Autotrophic or eterotrophic bacteria

Depending on the way they take the two essential resources for their survival, energy and carbon (which they need for synthesising organic substances), bacteria can be classed as autotrophic or heterotrophic. Autotrophic prokaryotes can synthesise organic molecules from inorganic molecules, such as carbon dioxide. The energy needed for the synthesis can be supplied by light or other chemicals. The bacteria that, like plants, use solar energy are called photoautotrophic, while those that take energy from chemical reactions are called chemoautotrophic. Bacteria that need to feed on already synthesised organic molecules, as all animals do, are called heterotrophic. These bacteria can feed on virtually anything.

 
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