Final answer:
The phylogenetic tree of life consists of three domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya, with prokaryotic organisms in the first two and eukaryotic organisms including plants, animals, fungi, and protists in the latter.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phylogenetic tree of life incorporates three domains, which are: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. These domains represent major lineages of life on Earth. In this classification, the domains Bacteria and Archaea contain all prokaryotic organisms that lack a nucleus, while the domain Eukarya includes all eukaryotic organisms that have genetic material enclosed within a nucleus. Notably, the domain Eukarya encompasses plants, animals, fungi, and protists.
The work by microbiologist Carl Woese has been instrumental in defining these three domains, using ribosomal RNA gene sequences to infer evolutionary relationships. As a result, life's diversity is structured in a way that reflects genetic heritage rather than just morphological similarities. Furthermore, Eukarya is believed to share a more recent common ancestor with Archaea than with Bacteria, distinguishing the three domains significantly.