This energy and reducing power fuels growth, repair and movement. In this section we will discuss generally the two major ways of living on this planet phototrophy and chemotrophy. Phototrophs Phototrophs take light from the sun and convert it directly into biochemical energy and reducing power. This is a complex, multi-protein process that always requires a membrane bound system.
Energy is generated by photophosphorylation .
Cell material is often built from CO 2 . Dependent Chemotrophs These chemotrophs depend on phototrophs, either directly or indirectly, to make complex organic molecules that they can oxidize and generate energy from. Recently scientists have discovered microbes living deep in the sea on the ocean floor near areas of sea floor spreading. In these areas lava erupts into the ocean and eventually forms hydrothermal vents. The vents pump out hot sea water loaded with minerals.