Describing organisms that obtain energy from chemical reactions (rather than sunlight) and produce their own food from inorganic compounds.
From 'chemo-' (chemical) + 'auto-' (self) + 'trophic' (feeding). Greek roots combine to literally mean 'feeding oneself using chemicals,' describing bacteria that use chemical energy instead of light.
Chemoautotrophic organisms discovered near hydrothermal vents completely changed how we think about life—they prove that life doesn't need the sun and can thrive in the most extreme environments on Earth.
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