auxotroph

[awk-suh-trof, -trohf]

noun

Biology.

1. a mutant organism, especially a microorganism, that has a nutritional requirement not shared by the parent organism.

auxotroph

/ ˈɔːksətrəʊf /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• auxotrophic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of auxotroph¹

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