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  • Word comparison: auxotroph vs. prototroph

auxotroph vs. prototroph

auxotroph

noun

Biology.
  1. a mutant organism, especially a microorganism, that has a nutritional requirement not shared by the parent organism. Compare prototroph ( def 1 ).

prototroph

noun

Biology.
  1. a microorganism that has the same nutritional requirements as the parent organism. Compare auxotroph.
  2. an organism or cell capable of synthesizing all its metabolites from inorganic material, requiring no organic nutrients.