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What is an autotroph?

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Abstract

The concept of autotrophy depends on the growth media for pure cultures supplying a single one carbon source for anabolism. Secondary carbon compounds added to the medium as chelators and/or vitamins confuse the meaning. This note suggests a clarification of definition suitable for contemporary biochemical studies of true autotrophs.

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Acknowledgments

We are indebted to the National Science Foundation (FIBRE Grant) and William Melton for their support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study MS 2A1, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA

    Vijayasarathy Srinivasan & Harold J. Morowitz

  2. Lehrstuhl fuer Mikrobiologie und Archaeenzentrum, Universitaet Regensburg, Universitaetsstrasse 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany

    Harald Huber

Authors
  1. Vijayasarathy Srinivasan
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  2. Harold J. Morowitz
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  3. Harald Huber
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vijayasarathy Srinivasan.

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Communicated by Erko Stackebrandt.

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Srinivasan, V., Morowitz, H.J. & Huber, H. What is an autotroph?. Arch Microbiol 194, 135–140 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-011-0755-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-011-0755-0

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