Handbook of Astrobiology / edited by Vera M. Kolb.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Part 1. Astrobiology: Definition, Scope, And Education -- Chapter 1.1 Astrobiology: Definition and ScopeVera M. Kolb -- Chapter 1.2 Astrobiology Goals: NASA Strategy and European RoadmapDavid Des Marais -- Chapter 1.3 Online, Classroom and Wilderness Teaching Environments: Reaching Astrobiology Learners of All Ages Around the WorldBruce W. Fouke -- Chapter 1.4 Astrobiology as A Medium for Science EducationSun Kwok -- Chapter 1.5 Astrobiology as Origins Story: Education and Inspiration Across CulturesDaniella Scalice -- Part 2. Definition and Nature of Life -- Chapter 2.1 Definition of Life: Multiple PerspectivesVera M. Kolb -- Chapter 2.2 A Generalized and Universalized Definition of Life Applicable to Extraterrestrial EnvironmentsBenton C. Clark -- Chapter 2.3 Synthetic Life and Minimal CellHamilton 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 DesignIris FryChapter 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 OparinStphane 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 PotentialStphane Tirard -- Chapter 4.2 Formation and Delivery of Complex Organic Molecules to The Solar System and Early EarthSun Kwok -- Chapter 4.3 Organic Molecules in Meteorites and Their Pathobiological SignificanceZita Martins -- Chapter 4.4 Ancient Life and Crust and Mantle EvolutionClark 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 LifeJuli Peret -- Chapter 5.2 Prebiotic Chemical Pathways to RNA And the Importance of Its CompartmentationPeter Strazewski -- Chapter 5.3 The Hydrothermal Impact Crater-Lakes: The Crucibles of Lifes OriginSankar Chatterjee -- Chapter 5.4 Prebiotic Chemistry in Hydrothermal Vent SystemsMara Coln-Garca -- Chapter 5.5 Prebiotic Reactions in Water, On Water, In Supercritical Water, Solvent less, And in The Solid StateVera M. Kolb -- Chapter 5.6 The Origin and Amplification of Chirality Leading to Biological HomochiralityKenso Soai, Tsuneomi Kawasaki and Arimasa Matsumoto -- Chapter 5.7 Phosphorus in Prebiotic Chemistry An Update and A Note on PlausibilityAlan W. Schwartz -- Chapter 5.8 Phosphorylation on The Early EarthMatthew Pasek, Carolyn Lang and Jennifer Lago -- Part 6. RNA And RNA World. Complexity of Lifes Origins. -- Chapter 6.1 Transitions: RNA And Ribozymes in The Development of LifeNiles Lehman, Peter Unrau and Eric Hayden -- Chapter 6.2 Three Ways to Make an RNA Sequence: Steps from Chemistry to The RNA WorldPaul G. Higgs -- Chapter 6.3 Coevolution of RNA And PeptidesPeter Strazewski -- Chapter 6.4 Role of Ions in RNA Folding and FunctionJessica Bowman, Anton S. Petrov, and Loren Dean Williams -- Chapter 6.5 The Origin of Life as An Evolutionary Process: Representative Case StudiesIris Fry -- Chapter 6.6 The Complexity of Lifes Origins: A Physicochemical View Jan Spitzer -- Part 7. Origin of Life: Early Compartmentalization. Coacervates And Protocells -- Chapter 7.1 Oparins CoacervatesVera 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 EvolutionJohann P. Gogarten and R. Thane Papke -- Chapter 8.3 Viruses in The Origin of Life and Its Subsequent DiversificationLuis P. Villarreal and Frank Ryan -- Chapter 8.4 Carl R. Woese And the Journey Toward A Universal Tree of LifeBruce W. Fouke -- Chapter 8.5 Fossils of Ancient MicroorganismsKenichito Sugitani -- Chapter 8.6 Biomarkers and Their Raman Spectral Signatures: An Analytical Challenge in AstrobiologyHowell 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 EarthAharon Oren -- Chapter 9.2 Microbes in SpaceKasthuri 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 PlanetsCharles H. Lineweaver, AdityaChopra, 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 Dunr -- Chapter 11.2 Where Are They? Implications of The Drake Equation and The Fermi ParadoxNikos Prantzos -- Chapter 11.3 SETI, Its Goals and AccomplishmentsEric 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 PotentialKen Rice -- Chapter 12.2 Solar System Exploration: Small Bodies and Their Chemical and Physical ConditionsHikaru Yabuta -- Chapter 12.3 Solar System Exploration: Icy Moons and Their HabitabilitySteven Vance -- Chapter 12.4 Searching for Extraterrestrial Life in Our Solar SystemBenton C. Clark -- Chapter 12.5 Planetary Protection Catharine Conley.

Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life on Earth. This exciting and significant field of research also investigates the potential existence and search for extra-terrestrial life in the Solar System and beyond. This is the first handbook in this burgeoning and interdisciplinary field. Edited by Vera Kolb, a highly respected astrobiologist, this comprehensive resource captures the history and current state of the field. Rich in information and easy to use, it assumes basic knowledge and provides answers to questions from practitioners and specialists in the field, as well as providing key references for further study. Features: Fills an important gap in the market, providinga comprehensive overview of the field Edited by an authority in the subject, with chapters written by experts in the many diverse areas that comprise astrobiology Contains in-depth and broad coverage of an exciting field that will only grow in importance in the decades ahead.

Also available in print format.