Autotrophic organisms and heterotrophic organisms, what differentiates them?

Organisms are living beings that can be classified into different groups according to their way of obtaining the nutrients necessary to survive. Two of these groups are autotrophic organisms and heterotrophic organisms, which differ in their ability to produce their own food or have to consume living organisms to get the nutrients they need.

autotrophic organisms

Autotrophic organisms are those living beings capable of synthesizing their own food through photosynthesis or the chemosynthesis. In photosynthesis, plants and some microorganisms such as algae and cyanobacteria use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. In chemosynthesis, some microorganisms use the oxidation of chemical compounds to produce energy and synthesize their own food.

Examples of autotrophic organisms:

• Plants
• Algae
• Cyanobacteria

Heterotrophic organisms

Heterotrophic organisms are those living beings that must consume other living organisms to obtain the nutrients necessary for their survival. These organisms cannot produce their own food and depend on Of the mattery organic produced by autotrophic organisms or other heterotrophic organisms.

Examples of heterotrophic organisms:

• Animals
• Mushrooms
• Heterotrophic bacteria

In summary, autotrophic organisms and heterotrophic organisms differ in the way they obtain the nutrients necessary for their survival. While autotrophic organisms can produce their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, heterotrophic organisms must consume other living organisms or organic matter to get the nutrients they need.

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