Chemoorganotroph

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Chemoorganotrophs are organisms which oxidize the chemical bonds in organic compounds as their energy source. Chemoorganotrophs also attain the carbon molecules that they need for cellular function from these organic compounds. The organic compounds that they oxidize include sugars (i.e. glucose), fats and proteins).[1]

All animals are chemoheterotrophs (meaning they oxidize chemical compounds as a source of energy and carbon), as are fungi, protozoa, and some bacteria. The important differentiation amongst this group is that chemoorganotrophs oxidize only organic compounds while chemolithotrophs instead use inorganic compounds as a source of energy.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kenneth Todar (2009). "The Microbial World". Nutrition and Growth of Bacteria. http://textbookofbacteriology.net/themicrobialworld/nutgro.html. Retrieved 2011-12-31. 
  2. ^ Kelly, DP; Julie Mason, Ann Wood. Energy Metabolism in Chemolithotrophs. Springer. pp. 186–187. 


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