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What are prokaryotes that obtain their energy from chemical compounds called? a. phototrophs b. autotrophs c. chemotrophs d. heterotrophs

Short Answer

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c. chemotrophs

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Question

The task is to identify the type of prokaryotes that obtain their energy from chemical compounds.
02

Review the Options

Look at each option to understand their meanings:- Phototrophs: Organisms that obtain energy from light.- Autotrophs: Organisms that produce their own food (often from light energy, but not always).- Chemotrophs: Organisms that obtain energy from chemical compounds.- Heterotrophs: Organisms that obtain their nutrients by consuming other organisms.
03

Identify the Correct Option

Based on the definitions, chemotrophs are the prokaryotes that derive their energy from chemical compounds.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Chemotrophs
Chemotrophs are organisms, including certain prokaryotes, that obtain their energy through the oxidation of chemical compounds. These compounds can be either organic (such as glucose) or inorganic (such as hydrogen sulfide).
Unlike phototrophs that depend on light for energy, chemotrophs thrive in various environments, including extreme ones like deep-sea vents and hot springs.
  • Chemolithotrophs use inorganic compounds.
  • Chemoorganotrophs oxidize organic compounds.
This diversity in energy sources allows them to play crucial roles in ecosystems, particularly in recycling nutrients.
Phototrophs
Phototrophs are organisms that capture light energy to produce their own energy. They use pigments like chlorophyll to absorb light and convert it into chemical energy through photosynthesis.
The main categories of phototrophs are:
  • Photoautotrophs: These organisms, such as plants and cyanobacteria, use light energy to fix carbon dioxide into organic compounds.
  • Photoheterotrophs: These organisms, like some types of bacteria, use light for energy but also need organic compounds for carbon.
Phototrophs are essential for life on Earth as they are primary producers and form the base of most food webs.
Autotrophs
Autotrophs are organisms that produce their own food from inorganic substances. They do not rely on other organisms for their nutrients.
There are two main types of autotrophs:
  • Photoautotrophs: These use light energy to synthesize organic compounds. Examples include plants and algae.
  • Chemoautotrophs: These use chemical energy to fix carbon. They are often found in extreme environments and include certain bacteria and archaea.
Autotrophs are essential because they are producers in the food chain, supplying energy to heterotrophs.
Heterotrophs
Heterotrophs are organisms that cannot synthesize their own food. They rely on consuming other organisms to obtain their nutrients and energy.
Examples of heterotrophs include animals, fungi, and many bacteria. They can further be classified based on their food sources:
  • Herbivores: Eat plants.
  • Carnivores: Eat animals.
  • Omnivores: Eat both plants and animals.
  • Decomposers: Break down organic matter.
Heterotrophs are essential in ecosystems for breaking down organic material and facilitating nutrient cycling.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

In a hypothetical research situation, scientists discover bacterial endospores in silt at the bottom of a marsh that has been contaminated with a pollutant for 25 years. The silt of the marsh was deposited in annual layers. The age of the endospores can be estimated, then, by identifying the layer of silt in which the endospores are found. In flask A, researchers place 20-year-old endospores along with growth medium and the pollutant. In flask B, researchers place 100-year-old endospores along with growth medium and the pollutant. Which statement describes the results you would expect to see in the growth of the flasks? a. The growth in flask A will exceed that of flask B. b. The growth in flask B will exceed that of flask A. c. The growth each flask will be about equal. d. There will be little to no growth in each flask.

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Laboratory experiments have demonstrated that the abiotic synthesis of organic molecules in condition similar to those of early Earth is possible. Which of the following provides additional support for the idea of abiotic synthesis of organic compounds? a. Analysis of the chemical composition of meteorites sometimes yields amino acids. b. A hydrothermal vent in the Sea of Cortés releases hydrogen sulfide and iron sulfide. c. Researchers have dripped solutions of amino acids onto hot surfaces to produce amino acid polymers. d. Some present-day prokaryotes live and reproduce in very extreme and unforging environments, such as the Arctic.

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