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 |