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What are the differences between archaea and bacteria?
Posted February 9, 2023

Answer

Basis of differentiation

Archaea

Bacteria 

Definition

Archaea are a group of unicellular microorganisms that are part of the domain Archaea, are simple in their organization

Bacteria are a group of unicellular microorganisms that are part of the domain Bacteria, are more complex in their organization

Presence of peptidoglycan in cell wall 

Do not have peptidoglycan in their cell wall

Have peptidoglycan in their cell wall 

Membrane lipid bonding

Membrane lipids are ether linked, branched, aliphatic chains containing D-glycerol phosphate

Membrane lipids are ester linked, straight chains of fatty acids, containing L-glycerol phosphates  

RNA polymerases 

Have more complex RNA polymerases that are similar to the domain eukarya

Has less complex RNA polymerases than the domain eukarya 

Reproduction

Reproduce asexually through binary fission, budding, and fragmentation

Reproduce asexually through binary fission, budding, fragmentation, and spores

Types

Has 3 types: Halophiles, thermophiles, and methanogens 

Has two types: gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria 

Occurrence

Found in extreme environments 

Found everywhere on earth 

Presence of introns

Introns are present

Introns are absent 

Shape

Sphere, rod, spiral, plate, flat, or square-shaped

Bacilli, cocci, rod, vibrio, filaments shaped

Mechanisms

Do not exhibit glycolysis or Kreb’s cycle 

Exhibit both glycolysis and Kreb’s cycle