Handbook of astrobiology

Cover......Page 1
Half Title......Page 2
Title Page......Page 4
Copyright Page......Page 5
Table of Contents......Page 6
Preface......Page 12
Editor......Page 14
Contributors......Page 16
SECTION I: Astrobiology: Definition, Scope, and Education......Page 22
Chapter 1.1 Astrobiology: Definition, Scope, and a Brief Overview......Page 24
Chapter 1.2 Astrobiology Goals: NASA Strategy and European Roadmap......Page 36
Chapter 1.3 Online, Classroom and Wilderness Teaching Environments: Reaching Astrobiology Learners of All Ages Around the World......Page 48
Chapter 1.4 Astrobiology as a Medium of Science Education......Page 66
Chapter 1.5 Astrobiology-as-Origins-Story: Education and Inspiration across Cultures......Page 70
SECTION II: Definition and Nature Of Life......Page 76
Chapter 2.1 Defining Life: Multiple Perspectives......Page 78
Chapter 2.2 A Generalized and Universalized Definition of Life Applicable to Extraterrestrial Environments......Page 86
Chapter 2.3 Synthetic Cells and Minimal Life......Page 96
Chapter 2.4 Communication as the Main Characteristic of Life......Page 112
SECTION III: Origin of Life: History, Philosophical Aspects, and Major Developments......Page 128
Chapter 3.1 Philosophical Aspects of the Origin-of-Life Problem: Neither by Chance Nor by Design......Page 130
Chapter 3.2 Charles Darwin and the Plurality of Worlds: Are We Alone?......Page 146
Chapter 3.3 An Early History from Buffon to Oparin......Page 158
SECTION IV: Chemical Origins of Life: Chemicals in the Universe and Their Delivery on the Early Earth; Geology and Atmosphere on the Early Earth......Page 166
Chapter 4.1 Interstellar Molecules and Their Prebiotic Potential......Page 168
Chapter 4.2 Formation and Delivery of Complex Organic Molecules to the Solar System and Early Earth......Page 186
Chapter 4.3 Organic Molecules in Meteorites and Their Astrobiological Significance......Page 198
Chapter 4.4 Ancient Life and Plate Tectonics......Page 216
Chapter 4.5 Atmosphere on Early Earth and Its Evolution as It Impacted Life......Page 228
SECTION V: Chemical Origin of Life: Prebiotic Chemistry......Page 238
Chapter 5.1 Prebiotic Chemistry That Led to Life......Page 240
Chapter 5.2 Prebiotic Chemical Pathways to RNA and the Importance of Its Compartmentation......Page 256
Chapter 5.3 The Hydrothermal Impact Crater Lakes: The Crucibles of Life’s Origin......Page 286
Chapter 5.4 Prebiotic Chemistry in Hydrothermal Vent Systems......Page 318
Chapter 5.5 Prebiotic Reactions in Water, “On Water,” in Superheated Water, Solventless, and in the Solid State......Page 352
Chapter 5.6 The Origin and Amplification of Chirality Leading to Biological Homochirality......Page 362
Chapter 5.7 Phosphorus in Prebiotic Chemistry—An Update and a Note on Plausibility......Page 376
Chapter 5.8 Phosphorylation on the Early Earth: The Role of Phosphorus in Biochemistry and Its Bioavailability......Page 382
Chapter 5.9 Silicon and Life......Page 392
SECTION VI: RNA and RNA World: Complexity of Life’s Origins......Page 398
Chapter 6.1 Transitions: RNA and Ribozymes in the Development of Life......Page 400
Chapter 6.2 Three Ways to Make an RNA Sequence: Steps from Chemistry to the RNA World......Page 416
Chapter 6.3 Coevolution of RNA and Peptides......Page 430
Chapter 6.4 Role of Cations in RNA Folding and Function......Page 442
Chapter 6.5 The Origin of Life as an Evolutionary Process: Representative Case Studies......Page 458
Chapter 6.6 The Complexity of Life’s Origins: A Physicochemical View......Page 484
SECTION VII: Origin of Life: Early Compartmentalization—Coacervates and Protocells......Page 502
Chapter 7.1 Oparin’s Coacervates......Page 504
Chapter 7.2 Protocell Emergence and Evolution......Page 512
SECTION VIII: Origin of Life and Its Diversification. Universal Tree of Life. Early Primitive Life on Earth. Fossils of Ancient Microorganisms. Biomarkers and Detection of Life......Page 540
Chapter 8.1 The Progenote, Last Universal Common Ancestor, and the Root of the Cellular Tree of Life......Page 542
Chapter 8.2 Horizontal Gene Transfer in Microbial Evolution......Page 548
Chapter 8.3 Viruses in the Origin of Life and Its Subsequent Diversification......Page 556
Chapter 8.4 Carl R. Woese and the Journey toward a Universal Tree of Life......Page 576
Chapter 8.5 Fossils of Ancient Microorganisms......Page 588
Chapter 8.6 Biomarkers and Their Raman Spectral Signatures: An Analytical Challenge in Astrobiology......Page 618
Chapter 8.7 Fossilization of Bacteria and Implications for the Search for Early Life on Earth and Astrobiology Missions to Mars......Page 630
SECTION IX: Life under Extreme Conditions—Microbes in Space......Page 654
Chapter 9.1 Extremophiles and Their Natural Niches on Earth......Page 656
Chapter 9.2 Microbes in Space......Page 682
Chapter 9.3 Virus Evolution and Ecology: Role of Viruses in Adaptation of Life to Extreme Environments......Page 698
SECTION X: Habitability: Characteristics of Habitable Planets......Page 704
Chapter 10.1 The Evolution of Habitability: Characteristics of Habitable Planets......Page 706
SECTION XI: Intelligent Life in Space: History, Philosophy, and SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence)......Page 720
Chapter 11.1 Mind in Universe: On the Origin, Evolution, and Distribution of Intelligent Life in Space......Page 722
Chapter 11.2 Where Are They? Implications of the Drake Equation and the Fermi Paradox......Page 738
Chapter 11.3 SETI: Its Goals and Accomplishments......Page 748
Chapter 11.4 Humanistic Implications of Discovering Life Beyond Earth......Page 762
SECTION XII: Exoplanets, Exploration of Solar System, the Search for Extraterrestrial Life in Our Solar System, and Planetary Protection......Page 778
Chapter 12.1 Exoplanets: Methods for Their Detection and Their Habitability Potential......Page 780
Chapter 12.2 Solar System Exploration: Small Bodies and Their Chemical and Physical Conditions......Page 796
Chapter 12.3 Solar System Exploration: Icy Moons and Their Habitability......Page 808
Chapter 12.4 Searching for Extraterrestrial Life in Our Solar System......Page 822
Chapter 12.5 Planetary Protection......Page 840
Index......Page 856