Biology Notes: 3 Domains, 6 Kingdoms,
Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes
Three Domains (Carl Woese, 1990)
1. Bacteria – Prokaryotes with peptidoglycan cell walls (e.g., E. coli).
2. Archaea – Prokaryotes without peptidoglycan; extremophiles; genetically closer to eukaryotes.
3. Eukarya – Organisms with nucleus and membrane-bound organelles (plants, animals, fungi,
protists).
Six Kingdoms
- Eubacteria (Domain Bacteria): True bacteria with peptidoglycan.
- Archaebacteria (Domain Archaea): Ancient, extremophiles, no peptidoglycan.
- Protista (Domain Eukarya): Mostly unicellular, e.g., amoeba.
- Fungi (Domain Eukarya): Heterotrophs with chitin walls.
- Plantae (Domain Eukarya): Multicellular autotrophs with cellulose walls.
- Animalia (Domain Eukarya): Multicellular heterotrophs without cell walls.
Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes
Feature Prokaryotes (Bacteria, Archaea) Eukaryotes (Protists, Fungi, Plants, Animals)
Nucleus Absent Present
DNA Circular, free in cytoplasm Linear, in nucleus
Organelles No membrane-bound organelles Membrane-bound organelles
Size Small (1–10 µm) Larger (10–100 µm)
Reproduction Binary fission Mitosis & meiosis
Examples E. coli, Methanogens Humans, Plants, Fungi
Eubacteria vs Archaebacteria
Feature Eubacteria (True Bacteria) Archaebacteria (Archaea)
Cell Wall Peptidoglycan present No peptidoglycan
Membrane Phospholipid bilayer (fatty acids) Unique lipids (ether bonds, branched chains)
Genetics Simple gene machinery Closer to Eukaryotes
Habitat Common (soil, water, body) Extreme (hot, salty, methane)
Examples E. coli, Streptococcus Methanogens, Halophiles
Pathogenicity Some cause disease None known to cause disease
Mnemonic to Remember
- EUBAC = Common: Everywhere, Usual cell wall, Bilayer, Agents of disease, Common.
- ARCH = Extreme: Ancient, Resemble eukaryotes, Cell wall without peptidoglycan, Harsh
habitats.