Archaea Features
Mediumbiology
Which adaptation enables many archaea to survive extreme high-temperature environments?
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Solution
Incorrect! Answer:
Ether-linked isoprenoid lipids
- Archaebacteria: These differ from other bacteria (Eubacteria) primarily in their cell wall and membrane structures.
- Membrane Adaptation: Instead of typical ester-linked fatty acids, archaeal membranes are composed of ether-linked branched-chain isoprenoid lipids.
- Advantage: The ether linkage and branched chains are much more chemically stable and resistant to heat and extreme pH than the ester linkages found in bacteria and eukaryotes.
- Result: This structural stability is the key to their survival as extremophiles (thermophiles, thermoacidophiles).
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About This Question
- Subject
- biology
- Chapter
- diversity in living world
- Topic
- archaea features
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
Ether-linked isoprenoid lipids
- Archaebacteria: These differ from other bacteria (Eubacteria) primarily in their cell wall and membrane structures.
- Membrane Adaptation: Instead of typical ester-linked fatty acids, archaeal membranes are composed of ether-linked branched-chain isoprenoid lipids.
- Advantage: The ether linkage and branched chains are much more chemically stable and resistant to heat and extreme pH than the ester linkages found in bacteria and eukaryotes.
- Result: This structural stability is the key to their survival as extremophiles (thermophiles, thermoacidophiles).
This medium difficulty biology question is from the chapter diversity in living world, covering the topic of archaea features. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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