A Mutant That Has a Nutritional Requirement for Growth Is

Question

A mutant that has a nutritional requirement for growth is an example of a(n)
A) autotroph.
B) auxotroph.
C) heterotroph.
D) organotroph.

Accepted Answer

A mutant that has a nutritional requirement for growth is referred to as an auxotroph. Auxotrophs are unable to synthesize the essential nutrients they need for growth and so require these nutrients through their diet or from an external source. Autotrophs, on the other hand, are capable of synthesizing all of the nutrients they need for growth from simple inorganic substances like CO2. Heterotrophs are organisms that rely on external sources of organic nutrients for growth, while organotrophs use organic compounds as electron donors during cellular respiration.