"Chemosynthesis"

[John Allen]

To: "bionet.photosynthesis mail newsgroup"=20
<server-daemon at dl.ac.uk>

re: Chemosynthesis.

One should distinguish

Chemoautotrophy - use of chemical energy for assimilation of=20
inorganic carbon

and

Photoautotrophy - use of light energy for assimilation of=20
inorganic carbon.

These are in distinction with chemoheterotrophy and=20
photoheterotrophy - use of chemical and light energy,=20
respectively, for assimilation of organic carbon.

"Chemosynthesis" is probably used for "chemoautotrophy".

Where does the chemical energy come from? From free energy=20
obtained from redox reactions, involving an oxidant in the=20
environment, e.g. oxygen. Where does the oxidant come from?=20