What is the difference between autotrophic and heterotrophic nutritions and highlight the main reactions taking place in autotrophic nutrition?

Answer 1

Heterotrophic organisms, like humans, cannot make their own food and must get it from their environment. Autotrophic organisms, like plants, plantlike protists, and cyanobacteria make their own food through photosynthesis. Some autotrophs do not live where sunlight penetrates. They make their own food from a process called chemosythesis. Many of these autotrophs live in deep sea vents or black smokers.

Answer 2

Autotrophic nutrition involves organisms that can produce their own food using inorganic compounds and an external energy source, like sunlight. On the other hand, heterotrophic nutrition involves organisms that rely on external sources of organic compounds for nourishment. In autotrophic nutrition, the main reactions taking place include photosynthesis, where plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide into glucose, releasing oxygen as a byproduct. This process involves light-dependent reactions (such as capturing light energy) and light-independent reactions (such as carbon fixation).