Exo-biology
Exobiology (also called astrobiology, xenology or xenobiology) is the biological science concerned with the study animals from other planets. (DS9: "Time's Orphan") Exobiology was also a course taught at Starfleet Academy. (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint", "The Host")
A biologist who specializes in the field of exobiology is referred to as an exobiologist, xenobiologist, or astrobiologist.
The sub-discipline known as comparative xenobiology is the scientific study of the physiological features of various alien lifeforms. (Refer to comparative xenobiological chart.)
On Starbase 515, an exobiology research division was located in room 03-1444. (TNG: "Samaritan Snare")
A xenologist is an scientist whose expertise is in the field of xenology, or the study of alien phenomena.
Dr. Kila Marr was a xenologist and was the foremost expert in the Crystalline Entity. (TNG: "Silicon Avatar")
Definition
Astrobiology (other terms have been exobiology, exopaleontology, and bioastronomy) is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. This interdisciplinary field encompasses the search for habitable environments in our Solar System and habitable planets outside our Solar System, the search for evidence of prebiotic chemistry, life on Mars and other bodies in our Solar System, laboratory and field research into the origins and early evolution of life on Earth, and studies of the potential for life to adapt to challenges on Earth and in space.[2]
Astrobiology makes use of physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology, molecular biology, ecology, planetary science and geology, as well as philosophy to speculate about the nature of possible life on other worlds and help recognize biospheres that might be quite different from the Earth's. However, astrobiology concerns itself with an interpretation of existing scientific data; given more detailed and reliable data from other parts of the Universe, the roots of astrobiology itself —biology, physics, chemistry— may have their theoretical bases challenged. Much speculation is entertained in the field to give context, and astrobiology concerns itself primarily with hypotheses that fit firmly into existing scientific theories.
