Auxotrophy
Auxotrophy (pronounced: /ɔːkˈsɒtrəfi/) is a term used in Microbiology and Genetics to describe the inability of an organism to synthesize a particular organic compound required for its growth.
Etymology
The term "Auxotrophy" is derived from the Greek words "auxo", meaning "to increase", and "trophe", meaning "nourishment".
Definition
An auxotroph is an organism that requires a specific metabolic substance that cannot be synthesized by the organism itself. This substance must be provided in the organism's diet or growth medium. The opposite of an auxotroph is a prototroph, which can synthesize all the nutrients it needs for growth.
Types of Auxotrophy
There are several types of auxotrophy, each defined by the specific substance the organism cannot synthesize. These include:
- Amino acid auxotrophs: These organisms cannot synthesize certain amino acids. For example, a leucine auxotroph cannot synthesize the amino acid leucine.
- Vitamin auxotrophs: These organisms cannot synthesize certain vitamins. For example, a biotin auxotroph cannot synthesize the vitamin biotin.
- Nucleotide auxotrophs: These organisms cannot synthesize certain nucleotides. For example, a purine auxotroph cannot synthesize the nucleotide purine.
Applications
Auxotrophy is often used in Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering as a means of selecting for or against a particular type of organism. For example, an organism that has been genetically modified to be auxotrophic for a particular substance can be selectively grown in a medium that contains that substance.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Auxotrophy
- Wikipedia's article - Auxotrophy
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