How are archaea and bacteria different?

Answer 1

Archaea and bacteria are different in several ways such as:

1. Cell wall structure - Bacteria have cell walls made of peptidoglycan, while archaea have cell walls made of different materials such as pseudomurein or protein.

2. Membrane lipids - The membrane lipids in bacteria are made of fatty acids, while those in archaea are made of isoprene or branched hydrocarbons.

3. Genetic material - Bacteria typically have a single circular chromosome, while archaea can have circular or linear chromosomes and often have smaller plasmids as well.

4. Environment - Archaea are often found in extreme environments such as hot springs, deep-sea vents, and acidic habitats, while bacteria can thrive in a wide range of environments including the human body.

5. Metabolic pathways - Archaea and bacteria can have similar metabolic pathways, but archaea can also have unique pathways such as methanogenesis (producing methane) and halophily (tolerating high salt concentrations).