Heterotrophs, Autotrophs, Phototrophs, and Chemotrophs

In this video, Biology Professor (Twitter: @DrWhitneyHolden) discusses heterotrophs, autotrophs, phototrophs, and chemotrophs and how these categories are used to describe different ways that organisms obtain carbon and energy. Also discussed are the combinations of these categories: photoautotrophs, photoheterotrophs, chemoautotrophs, and chemoheterotrophs.
Want a PDF of the final white board with all the answers written in? Download FREE STUDY NOTES here: tinyurl.com/BiologyProfessorN...
A side note, since people have sent in questions about it: The molecules used by chemotrophs can be organic (chemoorganotrophs) or inorganic (chemolithotrophs)! :) Check out my video about that here: • Lithotrophs vs Organot...

[@JonnieThaBoi]

this is by far the simplest, most comprehensive explanation. I FINALLY understand this. thank you. please make more videos

[@rachaelmacgregor9781]

Thanks for this, it really laid it all out clearly. I have struggled to find a clear diagram like this anywhere on the internet!

[@DesiraeElaine]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS! I tried so hard writing this out in class, then reading the textbook, then trying to think about the definitions i was looking at in different ways and I just wasn't understanding. You cleared it up immediately for you

[@jennyfox1398]

Most underrated biology video on yt. Best explanation I've found out of two text books and many vids!

[@BiologyProfessor]

Thank you!!! 🥰

[@jackyllerena5336]

This helps illustrate by, in a way, dividing the words by Herero or auto and chemo or photo, and then picking one or the other from the diagram of carbon and energy. This really helped me understand it visually, thank you so much!

[@BiologyProfessor]

Absolutely! That is how I do it too. Thanks for commenting!

[@Marshmellokitten]

Bless your heart, this is so helpful and simply laid out!

[@mnnnnnnnnnnnn972]

Thanks a lot for the help! I had no clue what these were until I watched the video :-)

[@ashleyjones3609]

Saved my life!! My final is on Thursday. Thank youuuu!!!

[@cynthialynno]

Thank you so much for these videos, my professor is not teaching me anything. I'm basically learning from you :)

[@user-xl3tl9tt6k]

thank you so much! loved the examples, really needed that!

[@AZVREIGN]

Thank you, my professor could never

[@veLOLcerapt0r]

Thank you! This made it so clear for my midterm!

[@chichiscooking7665]

Well put together. Even the whole layout helped me understand. Thank you!

[@BiologyProfessor]

Glad it was helpful!

[@taliwilder4828]

So organized!! Thank you for explaining this!

[@mohsenakhavan3500]

Thank you very much for this nice presentation. Deeply Appreciated. Please continue your videos.

[@MRali19961]

Great explanation, very informative details. Thank you very much :)

[@zayedsiddiqui907]

Thank you mam for clearing my doubts...and also I liked the way you teach

[@tommynineteenies]

Thank you so much for posting!!

[@Mariamk1995]

THANK YOU. You are amazing. So incredibly helpful. GOD BLESS YOU

[@gemshinasi8189]

thanks for the help this was very simple and very well explained

[@giftycodjoe9622]

Thanks so much, you made it easy for me to understand. By the way you have a beautiful skin

[@udaramaligathenna5080]

Thank you so much . A good explaination ! ❤️

[@gentledon2921]

Thanks for the clearification... was always mistaken chemotrophs for autotrophs... the diagram helps a great deal.... God bless U.

[@thidasan775]

Thank you so much .Best and easiest to remember.

[@JesusIvanGarcia]

Thank you very much! This was exactly the information I was looking for =)

[@BiologyProfessor]

You are welcome!

[@manelmabrouk9978]

Very helpful she make it easy to understand

[@dstan16224]

Thank you very much Ma'am. It really helped a lot 👍👍👍

[@CheneicaPrescod]

this video is so helpful thank you very much😃😃😃😃😃😃😃

[@lilymoore3955]

Very well organized. love it

[@vaibhavisawant5081]

great job mam....loved it!!!! tysssm😇👌👍

[@healthywealth199]

You're so smart. Thank you for teaching.

[@martinwilkinson9395]

Nicely and clearly explained!

[@aljojees8250]

Thanks ,it's so simple to understand

[@BiologyProfessor]

I’m happy to help!

[@Andrea-yd2ji]

You’re awesome! Your videos help a lot 😊

[@dzuke3127]

So helpful! Thank you!

[@xeena9656]

Thank you very much It really helped me.

[@goodgirlvicki]

Thank you so much for simplifying these concepts!

[@MedicalwallahAyushpandey]

Great lecture mam. salute from india....

[@shivamazad1608]

Vary simple and cleared exp..

[@itoendie3266]

Thanks for this

[@nguyenhang2542]

amzing explanation. Thank you so much for this video!

[@BiologyProfessor]

Thanks for watching :)

[@MsSingingCricket]

You were freakin awesome!!! I learned so much. I wish you were my biology teacher!!

[@BiologyProfessor]

Wow, thanks 😊

[@prajwalmeshram4407]

Thank you so much mam very crystal clear explanation.GOD bless you ✨ .I am from India ✨

[@rachelg9704]

Amazing thank you so much! I'm taking a hybrid bio class and your videos have been so helpful! I can't thank you enough!!

[@BiologyProfessor]

Let me know if you are interested in other topics that you can’t find videos for on KZbin. ✅

[@rachelg9704]

Thank you professor! We are learning about microbial metabolism this week. I’m having trouble grasping the concepts such as glycolysis and enzymes. if you have time to do a video? Im taking a hybrid class so I don’t have much guidance. Thank you so much!

[@BiologyProfessor]

I have a playlist that I think will help: kzbin.info/aero/PLjMo-ys5HQIbpIatbGdpuPTMk_fl5Facz Check out the videos about aerobic respiration (both of them) and enzymes. :)

[@kdrlyintercollege3335]

Best explanation

[@lexrae2729]

These are so helpful I wish I could hug u thank you so so much

[@BiologyProfessor]

You are so welcome 🤗

[@leneshbabu5135]

Ho what a simple class.. easy understanding methord

[@negross001]

Thank you very much

[@komalgarg8744]

Thank you so much

[@umakantshinde2849]

Great and very nice explanation madam

[@ashamaughn340]

I THINK IM IN LOVE WITH THIS WOMAN ...THANK YOU!!!!!

[@ShesArizza]

thank you this helped !

[@honeykai8274]

you the best like forreal

[@spangiepie2219]

Thank you! I get it now!

[@k.rajkumar8650]

Hii

[@poornimasirvaiya7949]

Thank you so much Mam 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@gloriaperrino7418]

great video!

[@siniorashani]

Thank you very much ❤

[@BiologyProfessor]

You are very welcome

[@ankurmodhukalaya9000]

Madam can heterotrophic bacteria takeup carbon if we mix C6H12O6 and CaCO3

[@faizan4499]

Thank you so much madam

[@trinitykril]

I UNDERSTAND IT NOW OMG

[@PrabhatKumar-db9un]

Thanks

[@mukeshjoshi1567]

Thank u prof

[@clarkmicrobiology8100]

Hi, thanks so much. I use these videos for my Microbiology Allied Health class. I have a question about Chemotrophs. Can't they also get energy from organic molecules? For example, glucose can provide energy AND C.

[@BiologyProfessor]

Yes! Chenotrophs can also be lithotrophs or organotrophs. Check out my video that will answer this question: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaeWg4WCarWjoZI

[@shamikprabhuchodnekar291]

Thank You

[@jas4jairam684]

Thank you

[@ashleynicole8757]

thank you professor

[@BiologyProfessor]

You are welcome! 😊

[@Wallaby1963]

Thanks for you great explanation. We humans need to know all these things in order to understand nature's balance and we should start acting in order to return all what we have taken away from nature or destroyed in the environment, that has caused the disaster we have created.

[@BiologyProfessor]

I agree! Conservation biology is a field I have a growing interest in.

[@janethherrera4747]

Thank you! You made it soooo clear! I understand it now!

[@k.rajkumar8650]

Good

[@airesssaile2409]

Wahhhh, thank you!!!

[@srinivasnani7240]

Brilliant.

[@chardaescott1160]

Please do videos on Cellular Respiration in Prokaryotes!! Thanks a bunch!

[@BiologyProfessor]

I've added it to my list for the future. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@BiologyProfessor]

Hi there! I finally got around to making this video. You can see it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5DdgJyuqrR_pbs Thanks for the suggestion and let me know if you have any more!

[@sunnylefabulous6736]

thankyouuuu!

[@JudyNepune]

For further explanation, I got confused, because our Prof uses the word litho instead ot hetero. Is that possible? So ist chemolithotroph the same as chemoheterotroph?

[@BiologyProfessor]

No, they are not the same. Heterotrophs cannot fix their own carbon from carbon dioxide, they must get it somewhere else. Chemoheterotrophs are organisms that obtain energy by the oxidation of chemicals in their environments (rather than using light energy). Chemoheterotrophs can be chemolithoheterotrophs, utilizing inorganic energy sources (such as sulfur) or chemoorganoheterotrophs, utilizing organic energy sources such as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. This is summarized from Wikipedia, hope it helps!

[@BiologyProfessor]

I ran across a table today that I think will help you. Find it here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_nutritional_groups#cite_note-10

[@BiologyProfessor]

Hi there! Since this tends to be a common question, I made a video distinguishing lithotrophs and organotrophs (and heterotrophs). Check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaeWg4WCarWjoZI

[@deetshanaparthipan8693]

Can chemotrophs or chemoautotrophs make their own food? Do you need to obtain inorganic and organic sources from other organisms or can you make the yourselves? How do you identify if an organism can me its own food or not? I don't understand. Thank you.

[@BiologyProfessor]

When we say "make their own food" we typically are referring to photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, where organisms use one of these processes (using light or chemicals for energy) to "fix" atmospheric carbon dioxide or other compounds into sugars (the food). Chemoautotrophs do this (chemosynthesis) to "make their own food" (the sugars). Chemoheterotrophs do not; they have to ingest materials for food instead. As for the question about how to identify an organism as being one of these types, it depends on what you mean. A scientist who is studying a new organism will look at where it gets its nutrients and energy and look closely at its cellular metabolism to make the determination. On the other hand, if you mean how does a STUDENT know, the answer is that a student will need to learn about different types of organisms (plants vs animals vs fungi vs cyanobacteria vs archaebacteria for example) and memorize which categories these organisms fit into.

[@samokk9145]

Yeah thank you

[@ShawnDypxz]

What does energy source mean for animals ?Where is it needed? I didn't get it. I understood the carbon source so we are heterotrophs .

[@BiologyProfessor]

All organisms need some kind of energy to grow, reproduce, maintain homeostasis, etc. Phototrophs (like algae or plants) get their energy directly from sunlight. Animals get their energy (and their carbon) from food. In other words, animals eat food that contains carbon and that also contains energy in the bonds that carbon forms with other carbon atoms or with atoms of other elements. In breaking down those bonds during cellular respiration, energy is released and stored in molecules of ATP until the cell needs it. But remember that ultimately, even the energy contained in the food we eat comes from the sun, because the food we eat is composed either of plants or of animals that eat plants. I hope this helps!

[@kingo717]

What are inorganic chemicals and organic sources?

[@BiologyProfessor]

The main determinant is whether a compound contains carbon or not. Organic compounds are those that contain carbon, like carbohydrates and proteins, which can also contain other atoms, like nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorous, etc. Inorganic chemicals are those that do not contain carbon, but contain other atoms instead, like nitrogen, sulfur, and more. Some organisms use organic compounds to obtain energy, others use inorganic compounds.

[@JK-rh9bl]

@@BiologyProfessor thank you so much i was having a lot of confusion and wasn't able to memorize or understand this.. You're great :D and i hope you're baby's doing well too now, he/she must've grown a lot (i knew it from other comment)

[@TheCrazymancub]

So wouldn't chemoheterotrophs (ex. animals) obtain energy from organic chemicals (C,H) (not inorganic chemicals) since they must consume other living organisms?

[@BiologyProfessor]

You are correct.

[@whitney2960]

I wish this talked about the sub categories "organo" and "litho" because thats the part I don't understand

[@BiologyProfessor]

Organotrophs: Organic compounds are used as electron donor. Lithotrophs: Inorganic compounds are used as electron donor. You can read a bit more about it here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_nutritional_groups#Primary_sources_of_reducing_equivalents Hope this helps!

[@samuelmathew3179]

SO THANKS.I WAS HAVING MANY DOUBTS IN THIS CHAPTER. IT REALLY HELPED ME. ALSO ,WHERE DO YOU LIVE MADAM. SORRY FOR BAD ENGLISH BECAUSE I LIVE IN INDIA

[@BiologyProfessor]

I live in the United States. :) What is the subject of the chapter you are studying? Maybe some of my playlists will help you, like these: Biochemistry - kzbin.info/aero/PLjMo-ys5HQIbpIatbGdpuPTMk_fl5Facz Cell Biology - kzbin.info/aero/PLjMo-ys5HQIasXLjYaMgpBAvEGGKDtK9Z Bacteriology - kzbin.info/aero/PLjMo-ys5HQIbIdWVXrAaCkeH1k6iVPvBM

[@samuelmathew3179]

I LIVE IN INDIA . IN INDIA ,I AM STUDYING AT 10'TH GRADE. I AM STUDYING A CHAPTER NAMED *LIFE PROCESSES* . IN CHAPTER WE STUDY ABOUT. *NUTRITION IN PLANTS AND ANIMALS, RESPIRATION,TRANSPORTATION IN HUMAN BEINGS AND PLANTS , EXCRETION ,ETC .WE MUST ALSO LEARN ABOUT HEMODIALYSIS*. (I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT HEMODIALYSIS). ALSO THANKS FOR THE REPLY

[@BiologyProfessor]

Here are some of my videos that might help you: Lithotrophs vs Organotrophs - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaeWg4WCarWjoZI Osmoregulation: Osmoconformers & Osmoregulators - kzbin.info/www/bejne/eIPHqmebZcd-qZo Asexual vs Sexual Reproduction - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJDVkK1_qcelaJY Aerobic Respiration - kzbin.info/www/bejne/fITFcmmDgqqIp7M Photosynthesis and Cell Respiration - kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6S9Y3umdsunnM0 Introduction to Enzymes - kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHvTqn18f7B0os0 I don't have any on hemodialysis (which is how your kidneys filter your blood to make urine), but maybe this other one that I found will help you - kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5S0gnp9iM2ggtU

[@samuelmathew3179]

SO THANKS

[@jeezy4764]

You’re awesome

[@raaedameen4411]

Can photoheterotroph synthesize their own food ?

[@BiologyProfessor]

No, not from CO2 like a photoautotroph. Photoheterotrophs use light for energy, but need to take in "food" (organic compounds from the environment, like carbs, fatty acids, and alcohols) to satisfy their carbon requirements.

[@copperlight]

Awesome

[@DiegoMosqueraolaya]

Tarea

[@adarshkumarsingh3213]

nice mam ji

[@nikhilpreet4554]

Ty mam

[@eduardoespiritu1110]

So algae is phototrops? Ma'am how to make phototrophic bacteria?

[@BiologyProfessor]

How to make? I’m not sure what you mean. Some groups of photographic bacteria are able to photosynthesize because they have evolved photosynthetic processes (pigments, enzymes, etc.).

[@JMSouchak]

I thought chemotrophs could use both organic or inorganic chemicals?

[@BiologyProfessor]

You are correct. The molecules used by chemotrophs can be organic (chemoorganotrophs) or inorganic (chemolithotrophs). This distinction is made less commonly in my experience, but thank you for pointing it out!

[@DiegoMosqueraolaya]

A

[@kaceesnow]

How do humans obtain their energy from Inorganic chemicals?

[@BiologyProfessor]

We use oxygen (inorganic) as our final electron acceptor, making aerobic respiration possible. But really, for heterotrophs, I should have said the energy comes from chemicals (not inorganic chemicals) - because yes, we get energy from organic compounds by using the power of oxygen.

[@emilyquealy803]

bookmarked

[@yonky6963]

Jesus, you're beautiful.

[@MrDragon1416]

there is a block inside my head

[@tawandamaketo2894]

Baddie

[@mbcougars08]

how far along are you in your pregnancy?

[@BiologyProfessor]

This video was posted in September 2015, so I think you can probably guess that I am not pregnant anymore, LOL. :)

[@michellel9862]

Is it me or does she sound like she's out of breath?

[@BiologyProfessor]

I was super pregnant, baby was crowding my lungs.

[@njabulomkhulisi681]

Thank you