Because of the great differences between the three domains of life, it is typically quite easy to determine where the new organism lies. For example, nearly all animals are eukaryotic organisms. However, there may be some edge cases where determining the exact taxonomy is difficult. Scientists use a classification scheme that relies on an organism's **ribosomal RNA** (rRNA) for classification. This is because all living things need to produce their own proteins through ribosomes which makes it a unique organelle for its ubiquity in organisms.

The study of organizing life into a shared tree is called **taxonomy**. While there are different schemes for organizing life, for example the two domain system that groups Eukrayotes into Archea, the three domain system is the most widely used today. Here is an example step by step guide of how you can quickly determine which domain your organism is located in:

1. Is your organism a plant, animal, or fungi? It is a Eukaryote
2. Does your organism have a nucleus? It is a Eukaryote

    *If by this point you still don't know what your species is it is either a Prokaryote or an Archea*

3.  Is your organism a bacteria? It is a Prokaryote
4.  Does your organism use ether-linked lipids for its cell membrane? It is a Prokaryote

If you still don't know what your organism is, it is almost certainly an Archea who can be identified by their unique ester-linked lipid cell membranes or their methane production. However, keep in mind that new discoveries in taxonomy are being made every day and it's possible you may have found an organism exhibiting atypical characteristics of its domain. If you do find an outlier, it can help to contact members of the scientific community who can help you identify exactly where the organism belongs. Precise analysis of the ribosomal RNA can provide definitive answers as to where your organism fits in the phylogenetic tree of life.
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