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Auxotropic Mutant

Many microbes such as E. coli can grow on a medium containing a single carbon and energy source. They are called prototrophs. If a mutation occurs which results in the loss of the ability to synthesise an essential metabolite such as an amino acid or a growth factor, it will express itself in a nutritional requirement for that substance.

Such mutants are called auxotrophs. These proved much useful in establishment of the relationship between genes and enzymes, as markers for genetic experiments in construction of genetic maps etc