Question

A researcher discovers a new prokaryote that lives on the seafloor near hydrothermal vents. This organism reduces CO2 to form C6H12O6, and also derives energy from H2 (by oxidation). This prokaryote is a:A. photoautotroph.B. photoheterotroph.C. chemoheterotroph.D. chemoautotroph.

Answer 1

Answer:

D. Chemoautotrophs

Explanation:

Autotrophs in plain are organisms that synthesize their own food while hetrotrophs are organisms that do not synthesize their own food.

Chemotrophs (Chemoautotrophs and Chemohetrotrophs) are a group of organisms that obtain their energy through the oxidation of inorganic molecules, These organisms require carbon to survive and reproduce.

Chemoautotrophs are able to produce inorganic molecules by the fixation of CO2 from their immediate environment. The energy required for this process is got from Nitrogen, Magnesium, Sulphur etc.

Chemohetrotrophs are a class of chemotrophs that are unable to synthesize their own food but rather ingest complex molecules like carbohydrates from the environment.

Phototrophs are a group of organisms unlike chemotrophs that depend on the source of light or sunlight for synthesizing its food or organic molecules.

Photoautotrophs are basically photosynthetic plants which are able to carry out photosynthesis ie the conversion of CO2 and H2O to give Glucose and Oxygen in the presence of sunlight.

Photohetrotrophs are a class of organisms that do not synthesize their own food but rely on other organisms or already made organic molecules.