Biology / Unit 3 Bio 0577 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Photoautotrophs, Heterotrophs, and Chemoautotrophs
Captions available
The idea
A photoautotroph builds its own organic molecules using light energy; a heterotroph consumes other organisms' molecules instead; a chemoautotroph builds its own from inorganic chemicals.
In practice
Plants and cyanobacteria are photoautotrophs, animals and fungi are heterotrophs, and deep-sea vent bacteria are chemoautotrophs.
Where people slip
All three end up with organic molecules — what separates them is where their energy and carbon come from.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
- Nothing. This is a starting point.
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