prototroph
[ proh-tuh-trof, -trohf ]
/ ˈproʊ təˌtrɒf, -ˌtroʊf /
noun Biology.
a microorganism that has the same nutritional requirements as the parent organism.Compare auxotroph.
an organism or cell capable of synthesizing all its metabolites from inorganic material, requiring no organic nutrients.
Nearby words
protospasm, protostar, protostele, protostome, prototherian, prototroph, prototrophic, prototype, prototypical, protovertebra, protoxid
Origin of prototroph
First recorded in 1945–50; back formation from prototrophic
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Medicine definitions for prototroph
prototroph
[ prō′tə-trŏf′, -trōf′ ]
n.
A bacterial strain that has the same nutritional requirements as the wild type strain from which it was derived.
Related formspro′to•troph′ic (-trŏf′ĭk, -trō′fĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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