Which of the following features distinguishes archaea from animal cells?

• A. Archaea use DNA as their genetic material, while animal cells use RNA.
• B. Archaea reproduce by mitosis, while animal cells reproduce by binary fission.
• C. Archaea contain membrane-bound organelles, while animal cells do not.
• D. Archaea have cell walls composed of pseudopeptidoglycan, while animal cells lack cell walls.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the basic cellular characteristics of archaea and animal cells. Both archaea and animal cells use DNA as their genetic material, so this feature does not distinguish them.
2. Step 2: Review the modes of reproduction. Archaea reproduce primarily by binary fission, a form of asexual reproduction common in prokaryotes, whereas animal cells reproduce by mitosis, a process of eukaryotic cell division.
3. Step 3: Examine the presence of membrane-bound organelles. Animal cells, being eukaryotic, contain membrane-bound organelles such as the nucleus and mitochondria, while archaea, as prokaryotes, lack these organelles.
4. Step 4: Focus on the cell wall composition. Archaea have cell walls made of pseudopeptidoglycan, a unique polymer different from the peptidoglycan found in bacterial cell walls, whereas animal cells do not have cell walls at all.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the distinguishing feature is the presence of a cell wall composed of pseudopeptidoglycan in archaea, which animal cells lack, making this the correct distinguishing characteristic.