Organisms that make their own food are called?

Organisms that make their own food are called?

• A. Autotrophs
• B. Heterotrophs
• C. Chemotrophs
• D. Phototrophs

Answer: (A)

Organisms that make their own food are autotrophs. They synthesize organic molecules from inorganic carbon, typically carbon dioxide, using energy from light or from chemical reactions. This is what distinguishes them from heterotrophs, which must obtain carbon by consuming already-made organic compounds from other organisms. Phototrophs are organisms that capture light energy, and chemotrophs derive energy from chemical reactions; some of them can be autotrophs, but the phrase “make their own food” specifically points to autotrophs.

Organisms that make their own food are autotrophs. They synthesize organic molecules from inorganic carbon, typically carbon dioxide, using energy from light or from chemical reactions. This is what distinguishes them from heterotrophs, which must obtain carbon by consuming already-made organic compounds from other organisms. Phototrophs are organisms that capture light energy, and chemotrophs derive energy from chemical reactions; some of them can be autotrophs, but the phrase “make their own food” specifically points to autotrophs.