Autotrophy is the ability to be self-sustained by producing food from inorganic compounds. Some bacteria and some archaea have this ability. Inorganic compounds are oxidized directly without sunlight to yield energy. This metabolic mode also requires energy for CO2 reduction, like photosynthesis, but no lipid-mediated processes are involved. This metabolic mode has also been called chemotrophy, chemoautotrophy, or chemolithotrophy. Carbon autotrophy is the ability to assimilate CO2 from the air. Nitrogen autotrophy is the ability to assimilate nitrate or to do nitrogen fixation. Sulfur autrophy is the ability to assimilate sulfate (sulfur assimilation).
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