In the process of assimilation, organisms cannot directly use inorganic substances to make organic substances, but can only convert ready-made organic substances absorbed from the outside into their own components and store energy. This metabolic type is called heterotrophy.

Heterotrophs refers to those organisms that can only use the ready-made organic matter in the external environment as energy and carbon source, ingest these organic matters into the body, convert them into their own components, and store energy. Such as: fungi living in decay and parasitism, most kinds of bacteria.

Heterotrophs said that plants are generally autotrophs, except pitcher plants. They can absorb inorganic substances from nature to synthesize organic substances. On the other hand, heterotrophs can only survive by absorbing organic matter. Like us humans. Heterotrophs refers to those organisms that can only use the ready-made organic matter in the external environment as energy and carbon source, ingest these organic matters into the body, convert them into their own components, and store energy.

Such as fungi that live in decay and parasitism, and most kinds of bacteria.