prototrophy Definition
the ability of an organism to synthesize all the compounds it needs for growth and reproduction from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide, water, and nitrogen.
Using prototrophy: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "prototrophy" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Prototrophy is a characteristic of many bacteria and algae.
Example
The study of prototrophy is important in understanding the evolution of life on Earth.
Example
Organisms that lack prototrophy require preformed organic compounds for their growth.
Summary: prototrophy in Brief
Prototrophy [proh-tot-ruh-fee] refers to the ability of an organism to synthesize all the compounds it needs for growth and reproduction from simple inorganic substances. This characteristic is found in many bacteria and algae and is important in understanding the evolution of life on Earth. Organisms that lack prototrophy require preformed organic compounds for their growth.
