Which of the following best describes a chemoorganotrophic organism?

• A. An organism that obtains energy by oxidizing organic compounds.
• B. An organism that uses light as its primary energy source.
• C. An organism that oxidizes inorganic compounds for energy.
• D. An organism that synthesizes organic molecules from CO_2 using energy from inorganic compounds.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the term 'chemoorganotrophic' by breaking it down: 'chemo-' refers to chemical energy sources, 'organo-' refers to organic compounds, and '-trophic' relates to nutrition or energy acquisition.
2. Recognize that chemoorganotrophic organisms obtain their energy by oxidizing organic compounds, meaning they use chemical reactions involving organic molecules to generate energy.
3. Compare this with other types of organisms: phototrophs use light as their energy source, chemolithotrophs oxidize inorganic compounds, and autotrophs synthesize organic molecules from CO_2.
4. Identify that the key characteristic of chemoorganotrophs is the use of organic compounds as electron donors for energy production, distinguishing them from organisms that rely on light or inorganic compounds.
5. Conclude that the best description of a chemoorganotrophic organism is one that obtains energy by oxidizing organic compounds.