Describing organisms or substances that obtain nutrition from sources that are fundamentally different in origin or nature.
From Greek 'allo' (other) + 'trophe' (nutrition). This scientific term emerged in biology to describe feeding patterns that deviate from the typical method for an organism's species.
Some parasites have evolved allotrophic feeding strategies, getting nutrients from hosts in ways their ancestors never did—it's evolution happening right before our eyes at the cellular level!
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