Which group of organisms obtains both carbon and energy from organic chemicals?

The group of organisms that obtains both carbon and energy from organic chemicals is correctly identified as chemoorganoheterotrophs. These organisms utilize organic compounds not only as a source of carbon to build cellular components but also as a source of energy through metabolic processes that break down these compounds.

Chemoorganoheterotrophs are particularly important in ecosystems as they are involved in the decomposition of organic matter, returning nutrients to the environment. They typically metabolize complex molecules like carbohydrates, fats, and proteins by using enzymes to break these down into simpler compounds, which can then be used in cellular respiration or fermentation processes to generate energy.

In contrast, photoautotrophs obtain their energy from sunlight and use carbon dioxide as their carbon source, contrasting with the organic carbon found in the substrates utilized by chemoorganoheterotrophs. Chemoorganotrophs, a broader category, includes those that derive energy from the oxidation of organic compounds but may not necessarily utilize them as the primary carbon source. Lithoautotrophs, on the other hand, utilize inorganic compounds for energy and carbon dioxide for carbon, showcasing a different metabolic pathway altogether. Thus, the unique combination of relying on organic chemicals for both energy and carbon defines the distinctiveness