auxotrophic mutant
(redirected from defective organism)Also found in: Medical.
auxotrophic mutant
[¦ȯk·sə¦trä·fik ′myüt·ənt] (genetics)
An organism that requires a specific exogenous growth factor, such as an amino acid, for its growth.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.