Auxotrophic

/ˌɔːksəˈtrɒfɪk/ adjective

Describing an organism that cannot synthesize certain organic compounds it needs to survive and must obtain them from its environment.

From Greek 'auxein' (to grow) and 'trophe' (nourishment). The term was coined in the 1930s-40s by microbiologists studying mutant bacteria that lost the ability to make essential amino acids or vitamins.

📖 Full word page — etymology, 47 translations, audio 🔑 Get Free API Key — 50 lookups/day 📚 Read the Docs — integrate Word Orb