auxotroph

American  

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

noun

Biology.

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

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auxotroph British  

/ ˈɔːksətrəʊf /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• auxotrophic adjective

Etymology

Origin of auxotroph

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

Compare meaning

How does auxotroph compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• auxotroph vs. prototroph