Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
How do archaea differ from bacteria in terms of their cell membrane composition?
A
Archaea have peptidoglycan in their cell walls, while bacteria do not.
B
Archaea have a nucleus, while bacteria do not.
C
Archaea are always multicellular, while bacteria are unicellular.
D
Archaea have ether-linked lipids in their cell membranes, while bacteria have ester-linked lipids.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the basic structure of cell membranes: Cell membranes are primarily composed of lipids, which form a bilayer that acts as a barrier to protect the cell.
Identify the types of lipids in archaea: Archaea have unique lipids in their cell membranes that are ether-linked. This means that the glycerol backbone is connected to the hydrocarbon chains via an ether bond (R-O-R').
Identify the types of lipids in bacteria: Bacteria have lipids in their cell membranes that are ester-linked. In this case, the glycerol backbone is connected to the hydrocarbon chains via an ester bond (R-COO-R').
Compare the stability and function: Ether bonds in archaea are more stable than ester bonds, which allows archaea to survive in extreme environments. This is a key difference in their adaptation and survival.
Summarize the key difference: The primary distinction in cell membrane composition between archaea and bacteria is the type of linkage in their lipids—ether-linked in archaea and ester-linked in bacteria.