Handbook of Astrobiology

Abstract

Part 1. Astrobiology: Definition, Scope, And Education Chapter 1.1 Astrobiology: Definition and Scope Vera M. Kolb Chapter 1.2 Astrobiology Goals: NASA Strategy and European Roadmap David Des Marais Chapter 1.3 Online, Classroom and Wilderness Teaching Environments: Reaching Astrobiology Learners of All Ages Around the World Bruce W. Fouke Chapter 1.4 Astrobiology as A Medium for Science Education Sun Kwok Chapter 1.5 Astrobiology as Origins Story: Education and Inspiration Across Cultures Daniella Scalice Part 2. Definition and Nature of Life Chapter 2.1 Definition of Life: Multiple Perspectives Vera M. Kolb Chapter 2.2 A Generalized and Universalized Definition of Life Applicable to Extraterrestrial Environments Benton C. Clark Chapter 2.3 Synthetic Life and Minimal Cell Hamilton Smith, J. Craig Venter, and Clyde Hutchinson Chapter 2.4 Communication as The Main Characteristic of Life Guenther Witzany Part 3. Origin of Life: History, Philosophical Aspects, And Major Developments Chapter 3.1 Philosophical Aspects of The Origin-Of-Life Question: Neither by Chance nor By Design Iris Fry Chapter 3.2 Charles Darwin And the Plurality of Worlds: Are We Alone? Michael Ruse Chapter 3.3 Origins of Life: Early History, From Buffon To Oparin Stephane Tirard Part 4. Chemical Origins of Life: Chemicals in The Universe and Their Delivery on The Early Earth. Geology and Atmosphere on The Early Earth. Chapter 4.1 Interstellar Molecules and Their Prebiotic Potential Lucy Ziurys Chapter 4.2 Formation and Delivery of Complex Organic Molecules to The Solar System and Early Earth Sun Kwok Chapter 4.3 Organic Molecules in Meteorites and Their Astrobiological Significance Zita Martins Chapter 4.4 Ancient Life and Crust and Mantle Evolution Clark Johnson and Martin J. Van Kranendonk Chapter 4.5 Atmosphere on Early Earth and Its Evolution as It Impacted Life James Kasting Part 5. Chemical Origin of Life: Prebiotic Chemistry Chapter 5.1 Prebiotic Chemistry That Led to Life Juli Pereto Chapter 5.2 Prebiotic Chemical Pathways to RNA And the Importance of Its Compartmentation Peter Strazewski Chapter 5.3 The Hydrothermal Impact Crater-Lakes: The Crucibles of Life's Origin Sankar Chatterjee Chapter 5.4 Prebiotic Chemistry in Hydrothermal Vent Systems Maria Colin-Garcia Chapter 5.5 Prebiotic Reactions in Water, On Water, In Supercritical Water, Solvent less, And in The Solid State Vera M. Kolb Chapter 5.6 The Origin and Amplification of Chirality Leading to Biological Homochirality Kenso Soai, Tsuneomi Kawasaki and Arimasa Matsumoto Chapter 5.7 Phosphorus in Prebiotic Chemistry - An Update and A Note on Plausibility Alan W. Schwartz Chapter 5.8 Phosphorylation on The Early Earth Matthew Pasek, Carolyn Lang and Jennifer Lago Part 6. RNA And RNA World. Complexity of Life's Origins. Chapter 6.1 Transitions: RNA And Ribozymes in The Development of Life Niles Lehman, Peter Unrau and Eric Hayden Chapter 6.2 Three Ways to Make an RNA Sequence: Steps from Chemistry to The RNA World Paul G. Higgs Chapter 6.3 Coevolution of RNA And Peptides Peter Strazewski Chapter 6.4 Role of Ions in RNA Folding and Function Jessica Bowman, Anton S. Petrov, and Loren Dean Williams Chapter 6.5 The Origin of Life as An Evolutionary Process: Representative Case Studies Iris Fry Chapter 6.6 The Complexity of Life's Origins: A Physicochemical View Jan Spitzer Part 7. Origin of Life: Early Compartmentalization. Coacervates And Protocells Chapter 7.1 Oparin's Coacervates Vera M. Kolb Chapter 7.2 Protocell Evolution Nita Sahai and Punam Dalai Part 8. Origin of Life and Its Diversification. Universal Tree of Life. Early Primitive Life on Earth. Fossils of Ancient Microorganisms. Biomarkers and Detection of Life. Chapter 8.1 The Progenote, LUCA, And the Root of The Cellular Tree of Life Johann P. Gogarten Chapter 8.2 Horizontal Gene Transfer in Microbial Evolution Johann P. Gogarten and R. Thane Papke Chapter 8.3 Viruses in The Origin of Life and Its Subsequent Diversification Luis P. Villarreal and Frank Ryan Chapter 8.4 Carl R. Woese And the Journey Toward A Universal Tree of Life Bruce W. Fouke Chapter 8.5 Fossils of Ancient Microorganisms Kenichito Sugitani Chapter 8.6 Biomarkers and Their Raman Spectral Signatures: An Analytical Challenge in Astrobiology Howell G. M. Edwards Chapter 8.7 Fossilization of Bacteria and The Implications for The Search for Early Life Forms. Biosignatures In Astrobiology Missions to Mars Frances Westall and Keyron Hickman-Lewis Part 9. Life Under Extreme Conditions. Microbes in Space. Chapter 9.1 Extremophiles and Their Natural Niches on Earth Aharon Oren Chapter 9.2 Microbes in Space Kasthuri Venkateswaran Chapter 9.3 Virus Evolution and Ecology. Role of Viruses in Adaptation of Life to Extreme Environments Marilyn Roossinck Part 10. Habitability: Characteristics of Habitable Planets. Chapter 10.1 The Evolution of Habitability: Characteristics of Habitable Planets Charles H. Lineweaver, Aditya Chopra, and Sarah R. N. McIntyre Part 11. Intelligent Life in Space: History, Philosophy, And SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence). Chapter 11.1 Mind in Universe: On the Origin, Evolution, And Distribution of Intelligent Life in Space David Duner Chapter 11.2 Where Are They? Implications of The Drake Equation and The Fermi Paradox Nikos Prantzos Chapter 11.3 SETI, Its Goals and Accomplishments Eric J. Korpela Chapter 11.4 Humanistic Implications of Discovering Life Beyond Earth Steven J. Dick Part 12. Exoplanets. Exploration of Solar System. Search for Extraterrestrial Life in Our Solar System. Planetary Protection. Chapter 12.1 Exoplanets: Methods for Their Detection and Their Habitability Potential Ken Rice Chapter 12.2 Solar System Exploration: Small Bodies and Their Chemical and Physical Conditions Hikaru Yabuta Chapter 12.3 Solar System Exploration: Icy Moons and Their Habitability Steven Vance Chapter 12.4 Searching for Extraterrestrial Life in Our Solar System Benton C. Clark Chapter 12.5 Planetary Protection Catharine Conley