Final answer:
Protista is not a domain in Woese and Fox's phylogenetic tree. The three recognized domains are Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya, with Protista being a part of the Eukarya domain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question pertains to the domains outlined in Woese and Fox's phylogenetic tree. According to their classification, there are three domains of life: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. These domains include all known forms of life. The domain Eukarya, for instance, encompasses all organisms with cells that have nuclei, which includes the kingdoms of fungi, plants, animals, and protists. Protists are included within the domain Eukarya and are not a domain on their own. Therefore, the correct response to which of the options provided is NOT a domain in Woese and Fox's phylogenetic tree is Protista (D).
Carl Woese's groundbreaking research utilized genetic relationships, specifically sequencing ribosomal RNA genes, to categorize life forms. This approach led to the identification of the Archaea as a distinct group of prokaryotic organisms that are genetically separate from Bacteria and Eukarya.