Archaea at Higher Level: The same statement as SL. HL questions ask about archaea as a domain and the variety of their energy sources.
Practise this as you read
- State the three domains of life.
- Outline how archaea obtain energy.
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The big idea: Archaea are one of the three domains of life. As a group they are very varied in how they obtain energy to make ATP.
The points to remember
- Three domains: bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes; archaea are prokaryotes.
- Some use light, absorbed by a pigment, to make ATP.
- Some oxidise inorganic chemicals such as hydrogen, sulfur compounds or ammonia.
- Some break down organic compounds made by other organisms.
Remember it as: Light, inorganic chemicals, organic compounds: archaea use them all.
Real example: methanogens. Methanogens are archaea that get energy by combining hydrogen with carbon dioxide, releasing methane; they live in swamps, rice paddies and the guts of cattle.
Trap: Archaea are not a kind of bacteria: they are prokaryotes, but a separate domain.
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How it is asked: Expect the three domains, or a question on how varied archaea are in obtaining energy.
IB-style questionOutline[3 marks]
Outline the diversity of ways in which archaea obtain energy for ATP production.
Model answer plan
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