Medical Definition of Archae
1.
This is a classification of odd bacteria that are neither prokaryotes nor eukaryotes, some scientists believe they represent a separate kingdom.
The primary species is Archaebacteria, whose members fall in three categories: microbes that can live in extremely salty environments (halophiles), microbes that produce methane (methanogens), and microbes that can live in extremely hot environments (thermophiles).
All are of interest to biotechnologists because they have unique biochemical features (for example, the enzymes of the theromophiles are extremely stable at high temperatures).
(10 Jan 1998)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Archae
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