ABSTRACT
Concept Questions 1. Exobiology is a new fi eld of biology in which researchers try to determine what, if it exists, extraterrestrial life would be like. Exobiologists often study microorganisms in “extreme environments” (for example, environments that are extremely hot, acidic, salty), assuming that life on other planets might resemble these microorganisms. Frequently, such microorganisms are the only living thing in these environments. What is the rationale for studying these microorganisms if the goal is to understand what life on other planets might be like?
