Signs of Life: A Report Based on the April 2000 Workshop on Life Detection Techniques

A workshop to assess the science and technology of life detection techniques was organized by the Committee on the Origins and Evolution of Life (COEL) of the Board on Life Sciences (BLS) and the Space Studies Board (SSB). Topics discussed in the workshop included the search for extraterrestrial life in situ and in the laboratory, extant life and the signature of extinct life, and determination of the point of origin (terrestrial or not) of detected organisms. Table of Contents Front Matter Executive Summary 1 Detection of Life 2 Sample Return 3 Detecting Extant Life 4 Detecting Extinct Life 5 Conclusions and Recommendations Appendix A Glossary and Acronyms Appendix B Workshop Agenda Appendix C Workshop Papers Workshop Papers Session 1: Introduction to the Detection of Life Workshop Papers Session 2: Sample Return Workshop Papers Session 3: Detecting Extant Life Workshop Papers Session 4: Detecting Extinct Life