Signs of Life A Report Based on the April 2000 Workshop on Life Detection Techniques (2002) / Chapter Skim
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1 Detection of Life
1 Detection of Life
Pages 5-7
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From page 5... ...
This complexity consists of thousands of catalytic and structural proteins and nucleic acids, the informational macromolecules involved in protein synthesis. All life on Earth evolved from a single type of cell, referred to as the last common ancestor, and thus shares the same genetic code and central biochemistry.
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From page 6... ...
Highly sensitive methods for the detection of simple biochemical compounds produced by metabolic processes are nonspecific and hence require few assumptions about the nature of the fundamental biopolymers of life. However, as Pace notes, the interpretation of the detection of simple organic compounds is ambiguous, since carbonaceous meteorites contain amino acids and other compounds that might mistakenly be considered indicative of life.
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From page 7... ...
With the continuing improvement in detector sensitivity, more complicated species, including isotopic and isomeric variances, may be detected in the interstellar medium that could be bioindicators. Deeper understanding of the evolution of the planets in our own solar system, particularly Mars and Venus, will provide some ground truth on the possible evolutionary paths that planets may take away from habitability, and the consequent spectroscopic signatures.
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