Ectobiology



Ectobiology is a weird science that apparently involves genetics and appearification.

Its processes are apparently easily automated, and the Homestuck universe house several machines dedicated to specific ectobiology tasks. Many of these are in labs within the veil. Mom is also known to possess a semi-functional one.

Ectobiology involves appearifying ghost sludge of living beings. This sludge contains their genetic code, which can be used to produce clones of them, or mixed with other DNA/sludge to create different clones. These clones are often created to be Paradox Clones, or clones that go back in time and become the thing that was cloned in the first place. Nanna, Grandpa, Bro, and Mom were created by John this way, as were the Kids (although they technically were created from the DNA of the previous four, not their own DNA). This presumably happens to the players of every session, Karkat also created the Trolls (and possibly their Lusii) through ectobiology.

Mom seems to have attempted to Paradox Clone Jaspers, but her attempt failed, and the resulting clone was the mutated kidden Mutie. Rose accidentally created another trying to appearfiy Jaspers, but the result was a horribly mutated kitten that was killed a few minutes after by a meteor.

Becquerel was created by the Draconian Dignitary through ectobiology, by mixing the MEOW DNA code with the DNA of Halley. This makes him the only ectobiology subject who isn't a paradox clone or failed paradox clone. Doc Scratch may have been created through a similar process.

John uses the chumhandle ectoBiologist on Pesterchum, although he was likely unaware that it was a real science, adopting the handle after Terezi used it in a conversation with him. Ectobiology coincidentally involes Green Slime Ghosts.