Final answer:
The harvesting of energy begins with the breakdown of carbohydrate molecules through cellular respiration, releasing ATP as a form of energy. This process occurs in various living organisms, such as bacteria, plants, and animals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The harvesting of energy begins with the breakdown of carbohydrate molecules. Living organisms, including bacteria, plants, and animals, access energy by breaking down carbohydrate and other carbon-rich organic molecules. The process of breaking down carbohydrates, called cellular respiration, releases needed energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
Carbohydrates can be obtained through either making their own food (autotrophs) or ingesting other organisms (heterotrophs).