Question:

Which of the following traits are observed in archaea ?
(A) Absence of Peptidoglycan in cell wall
(B) Resistant to kanamycin
(C) Endospore formation
(D) Presence of S layer
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Show Hint

Archaea are famous for their ability to thrive in extreme environments (extremophiles), such as high-temperature hot springs (thermophiles) and high-salinity lakes (halophiles).
  • (A), (B) and (D) only.
  • (A), (B) and (C) only.
  • (C) only
  • (C) and (D) only.
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Archaea constitute a unique domain of single-celled microorganisms that lack cell nuclei.
Although they resemble bacteria morphologically, they possess distinct biochemical, genetic, and physiological characteristics that are closer to eukaryotes.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

Let us evaluate each of the listed biological traits for Archaea:
- (A) Absence of Peptidoglycan in cell wall: True.
The cell walls of Archaea do not contain peptidoglycan (murein), which is a signature component of bacterial cell walls.
Instead, archaeal cell walls are composed of pseudopeptidoglycan (pseudomurein), proteins, glycoproteins, or complex polysaccharides.
- (B) Resistant to kanamycin: True.
Archaea are naturally resistant to many common antibacterial antibiotics, including kanamycin and other aminoglycosides, because their ribosome structure and translation machinery differ significantly from those of bacteria.
- (D) Presence of S layer: True.
Many archaeal species possess a crystalline surface layer (S-layer) composed of a monomolecular array of identical proteins or glycoproteins, which serves as a protective physical barrier.
- (C) Endospore formation: False.
Endospore formation is a highly specialized survival mechanism restricted to certain Gram-positive bacteria, particularly the Firmicutes (such as Bacillus and Clostridium species).
Archaea do not form endospores.
Therefore, only traits (A), (B), and (D) are observed in Archaea.

Step 3: Final Answer:

The traits observed in archaea are (A), (B), and (D) only, corresponding to option (A).
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