Secondary metabolites are organic compounds that are not directly involved in the normal growth, development or reproduction of organisms.
Secondary metabolites, also known as natural products, are those products (chemical compounds) of metabolism that are not essential for normal growth, development or reproduction of an organism. In this sense they are "secondary".
Bacteria and fungi are secondary metabolites (produce antibiotics during a late stage of their life cycle)
Antibiotics inhibit growth of natural competitors
Gives antibiotic-secreting population an advantage in colonising it ...
primary metabolite is essential for normal growth, development, and reproduction. A secondary metabolite is not essential for normal growth, development and reproduction, but usually has important ecological functions.
Third, this definition places a heavy, though not exclusive, emphasis on morphological characters. It also recognizes phenetic characters such as chromosome number, chromosome morphology, cell ultrastructure, secondary metabolites, ...
secondary product Chemical compounds synthesized by plants or fungi but not critical for the basic metabolic functions of that organism; often functioning to deter predators or attract pollinators; a secondary metabolite.
Phenylketonuria A disease caused by the inability to convert phenylalanine into tyrosine, which results in excess phenylalanine and its secondary metabolites; the disease is characterized by severe retardation.
 See also: Plant, Organ, Compound, Species, Class
  
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