Organisms

Archaea

One of the three domains of life (the others being BACTERIA and Eukarya), formerly called Archaebacteria under the taxon Bacteria, but now considered separate and distinct. They are characterized by: (1) the presence of characteristic tRNAs and ribosomal RNAs; (2) the absence of peptidoglycan cell walls; (3) the presence of ether-linked lipids built from branched-chain subunits; and (4) their occurrence in unusual habitats. While archaea resemble bacteria in morphology and genomic organization, they resemble eukarya in their method of genomic replication. The domain contains at least four kingdoms: CRENARCHAEOTA; EURYARCHAEOTA; NANOARCHAEOTA; and KORARCHAEOTA.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

One of the three domains of life (the others being BACTERIA and Eukarya), formerly called Archaebacteria under the taxon Bacteria, but now considered separate and distinct. They are characterized by: (1) the presence of characteristic tRNAs and ribosomal RNAs; (2) the absence of peptidoglycan cell walls; (3) the presence of ether-linked lipids built from branched-chain subunits; and (4) their occurrence in unusual habitats. While archaea resemble bacteria in morphology and genomic organization, they resemble eukarya in their method of genomic replication. The domain contains at least four kingdoms: CRENARCHAEOTA; EURYARCHAEOTA; NANOARCHAEOTA; and KORARCHAEOTA.

MeSH Record

Classification

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See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

4 entry terms
  • Archaebacteria
  • Archaeobacteria
  • Archaeon
  • Archebacteria

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

15 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings chemistry, classification, cytology, drug effects, enzymology, genetics, growth & development, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pathogenicity, physiology, radiation effects, ultrastructure, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

in taxonomy, one of the 3 domains of life along with BACTERIA & Eucarya

MeSH Record

History Note

98(81); ARCHAEA was see ARCHAEOBACTERIA 1995-97

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Bacteria (1966-1980)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. B02w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Archaea. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D001105. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D001105
  2. Archaea. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaea
  3. Archaea. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10872