autotrophic

autotrophic
1. Self-nourishing. The ability of an organism to produce food from inorganic compounds. 2. Pertaining to an autotroph.

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au·to·tro·phic .ȯt-ə-'trō-fik adj
1) needing only carbon dioxide or carbonates as a source of carbon and a simple inorganic nitrogen compound for metabolic synthesis
2) not requiring a specified exogenous factor for normal metabolism
au·to·tro·phi·cal·ly -fi-k(ə-)lē adv

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adj.
describing organisms (known as autotrophs) that synthesize their organic materials from carbon dioxide and nitrates or ammonium compounds, using an external source of energy. Photoautotrophic organisms, including green plants and some bacteria, derive their energy from sunlight; chemoautotrophic (or chemosynthetic) organisms obtain energy from inorganic chemical reactions. All autotrophic bacteria are nonparasitic. Compare heterotrophic.

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au·to·tro·phic (aw″to-troґfik) [auto- + -trophic] self-sustaining; said of a type of nutrition in which organisms are capable of synthesizing organic molecules as nutritive substances. Cf. heterotrophic.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Autotrophic — Au to*troph ic, a. [Auto + trophic.] (Plant Physiol.) Capable of self nourishment; requiring only minerals for growth; using carbonate or carbon dioxide as a source of carbon and simple inorganic nitrogen as a nitrogen source; said of all plants… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • autotrophic — [ôt΄ō träf′ik] adj. 〚 AUTO + TROPHIC〛 making its own food by photosynthesis, as a green plant does, or by chemosynthesis, as any of certain bacteria do: cf. HETEROTROPHIC autotroph [ôt΄ōträf΄] n …   Universalium

  • autotrophic — [ôt΄ō träf′ik] adj. [ AUTO + TROPHIC] making its own food by photosynthesis, as a green plant does, or by chemosynthesis, as any of certain bacteria do: cf. HETEROTROPHIC autotroph [ôt΄ōträf΄] n. autotrophically adv …   English World dictionary

  • autotrophic — adjective Etymology: probably from German autotroph, from Greek autotrophos supplying one s own food, from aut + trephein to nourish Date: 1893 1. requiring only carbon dioxide or carbonates as a source of carbon and a simple inorganic nitrogen… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • autotrophic — lithotrophic; adj. describing organisms (known as autotrophs) that synthesize their organic materials from carbon dioxide and nitrates or ammonium compounds, using an external source of energy. Photoautotrophic organisms, including green plants… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • autotrophic fixation — the cyclic mechanism whereby carbon dioxide is fixed into organic linkage by autotrophic organisms, e.g., plants and autotrophic bacteria …   Medical dictionary

  • autotrophic assimilation — autotrofinė asimiliacija statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Organizmo medžiagų sintezė iš neorganinių junginių (CO₂, H₂O, NH₃). atitikmenys: angl. autotrophic assimilation rus. автотрофная ассимиляция …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • autotrophic organisms — autotrofai statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Organizmai, sintetinantys organines medžiagas iš neorganinių junginių (anglies dioksido ir vandens). atitikmenys: angl. autotrophic organisms; autotrophics vok. autotrophe… …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • autotrophic bacteria — autotrofinės bakterijos statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Fotoautotrofinės bakterijos (melsvabakterės, purpurinės bakterijos), organinių medžiagų sintezei naudojančios šviesos energiją, ir chemoautotrofinės bakterijos,… …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • autotrophic — adj. [Gr. autos, self; trophein, to nourish] Capable of synthesizing all substances needed for nutrition from inorganic food substances; see heterotroph …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

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