Preferred Label : autotrophic processes;
MeSH definition : The processes by which organisms use simple inorganic substances such as gaseous or
dissolved carbon dioxide and inorganic nitrogen as nutrient sources. Contrasts with
heterotrophic processes which make use of organic materials as the nutrient supply
source. Autotrophs can be either chemoautotrophs (or chemolithotrophs), largely ARCHAEA
and BACTERIA, which also use simple inorganic substances for their metabolic energy
reguirements; or photoautotrophs (or photolithotrophs), such as PLANTS and CYANOBACTERIA,
which derive their energy 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 nutrient and energy requirements.;
MeSH synonym : lithotrophic processes; processes, autotrophic; processes, lithotrophic;
Related MeSH term : autotrophy; autotrophic growth; Lithotrophy; Growth, Autotrophic; Lithotrophic Growth; Growth, Lithotrophic;
Origin ID : D052818;
UMLS CUI : C1720898;
Allowable qualifiers
- Automatic exact mappings (from CISMeF team)
- Record concept(s)
- See also
- Semantic type(s)
The processes by which organisms use simple inorganic substances such as gaseous or
dissolved carbon dioxide and inorganic nitrogen as nutrient sources. Contrasts with
heterotrophic processes which make use of organic materials as the nutrient supply
source. Autotrophs can be either chemoautotrophs (or chemolithotrophs), largely ARCHAEA
and BACTERIA, which also use simple inorganic substances for their metabolic energy
reguirements; or photoautotrophs (or photolithotrophs), such as PLANTS and CYANOBACTERIA,
which derive their energy 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 nutrient and energy requirements.
