Archaea are a group of unicellular microorganisms that, like bacteria, have a prokaryotic morphology, that is, they do not have a nucleus or internal membranous organelles, but they are basically different from them, in such a way that they integrate their own environment. Archaea do not require sunlight for the photosynthesis process, as is the case with plants, nor do they require oxygen.
Most archaea have a cell wall made up of proteins that make up a rigid group that covers the outer layer of the cell, creating a protective mesh that chemically and physically affects the cell.
It is important to highlight that the analysis of these microorganisms was linked to that of bacteria in the beginning, however their unique characteristics began to be observed, which do not necessarily respond with the same characteristics of bacteria and other prokaryotic organisms.
This term is of Greek origin and means "ancient", this is because they have an ancient molecular machinery, which has been preserved without any significant change from any other family of microorganisms.
These microbes mostly live in extreme environments, which is why they are called extremophiles. While there are others that survive in common salinity levels and temperatures, and there may even be some that live inside the intestines of living beings.
Thermophilic archaea are those that live in extremely hot environments, while those that inhabit super salty environments are called hypersaline, they have the ability to live in extreme environments where other organisms cannot inhabit.
Archaea are found freely in nature: in springs, in soils, etc.
