Answer:
The microorganism creates its own energy.
Explanation:
Based on the pattern of nutrition, a living organism can either be autotrophic or heterotrophic. Autotrophic organisms are those organisms capable of synthesizing its own food or energy source using light (photosynthesis) or chemicals (chemosynthesis). Heterotrophs, on the other hand, cannot synthesize their own food, hence, they depend on other organisms for energy.
According to this question, a researcher claims that a newly discovered microorganism is an autotroph. For this claim to be true, this means that the microorganism must be capable of CREATING ITS OWN FOOD/ENERGY either by photosynthesis (light) or chemosynthesis (inorganic chemicals).
