Prokaryote refers to an organism that contains only one circular DNA molecule and has no nucleus wrapped by nuclear membrane. This kind of organisms widely exist in nature, including bacteria, cyanobacteria, actinomycetes and so on.

Heterotrophs refers to an organism that can't transform inorganic substances into organic substances by itself, that is, it can't obtain energy and nutrients through photosynthesis or chemical synthesis. Instead, they must obtain organic substances from other organisms to maintain their life activities.

Although prokaryotes don't have nuclei and complicated organelles like eukaryotes, it doesn't mean that they are all heterotrophs. For example, cyanobacteria are prokaryotes, but they can convert inorganic substances into organic substances through photosynthesis, so they are autotrophs. In addition, some prokaryotes can also obtain energy through chemical synthesis and chemical reaction between inorganic substances and organic substances, but they are still heterotrophs because they cannot obtain energy and nutrients through photosynthesis.

Characteristics of heterotrophs:

1. Source of nutrition: heterotrophs They must obtain the nutrients they need from other organisms, such as organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. These substances are broken down into small molecules in heterotrophs's body, such as amino acids, nucleic acids and sugars. , and then absorbed and utilized.

2. Energy acquisition: heterotrophs must obtain the energy it needs from other living things. This energy is stored in the organic molecules of food. When heterotrophs ingests food, the organic molecules in the food are broken down into small molecules, and at the same time, energy is released for heterotrophs's life activities.

3. Growth and development: heterotrophs needs nutrition and energy from other organisms to support its growth and development. Only by absorbing enough nutrition and energy can heterotrophs carry out the process of cell division, tissue differentiation and organ formation, thus completing the process of growth and development.

4. Metabolic types: There are various metabolic types in heterotrophs, including decomposers and consumers. Decomposition refers to organisms that decompose organic matter into inorganic matter, such as bacteria and fungi; Consumers are organisms that get nutrition by eating other organisms, such as animals and parasitic plants.