Final answer:
An auxotroph is a bacterium that has lost the ability to synthesize one or more organic components due to a mutation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The bacterium that has lost the ability to synthesize one or more organic components through a mutation is called an auxotroph. These auxotrophs are designated by the compound that they are unable to synthesize, for example, an auxotroph unable to synthesize histidine is denoted as his-. On the other hand, an auxotroph capable of synthesizing histidine is denoted as his+. They are designated by the compound they are unable to synthesize, such as histidine.