prototroph

[proh-tuh-trof, -trohf]

noun

Biology.

1. a microorganism that has the same nutritional requirements as the parent organism.

2. an organism or cell capable of synthesizing all its metabolites from inorganic material, requiring no organic nutrients.

Word History and Origins

Origin of prototroph¹

First recorded in 1945–50; back formation from prototrophic