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.