archaebacterium

Meaning

A single-celled microorganism that constitutes one of the three domains of life, characterized by cell walls lacking peptidoglycan and the ability to live in extreme environments.

Examples

• Scientists once classified the archaebacterium as a simple type of bacteria before genetic analysis revealed it was a distinct domain.
• The unique membrane structure of an archaebacterium allows it to withstand temperatures that would destroy most other living cells.