If carbon dioxide and water were abundantly available to a heterotrophic prokaryotic cell, would it be possible for the cell to use them as a food source?

A: Sunlight would be needed for the reaction to occur, so they would not be a food source.

B: Neither carbon dioxide nor water contains energy the cell could use, so they would not be a food source.

C: Since carbon dioxide and water are used to make glucose, they could be used as a food source.

D: Anything that contains carbon is an organic molecule, so the carbon dioxide could be a food source.

Question

If carbon dioxide and water were abundantly available to a heterotrophic prokaryotic cell, would it be possible for the cell to use them as a food source?

A:  Sunlight would be needed for the reaction to occur, so they would not be a food source.

B:  Neither carbon dioxide nor water contains energy the cell could use, so they would not be a food source.

C:  Since carbon dioxide and water are used to make glucose, they could be used as a food source.

D:  Anything that contains carbon is an organic molecule, so the carbon dioxide could be a food source.

thomaster · Answer

Heterotrophic means that the organism gathers carbon and energy from other organic matter. But only water and CO2 isn't enough. They still would need some energy to start the reaction. This energy is usually sunlight.