Analyze the paper by Urakawa et al. (2012) by considering the characteristics that allow us to classify the prokaryotic organisms in this study as belonging to different domains. Use the website: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibit/phylogeny.html

Review the definitions of Archaea and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. Begin at http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibit/phylogeny.html, webpage titled "Welcome to the Phylogeny Wing. Select the link "Phylogeny of Life" within the first of the "four ways to get started." Look at the relationship between DNA and the Three Domains of Life.

1. What general characteristics determine whether a prokaryote belongs to the Archaea or Bacteria domain?

2. Define DNA and RNA. What role do DNA and RNA play in this determination?

3. What role does the metabolism play in classifying Nitrosococcus oceani and Nitrosopumilus maritimus as Archaea or Bacteria?

4. Do either of these organisms normally thrive in an environment where crude oil is abundant? What other microbes live in this type of environment?