PROTOTROPHIC Meaning and
Definition
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Prototrophic refers to the ability of an organism to synthesize all the necessary organic compounds and essential nutrients required for its growth and survival. This term is commonly used in the field of microbiology and genetics to describe the characteristic of a microorganism or a strain of an organism.
In a prototrophic organism, all the essential metabolic pathways are fully functional, allowing it to produce all the biomolecules needed for its growth. These include amino acids, nucleotides, and other organic compounds that are required for protein synthesis, DNA replication, and various cellular processes. Prototrophs are capable of utilizing simple carbon sources, such as glucose, to synthesize these essential nutrients.
This term is often contrasted with auxotrophy, which refers to the inability of an organism to synthesize one or more essential nutrients, requiring its supplementation in the growth medium. Prototrophic strains are typically used as the wild-type or standard reference strains in genetic studies and laboratory experiments.
Overall, prototrophic organisms possess the metabolic versatility and self-sufficiency to support their growth under a wide range of conditions, making them invaluable models for scientific research and biotechnological applications.
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Deriving sustenance from inorganic materials; most plants are prototrophic; see metatrophic, paratrophic.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PROTOTROPHIC
- orototrophic
- lrototrophic
- -rototrophic
- 0rototrophic
- peototrophic
- pdototrophic
- pfototrophic
- ptototrophic
- p5ototrophic
- p4ototrophic
- pritotrophic
- prktotrophic
- prltotrophic
- prptotrophic
- pr0totrophic
- pr9totrophic
- prorotrophic
- profotrophic
- progotrophic
- proyotrophic
Etymology of PROTOTROPHIC
The word "prototrophic" is composed of two parts: "proto" and "trophic".
The prefix "proto-" is derived from the Greek word "protos", meaning "first" or "earliest". It is commonly used in English to indicate something that is primitive, original, or earliest in a series.
The word "trophic" comes from the Greek word "trophikos", meaning "pertaining to nourishment". In biology, "trophic" is used to describe organisms or processes related to nutrition or the source of nourishment.
Therefore, the etymology of "prototrophic" can be understood to mean "pertaining to the original or primitive source of nutrition". In biology, "prototrophic" is often used to describe formative, primitive, or ancestral organisms that have the ability to synthesize all the necessary nutrients for growth and reproduction.
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