[Campbell Biology P.641] Which of the following statements accurately describes a key differ... | Practice Question

Which of the following statements accurately describes a key difference between Archaea and Bacteria?

  • A: Archaea and bacteria have identical membrane lipids.
  • B: The cell walls of archaea lack peptidoglycan.
  • C: Prokaryotes have low levels of genetic diversity.
  • D: No archaea are capable of using CO2 to oxidize H2, releasing methane.

Explanation

One of the most defining characteristics separating Archaea from Bacteria is the composition of their cell walls. Bacterial cell walls typically contain peptidoglycan, whereas archaeal cell walls lack peptidoglycan and are instead composed of various other polymers, such as pseudopeptidoglycan or S-layers.