noun
- plural of chemosynthesis; processes by which organisms produce energy and organic compounds from chemical reactions, typically using inorganic substances rather than light
Usage: technical; biology
Examples
- Bacteria in deep-sea hydrothermal vents rely on chemosyntheses to convert hydrogen sulfide into usable energy.
- Unlike plants that depend on photosynthesis, these microorganisms use chemosyntheses to survive in complete darkness.
- The chemosyntheses occurring in the ocean floor support entire ecosystems independent of sunlight.
- Scientists study various chemosyntheses to understand how life can exist in extreme environments.
- Certain archaea perform chemosyntheses using methane and other gases as energy sources.