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 ContentsFront MatterExecutive Summary1 Detection of Life2 Sample Return3 Detecting Extant Life4 Detecting Extinct Life5 Conclusions and RecommendationsAppendix A Glossary and AcronymsAppendix B Workshop AgendaAppendix C Workshop PapersWorkshop Papers Session 1: Introduction to the Detection of LifeWorkshop Papers Session 2: Sample ReturnWorkshop Papers Session 3: Detecting Extant LifeWorkshop Papers Session 4: Detecting Extinct Life