autotrophic

British  

/ ˌɔːtəˈtrɒfɪk, ˈɔːtətrəʊf /

adjective

1. (of organisms such as green plants) capable of manufacturing complex organic nutritive compounds from simple inorganic sources such as carbon dioxide, water, and nitrates, using energy from the sun Compare heterotrophic

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Other Word Forms

• autotroph noun

Example Sentences

"This bacterium is an autotrophic organism, like a plant. It does, however, not need light like a plant, as it draws its energy from phosphite oxidation."

From Science Daily

The CO2-eating, or autotrophic, E. coli strains can still grow on sugar — and would use that source of fuel over CO2, given the choice, says Milo.

From Nature

Synthetic biologists have long tried to engineer plants and autotrophic bacteria to produce valuable chemicals and fuels from water and CO2, because it has the potential to be cheaper than other routes.

From Science Magazine

So, he says that it could be that sentient plants offworld would be ones that remain autotrophic and follow the sun, but also literally move.

From Forbes

These three steps can be engineered into autotrophic organisms, an approach that is now being supported by a US DOE Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy programme called Electrofuels.

From Nature