chemoheterotroph
Quick Summary
A chemoheterotroph is an organism that obtains both energy and carbon from organic compounds. Unlike autotrophs, which can produce their own food from inorganic sources like sunlight or chemical reactions, chemoheterotrophs must consume other organisms.12
This mode of nutrition is common among many bacteria, as well as fungi and animals. These organisms break down complex organic molecules through processes like fermentation or respiration to release energy and obtain carbon for their own cellular functions. For example, bacteria can metabolize sugars to produce ATP, the energy currency of cells.32
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