent organism. Compare prototroph(def 1).

Origin of auxotroph

1950–55; back formation from auxotrophic; see auxo-, trophic

OTHER WORDS FROM auxotroph

aux·o·troph·ic, adjective

Words nearby auxotroph

auxocardia, auxochrome, auxocyte, auxospore, auxotonic, auxotroph, auxotrophic, av, av node, av., ava

British Dictionary definitions for auxotrophic

auxotroph
/ (ˈɔːksətrəʊf) /

noun

a mutant strain of microorganism having nutritional requirements additional to those of the normal organism

Derived forms of auxotroph

auxotrophic, adjective

Medical definitions for auxotrophic (1 of 2)

auxotrophic
[ awk-sō-trŏf′ĭk ]

adj.

Requiring one or more specific substances for growth and metabolism that the parent organism was able to synthesize on its own. Used with respect to organisms, such as strains of bacteria, algae, or fungi, that can no longer synthesize certain growth factors because of mutational changes.

Medical definitions for auxotrophic (2 of 2)

auxotroph
[ ôk′sə-trŏf′, -trōf′ ]

n.

A mutated microorganism having nutritional requirements that differ from those of unmutated microorganisms from the same strain.