Question

Autotrophs are:

• A. those microbes that utilizes organic carbon
• B. those microbes that utilizes inorganic carbon
• C. those microbes that utilizes organic nitrogen
• D. both A & C

Hint:

Remember: {Auto = self}, autotrophs make their own food using inorganic carbon.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding autotrophs.
Autotrophs are organisms that can synthesize their own organic food from inorganic substances. They use inorganic carbon, mainly in the form of carbon dioxide, as the carbon source.
Step 2: Source of energy and carbon.
Autotrophs obtain energy either from sunlight (photoautotrophs) or from chemical reactions (chemoautotrophs), but their carbon source always remains inorganic.
Step 3: Analyzing the options.
(A) Incorrect, utilization of organic carbon is a characteristic of heterotrophs.
(B) Correct, as autotrophs utilize inorganic carbon such as CO\(_2\).
(C) Incorrect, nitrogen source does not define autotrophic nature.
(D) Incorrect, since option A itself is incorrect.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Autotrophs are correctly defined as organisms that utilize inorganic carbon.