AP BIOLOGY

ECOLOGY

CHEMICAL CYCLES

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Why do heterotrophs need nitrogen?
A
making amino acids and proteins
B
for cellular respiration
C
for photosynthesis
D
for the burning of fossil fules
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Explanation; Nitrogen is a fundamental component of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Herbivores require Nitrogen to make amino acids which would result in the production of proteins and thus, also several useful enzymes in the body.

Detailed explanation-2: -Nitrogen is an essential element for all forms of life and is the structural component of amino acids from which animal and human tissues, enzymes, and many hormones are made. For plant growth, available (fixed) nitrogen is usually the limiting nutrient in natural systems.

Detailed explanation-3: -It is a key component for all amino acids and nucleotides, in which DNA, RNA, enzymes and proteins are made from. Plants use nitrogen to produce the necessary protoplasms and amino acids required for the building of plant tissue and plant proteins.

Detailed explanation-4: -Nitrogen Fixation by Free-Living Heterotrophs Many heterotrophic bacteria live in the soil and fix significant levels of nitrogen without the direct interaction with other organisms. Examples of this type of nitrogen-fixing bacteria include species of Azotobacter, Bacillus, Clostridium, and Klebsiella.

Detailed explanation-5: -For heterotrophs, nitrogen is obtained from the food that they eat, primarily from proteins, but also from nucleic acids and nucleotides. Some fungi, bacteria and archaea can acquire nitrogen as nitrate (NO3–) or ammonia (NH3) or ammonium ion (NH4+).

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