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How to Distinguish Between Bacteria in Domain Archaea and Domain Bacteria

The three domains, Eukaryota, Bacteria and Archea, are the three highest branches of taxonomic distinction between terrestrial life forms. Eukaryotes are comprised of plants, animals, fungi and protists, distinct from bacterial life forms. Archea and Bacteria were originally considered part of the same domain and kingdom, but only have the prokaryotic characteristic in common. The Archean domain is thought to include the most ancient life forms on earth.

Instructions

- 1
  Determine the type of environment the bacteria were discovered. Archea are extremophilic, and are almost exclusively found in extremely inhospitable environments, whether they be incredibly hot, cold, dry or deep conditions. Archea are found in volcanic steam vents where no other life forms can survive, deeper underwater than any other known organisms, on the polar caps, and in wasteland deserts with no other life.
- 2
  Analyze whether the bacteria has peptidoglycan in its cell walls. Archea lack peptidoglycan in their cell walls. Peptidoglycan, also called meurin, is a key component in cell walls of bacteria, and necessary for bacterial reproduction. Archea, therefore, reacts very differently to certain types of antibiotics, like penicillin.
- 3
  Count the number of RNA polymerase enzymes in each bacteria. Archea have three RNA polymerase and bacteria only have one. RNA polymers are thought to be critical in binding cells together to form systems, organs or whole organisms.

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