Final answer:
Organisms are placed in the Domain Eukarya based on the presence of membrane-bound organelles within their cells, which distinguishes them from organisms in the Bacteria and Archaea domains that lack these structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
One characteristic that scientists use to place organisms in the Domain Eukarya is the presence of membrane-bound organelles within their cells. Unlike prokaryotic cells of the domains Bacteria and Archaea, all eukaryotic cells contain internal structures such as a nucleus and other organelles that are surrounded by membranes. This distinction is fundamental in the organization of life and is central to the taxonomic classification system that categorizes all life into three domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.
The science of classifying organisms, known as taxonomy, helps scientists understand relationships among organisms and communicate about them effectively. The presence of eukaryotic cell structures is a key defining characteristic of the Domain Eukarya, which encompasses organisms as diverse as protists, fungi, plants, and animals.