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Glite Dictionary
phototropic bacteria

phototropic bacteria

6.5
Bacteria that use sunlight to make food from carbon dioxide or organic matter
  • noun
  • /ˌfoʊtəˈtrɒpɪk bækˈtɪəriə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : bacterias fototróficas
  • Some phototropic bacteria can perform photosynthesis in the absence of oxygen.

Examples

  • Green and purple phototropic bacteria are often found in aquatic environments exposed to sunlight.

  • Researchers study phototropic bacteria to better understand alternative photosynthetic pathways.

  • Many phototropic bacteria thrive in sunlight.

  • Can phototropic bacteria survive in the dark?

  • Green and purple phototropic bacteria are often found in aquatic environments exposed to sunlight.

  • Researchers study phototropic bacteria to learn about how they use sunlight for energy.

  • Some phototropic bacteria obtain their energy by performing photosynthesis in sunlight.

Synonyms

phototrophic bacteria
vsphototropic bacteria
  • Specialized
7.2

Bacteria that get energy from sunlight and use carbon dioxide or organic matter to grow

is the alternate spelling used for the same group of bacteria

Surface Forms

phototropic bacteria singular
phototropic bacteria plural

Morphology

phototropic + bacteria

The phrase is compositionally built (ADJ + NOUN) so a learner who knows 'phototropic' and 'bacteria' would reasonably infer 'bacteria related to light' or 'bacteria that grow toward light.' However, the provided technical definition refers to obtaining energy from sunlight (a domain-specific sense more accurately labeled 'phototrophic'), so the exact scientific meaning is not fully predictable from the surface constituents and may cause confusion.

Etymology

The noun phototropic bacteria comes from the parts photo (meaning 'light') and tropic (meaning 'turning toward'). Picture tiny cells that 'turn toward light' to get energy, so the name describes bacteria that use sunlight as their energy source.