Three-domain system

The three-domain system is a biological classification introduced by Carl Woese,

Otto Kandler, and Mark Wheelis in 1990, that divides cellular life forms into
three domains, namely Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. The key difference from
earlier classifications such as the two-empire system and the five-kingdom
classification is the splitting of Archaea from Bacteria as completely different
organisms.
➢It has been challenged by the two-domain system that divides organisms into
Bacteria and Archaea only, as Eukaryotes are considered as one group of Archaea.
Classification:
The three-domain system adds a level of classification (the domains) "above" the
kingdoms present in the previously used five- or six-kingdom systems. This
classification system recognizes the fundamental divide between the two
prokaryotic groups, insofar as Archaea appear to be more closely related to
eukaryotes than they are to other prokaryotes – bacteria-like organisms with no cell
nucleus. The three-domain system sorts the previously known kingdoms into these
three domains: Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya.
❖ Domain Archaea:
The Archaea are:
Prokaryotic
no nuclear membrane
but with biochemistry and RNA markers that are distinct from bacteria.
The Archaeans possess unique, ancient evolutionary history for which they are
considered some of the oldest species of organisms on Earth, most notably their
diverse, exotic metabolisms.
Some examples of archaeal organisms are:
methanogens – which produce the gas methane
halophiles – which live in very salty water
thermoacidophiles – which thrive in acidic high-temperature water.
 ❖ Domain Bacteria:
The Bacteria are also prokaryotic; their domain consists of cells with bacterial
rRNA, no nuclear membrane, and whose membranes possess primarily diacyl
glycerol diester lipids.
Traditionally classified as bacteria, many thrive in the same environments favored
by humans, and were the first prokaryotes discovered; they were briefly called the
Eubacteria or "true" bacteria when the Archaea were first recognized as a distinct
clade.
Most known pathogenic prokaryotic organisms belong to bacteria. For that reason,
and because the Archaea are typically difficult to grow in laboratories, Bacteria are
currently studied more extensively than Archaea.
Some examples of bacteria include:
Cyanobacteria – photosynthesizing bacteria that are related to the chloroplasts of
eukaryotic plants and algae
Spirochaetota – Gram-negative bacteria that include those causing syphilis and
Lyme disease
Actinomycetota – Gram-positive bacteria including Bifidobacterium animalis
which is present in the human large intestine.

❖ Domain Eukarya:
Eukaryota are organisms whose cells contain a membrane-bound nucleus. They
include many large single-celled organisms and all known non-microscopic
organisms.
The domain contains, for example:
Holomycota – mushrooms and allies
Viridiplantae - green plants
Holozoa - animals and allies
Stramenopiles – includes brown algae
Amoebozoa - solitary and social amoebae
Discoba - includes euglenoids