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An age-dependent manifestation of a genetically determined trait. [G. a- priv. + bios, life, + trophe, nourishment]
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abi·ot·ro·phy .ā-(.)bī-'ä-trə-fē n, pl -phies degeneration or loss of function or vitality in an organism or in cells or tissues not due to any apparent injury <senile dementia and related abiotrophies (David Bowen)>
abio·tro·phic .ā-.bī-ō-'trō-fik, -'träf-ik adj
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n.
degeneration or loss of function without apparent cause; for example, retinal abiotrophy is progressive degeneration of the retina leading to impaired vision, occurring in genetic disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa.
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abi·ot·ro·phy (a″bi-otґrə-fe) [a-1 + bio- + -trophy] progressive loss of vitality of certain tissues or organs, leading to disorders or loss of function; applied especially to degenerative hereditary diseases of late onset, e.g., Huntington disease. abiotrophic adjMedical dictionary. 2011.