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Metabolism > Heterotrophic Processes
Chemical Phenomena > Biochemical Phenomena > Heterotrophic Processes

Preferred term

Heterotrophic Processes  

Type

  • Topical Descriptor

Broader concept

Related concepts

Entry terms

  • Heterotrophic Process
  • Process, Heterotrophic

Scope note

  • The processes by which organisms utilize organic substances as their nutrient sources. Contrasts with AUTOTROPHIC PROCESSES which make use of simple inorganic substances as the nutrient supply source. Heterotrophs can be either chemoheterotrophs (or chemoorganotrophs) which also require organic substances such as glucose for their primary metabolic energy requirements, or photoheterotrophs (or photoorganotrophs) which derive their primary energy requirements from light. Depending on environmental conditions some organisms can switch between different nutritional modes (AUTOTROPHY; heterotrophy; chemotrophy; or PHOTOTROPHY) to utilize different sources to meet their nutrients and energy requirements.

History note

  • 2007

In other languages

URI

http://www.yso.fi/onto/mesh/D052836

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