Exploring the Unique Characteristics of Archaea
Difference in Cell Structure
Similar to bacteria, archaea do not have interior membranes but both have a cell wall and use flagella to swim. However, archaea differ in the following ways:
- Their cell wall does not contain peptidoglycan, which is a major component of bacterial cell walls.
- Their cell membrane uses ether-linked lipids, whereas bacteria use ester-linked lipids.
This distinct cell structure is one of the key features that set archaea apart from bacteria.