What are the differences between archaea and bacteria?

Question

Accepted 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

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