prototrophic

[ proh-tuh-trof-ik, -troh-fik ]

adjective

1. (especially of certain bacteria) requiring only inorganic substances for growth.
2. (of certain microorganisms) requiring no specific nutriments for growth.

prototrophic

/ ˌprəʊtəˈtrɒfɪk /

adjective

1. (esp of bacteria) feeding solely on inorganic matter
2. (of cultured bacteria, fungi, etc) having no specific nutritional requirements

Word History and Origins

Origin of prototrophic¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; proto- + -trophic

Example Sentences

Thus arobes and facultative anarobes are prototrophic for O.

From Project Gutenberg

An organism which is capable of making use of an element in the free state is said to be prototrophic for that particular element.

From Project Gutenberg