auxotrophic
1
9.9
- adjective
- /ˌɔːksəˈtroʊfɪk/
- Specialized
- The laboratory created an auxotrophic strain of bacteria that needs special nutrients to survive in culture.
Examples
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Although innovative, QUICK bears some limitations: first, SILAC is cost-intensive and limited to organisms that ideally are auxotrophic for arginine and/or lysine.
Blog text (15) -
GEMs can also be validated by observing if they correctly predict known auxotrophic features of the cell as well.
Academic text (2017) -
Scientists study auxotrophic organisms to understand the importance of certain amino acids in growth.
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Due to its auxotrophic nature, the yeast required added vitamins to thrive in the nutrient-poor environment.
How Dependent
- Specialized
1
9.9
- Specialized
1
9.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
auxotrophic = auxotroph (opaque) = auxo + troph + ic
The parts are specialized combining forms used in scientific vocabulary (auxo- and -troph) that are unlikely to be understood by an average B1 learner.
Etymology
The word auxotrophic comes from Greek parts auxo- meaning 'grow' and -trophic meaning 'feeding' or 'nourishment'. It describes an organism that cannot make a needed nutrient to grow and so must get that nutrient from its environment. Think of atrophy ('to waste away'), which shares the same 'feeding' root and helps explain why lacking a nutrient stops growth.