1. Plural of auxotrophy; the condition in which an organism cannot synthesize a particular organic compound required for growth and must obtain it from its environment.
Usage: technical; biology; microbiology

Examples

• The researcher identified several auxotrophies in the mutant bacterial strain.
• Auxotrophies for amino acids are common in laboratory strains of E. coli.
• The fungal auxotrophies required supplementation of the growth medium with specific nutrients.
• Scientists use auxotrophies as genetic markers in microbial genetics studies.
• Multiple auxotrophies made the organism dependent on a complex growth medium.