A heterotroph is an organism which is dependant upon other organisms to metabolize. In laymen's terms, known as a consumer. Because they can't produce their own food, such as autotrophs, heterotrophs must consume other organisms to survive. However, because they do not make their own food, they must consume more substance to survive. Humans, deer, and tigers are examples of heterotrophs.

An organism that requires chemical energy from already formed organic molecules.


From the BioTech Dictionary at http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/. For further information see the BioTech homenode.

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