Question:

Microbes which consume organic molecules for carbon and energy are called ?

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All pathogenic microorganisms are chemoheterotrophs because they rely on the organic tissues of their host organisms for both nutrients and energy.
  • Chemolithotrophs
  • Photoautotrophs
  • Chemoautotrophs
  • Chemoheterotrophs
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Microorganisms are classified into nutritional groups based on their sources of energy (light vs. chemical compounds) and carbon (inorganic CO${}_2$ vs. organic molecules).

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

Let us analyze the nutritional categories of microorganisms:
1. Chemoheterotrophs (D): These use chemical compounds as their energy source (chemo-) and organic molecules as their carbon source (-heterotroph).
They must ingest or absorb organic compounds (like glucose, amino acids, or lipids) to meet both their energy and carbon needs, which is characteristic of most bacteria, fungi, and protozoa.
2. Chemolithotrophs (A): These use inorganic chemical compounds (such as hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, or ferrous iron) as their energy source, and typically use inorganic CO${}_2$ as their carbon source.
3. Photoautotrophs (B): These use light as their energy source (photo-) and inorganic CO${}_2$ as their carbon source (-autotroph), which is characteristic of plants, algae, and cyanobacteria.
4. Chemoautotrophs (C): These use chemical compounds for energy and CO${}_2$ as their carbon source.
Therefore, microbes that use organic molecules for both carbon and energy are chemoheterotrophs.

Step 3: Final Answer:

The microbes are called Chemoheterotrophs, corresponding to option (D).
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