In the list of life’s classifications, which term describes an organism that makes its own food?

• A. Heterotroph
• B. Autotroph
• C. Detritivore
• D. Parasite

Answer: (B)

Organisms that make their own food are autotrophs. They serve as producers in ecosystems, capturing energy from sunlight or chemical reactions to build organic molecules from inorganic carbon. Most run photosynthesis, turning carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen, while some bacteria use chemosynthesis to obtain energy from inorganic compounds.

In contrast, heterotrophs cannot synthesize their own food and must consume other organisms for energy and carbon. Detritivores feed on dead organic matter, and parasites live on or inside a host, drawing nutrients from it. Since the question asks for the term for an organism that makes its own food, autotroph is the best answer. This distinction helps explain how energy enters and moves through food webs, with autotrophs forming the foundational base.