What are the differences between bacteria and archaea?

Sourav PanDecember 7, 2024

Answered

Bacteria and archaea are both prokaryotes but have several key differences: 1. Cell wall composition: Bacteria have peptidoglycan in their cell walls, while archaea lack peptidoglycan and have different cell wall materials (e.g., pseudomurein or S-layer proteins). 2. Membrane lipids: Bacterial membranes have ester-linked lipids, while archaea have ether-linked lipids. 3. Genetic differences: Archaea have more similar ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences to eukaryotes than to bacteria. 4. Environmental adaptations: Archaea are often found in extreme environments (e.g., high salinity, temperature, or acidity), whereas bacteria are more commonly found in more moderate environments.