Which term best characterizes the scientific study that encompasses all forms of life?

The term that best characterizes the scientific study that encompasses all forms of life is biology. Biology is the comprehensive field of study that examines living organisms, their interactions with each other, and their environments. It includes various sub-disciplines, such as zoology (the study of animals), botany (the study of plants), and microbiology (the study of microscopic organisms), but is not limited to them. Each of these sub-disciplines focuses on specific aspects of life, whereas biology as a whole seeks to understand life in all its forms, making it the most inclusive and overarching term.