Lesson 6-8

Microscopic single-celled organisms that have neither a distinct nucleus with a membrane nor other specialized organelles. They include bacteria and archaea, and are well adapted to living in all types of conditions.

The group of prokaryotes whose cell membrane is composed of mostly lipids, which is significantly different from Archaea.

The group of prokaryotes whose cell membrane has isoprene. This domain is as diverse as Domain Bacteria, and its representatives can be found in any habitat.

A microbial community held together in a gummy-textured matrix that consists primarily of polysaccharides secreted by organisms. Prokaryotes prefer to live in these colonies, which can be found clogging pipes or on one's teeth.

Archaea that grows best in moderate temperature.

Archaea that are hostile to most other forms of life, preferring extreme hot or cold, extreme salinity, or other conditions.

The formation of methane, which archaea can perform, and which bacteria and eukaryotes cannot. It involves coenzymes unique to these archaea, such as coenzyme M and methanofuran.

The loop form in which archaean DNA exists, as they have no internal membranes.

The molecules that are important in decoding the message of DNA and in building proteins in Archaea, with features more like eukaryotic living things than bacteria.

The five currently recognized phyla of Archaea, including Crenarchaeota, Euyarchaeota, Korarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, and Thaumarchaeota.