Detailed Comparison: Archaea and Bacteria - Biology Assignment

This report provides a comparative analysis of Archaea and Bacteria, two domains of prokaryotic microorganisms. It highlights their key differences in cell structure, including cell wall composition (pseudopeptidoglycan in Archaea vs. peptidoglycan in Bacteria), and RNA polymerases. The report also discusses their habitats, with Archaea often found in extreme environments, while bacteria are ubiquitous. The report also covers their methods of reproduction, with Archaea reproducing asexually through binary fission, budding and fragmentation, and bacteria employing similar methods, with some bacteria having the unique ability to form spores. The report also highlights the similarities between the two, such as being prokaryotes, lacking a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, and using flagella for movement. The report concludes by referencing key scientific publications that support the information presented.

DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES BETWEEN ORGANISMS IN THE DOMAIN ARCHAEA AND BACTERIA

Similarities and Differences between organisms in the domains Bacteria and Archaea
There are two kinds of micro-organisms that are divided into prokaryotes, and those include
bacteria and archaea. But not all bacteria and archaea belong to prokaryotes.
Differences Archaea Bacteria
Introduction The Archaea constitute a
domain or kingdom of single-
celled microorganisms. These
microbes are prokaryotes,
meaning that they have no
cell nucleus or any other
membrane-bound organelles
in their cells (Chun et al.,
2014).
Bacteria constitute a large
domain of prokaryotic
microorganisms. Typically a
few micrometres in length,
bacteria have a number of
shapes, ranging from spheres
to rods and spirals.
Cell Wall Pseudopeptidoglycan Peptidoglycan /
Lipopolysaccharide
Habitat Extreme and harsh
environments like hot
springs, salt lakes,
marshlands, oceans, the gut
of ruminants and humans.
ubiquitous and are found in
soil, hot springs, radioactive
waste water, Earth's crust,
organic matter, bodies of
plants and animals, etc.
Growth and Reproduction Archae reproduces asexually
by the process of binary
fission, budding and
fragmentation.
Eubacteria reproduce
asexually through binary
fission, budding,
fragmentation, but eubacteria
have the unique ability to
form spores to remain
dormant over the years, a trait
that is not exhibited by
Archae (Spang,et al., 2015).
RNA Archea have three RNA
polymerases like eukaryotes,
Bacteria have only one RNA
polymerases
Similarities
- Archaea and bacteria are both prokaryotes, meaning they do not have a nucleus and
lack membrane-bound organelles. They are tiny, single-cell organisms which cannot
be seen by the naked human eye called microbes. They exist as rods, cones, plates,
and coils. Both archaea and bacteria have flagella, thread-like structures that allow
organisms to move by propelling them through their environment.

References
Chun, J., & Rainey, F. A. (2014). Integrating genomics into the taxonomy and systematics of the
Bacteria and Archaea. International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology, 64(2),
316-324.
Spang, A., Saw, J. H., Jørgensen, S. L., Zaremba-Niedzwiedzka, K., Martijn, J., Lind, A. E., ... &
Ettema, T. J. (2015). Complex archaea that bridge the gap between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
Nature, 521(7551), 173-179.