Term Name:	secondary metabolic process
Synonyms:	secondary metabolism, secondary metabolite metabolic process, secondary metabolite metabolism
Definition:	The chemical reactions and pathways resulting in many of the chemical changes of compounds that are not necessarily required for growth and maintenance of cells, and are often unique to a taxon. In multicellular organisms secondary metabolism is generally carried out in specific cell types, and may be useful for the organism as a whole. In unicellular organisms, secondary metabolism is often used for the production of antibiotics or for the utilization and acquisition of unusual nutrients.
Ontology:	GO: Biological Process [GO:0019748]    QuickGO    AmiGO