Summary:
- Archaea are prokaryotes, but they differ from bacteria in their DNA and biochemistry.
- Most archaea are chemotrophs and derive their energy and nutrients from breaking down molecules in their environment.
- Unlike bacteria, which can be parasites, there are no known archaea that act as parasites.
- Archaea reproduce asexually through binary fission, fragmentation, or budding.
- Some archaea form mutualistic relationships with their host, where both the archaea and the host benefit.