EXOBIOLOGY, THE STUDY OF THE ORIGIN, EVOLUTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF LIFE WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF COSMIC EVOLUTION - A REVIEW

The primary goal of exobiological research is to reach a better unders tanding of the processes leading to the origin, evolution and distribu tion of life on Earth or elsewhere in the universe. In this endeavour, scientists from a wide variety of disciplines are involved, such as a stronomy, planetary research, organic chemistry, palaeontology and the various subdisciplines of biology including microbial ecology and mol ecular biology. Space technology plays an important part by offering t he opportunity for exploring our solar system, for collecting extrater restrial samples, and for utilizing the peculiar environment of space as a tool. Exobiological activities include comparison of the overall pattern of chemical evolution of potential precursors of life, in the interstellar medium, and on the planets and small bodies of our solar system; tracing the history of life on Earth back to its roots; deciph ering the environments of the planets in our solar system and of their satellites, throughout their history, with regard to their habitabili ty; searching for other planetary systems in our Galaxy and for signal s of extraterrestrial civilizations; testing the impact of space envir onment on survivability of resistant life forms. This evolutionary app roach towards understanding the phenomenon of life in the context of c osmic evolution may eventually contribute to a better understanding of the processes regulating the interactions of life with its environmen t on Earth.