Plants and other autotrophs absorb nutrients from soil and water. Autotrophs are organisms that can make their own food. The most important nutrients they need are carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Other nutrients needed by plants are nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.
A very small portion of colorectal cancers are caused by inherited gene mutations. Many of these DNA changes and their effects on the growth of cells are now known. For example: Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), attenuated FAP (AFAP), and Gardner syndrome are caused by inherited changes in the APC gene.