Which of the following best describes the metabolism of bacteria as a group?
Which of the following best describes the metabolism of bacteria as a group?
Autotrophic
Heterotrophic
Both A) and B)
Neither A) nor B)
Solution
Compared to many other organisms, bacteria as a group show the most extensive metabolic diversity. Some of the bacteria are autotrophic, meaning they can synthesize their own food from inorganic substrates. They may be photosynthetic autotrophic or chemosynthetic autotrophic. However, the vast majority of bacteria are heterotrophic, meaning they depend on other organisms or on dead organic matter for food.