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Which of the following is a true statement about how organisms get their energy?

A. Autotrophs have the ability to undergo photosynthesis and respiration.
B. Heterotrophs have the ability to undergo photosynthesis and respiration.
C. Autotrophs only undergo respiration.
D. Only plants can be autotrophs.

User Josh Gao
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Final answer:

The correct statement is A. Autotrophs have the ability to undergo photosynthesis and respiration. While both autotrophs and heterotrophs carry out respiration, only autotrophs, which include plants, algae, and some bacteria, can produce their own food through photosynthesis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The true statement about how organisms get their energy is: A. Autotrophs have the ability to undergo photosynthesis and respiration. Autotrophs can produce their own food using photosynthesis and also perform cellular respiration to convert this food into energy. Examples of autotrophs include plants, algae, and some bacteria such as cyanobacteria, which are also known as photoautotrophs as they use sunlight to synthesize carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water.

On the other hand, heterotrophs cannot produce their own food through photosynthesis but instead must consume other organisms or organic substances to obtain energy. They perform cellular respiration using oxygen to break down high-energy carbon compounds, such as glucose, produced by photosynthetic organisms.

In summary, both autotrophs and heterotrophs participate in cellular respiration, but only autotrophs can perform photosynthesis. Additionally, other organisms beside plants, such as algae and some bacteria, can be autotrophs as well.

User Tyler Eich
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