Comparison of Bacteria and Archaea

Vocabulary flashcards detailing the shared traits and key differences between Bacteria and Archaea based on lecture notes.

Peptidoglycan

A substance composing $90\%$ of bacterial cell walls that antibiotics attack to kill bacteria, rendering bacteria sensitive to antibiotics; it is absent in Archaea.

Bacterial cell membrane

A membrane structure made of 2 layers of lipids/fat.

Archaea cell membrane

A membrane structure composed of 1 or 2 layers that are not lipids.

Pathogenicity (Bacteria vs. Archaea)

Most bacteria are pathogenic (harmful), whereas none of the Archaea are pathogenic.

Antibiotic sensitivity

Bacteria are sensitive to antibiotics because antibiotics attack the peptidoglycan in their cell walls, whereas Archaea lack peptidoglycan and are not sensitive to antibiotics.

Archaea habitats

Locations where Archaea are found, which include everywhere as well as extreme environments such as hot springs, deep sea vents, and high salt.

Spore formation

A capability possessed by bacteria, while Archaea do not form spores.

Binary fission

The asexual reproduction method utilized by both bacteria and archaea.

Plasmid

Circular DNA or genetic material present in both bacteria and archaea.

Shared prokaryotic characteristics

Features shared by both bacteria and archaea, including being unicellular, microscopic prokaryotes that lack organelles and a nuclear membrane, and mostly having cell walls.

Common cellular structures (Bacteria and Archaea)

Internal and boundary cellular components found in both groups, specifically cytoplasm, plasma/cell membrane, and ribosomes.

Common morphological shapes

Similar physical cell shapes shared by both bacteria and archaea: rod, spheres, and spiral.