Which statement describes phototrophs?

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Multiple Choice

Which statement describes phototrophs?

Phototrophs harvest light as their energy source. They use pigments like chlorophyll to capture photons and drive the photosynthetic electron transport chain, producing ATP and NADPH that power carbon fixation or other biosynthetic processes. This energy-from-light rule applies to organisms such as plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Some phototrophs fix CO2 (photoautotrophs), while others can use organic carbon with light (photoheterotrophs), but the defining feature is obtaining energy from light. The other statements describe energy from chemical compounds (chemotrophs), reliance on fermentation, or a requirement for organic carbon, which do not define phototrophs as a group.

Phototrophs harvest light as their energy source. They use pigments like chlorophyll to capture photons and drive the photosynthetic electron transport chain, producing ATP and NADPH that power carbon fixation or other biosynthetic processes. This energy-from-light rule applies to organisms such as plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Some phototrophs fix CO2 (photoautotrophs), while others can use organic carbon with light (photoheterotrophs), but the defining feature is obtaining energy from light. The other statements describe energy from chemical compounds (chemotrophs), reliance on fermentation, or a requirement for organic carbon, which do not define phototrophs as a group.

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