From Fossils to Astrobiology

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxxvi

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2. Geology

   1. Fossils and Fossilization

      1. Nanosims Opens a New Window for Deciphering Organic Matter in Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial Samples

         • Dorothy Z. Oehler, François Robert, Smail Mostefaoui, Anders Meibom, Madeleine Selo, David S. Mckay et al.

         Pages 3-23

      2. Disentangling the Microbial Fossil Record in the Barberton Greenstone Belt: A Cautionary Tale

         • Maud M. Walsh, Frances Westall

         Pages 25-37

      3. Looking Through Windows onto the Earliest History of Life on Earth and Mars

         • David Wacey, Nicola Mcloughlin, Martin D. Brasier

         Pages 39-68

      4. Models for Silicate Fossils of Organic Materials in the Astrobiological Context

         • Vera M. Kolb, Patrick J. Liesch

         Pages 69-88

      5. Microfossil Phosphatization and Its Astrobiological Implications

         • Shuhai Xiao, James D. Schiffbauer

         Pages 89-117

      6. Proterozoic Unicellular and Multicellular Fossils from India and Their Implications

         • Vinod Chandra Tewari

         Pages 119-139

   2. Stromatolites, Microbial Mats, and Biofilms

      1. Microbial Communities of Stromatolites

         • Burns P. Brendan, Malcolm R. Walter, Brett A. Neilan

         Pages 143-158

      2. Biosedimentological Processes That Produce Hot Spring Sinter Biofabrics: Examples from the Uzon Caldera, Kamchatka Russia

         • Jessica C. Goin, Sherry L. Cady

         Pages 159-179

      3. Cyanobacterial Mat Features Preserved in the Siliciclastic Sedimentary Record

         • Hubertus Porada, Patrick G. Eriksson

         Pages 181-210

      4. Deciphering Fossil Evidence for the Origin of Life and the Origin of Animals

         • Jonathan Antcliffe, Nicola McLoughlin

         Pages 211-229

3. Biology

   1. Terrestrial Microbes as Analogs for Life Elsewhere in the Universe

      1. Microorganisms in the Ancient Terrestrial Subsurface – And in Outer Space?

         • Helga Stan-Lotter, Sergiu Fendrihan, Marion Dornmayr-Pfaffenhuemer, Friedrich Gerbl, Andrea Legat, Claudia Gruber et al.

         Pages 233-248

      2. Evidence of Ancient Microbial Life in an Impact Structure and Its Implications for Astrobiology

         • Tomas Hode, Sherry L. Cady, Ilka von Dalwigk, Per Kristiansson

         Pages 249-273

      3. Phylogenomic Dating and the Relative Ancestry of Prokaryotic Metabolisms

         • Carrine E. Blank

         Pages 275-295

      4. Fossil Microorganisms at Methane Seeps: An Astrobiological Perspective

         • Roberto Barbieri, Barbara Cavalazzi

         Pages 297-317

      5. Endoliths in Terrestrial Arid Environments: Implications for Astrobiology

         • Nunzia Stivaletta, Roberto Barbieri

         Pages 319-333

      6. Magnetotactic Bacteria and Their Potential for Terraformation

         • Ioan I. Ardelean, Cristina Moisescu, Dan Razvan Popoviciu

         Pages 335-350

   2. Evolution and Astrobiology

      1. Paleontological Tests: Human-Like Intelligence Is Not a Convergent Feature of Evolution

         • Charles H. Lineweaver

         Pages 353-368

      2. Cosmic Life Forms

         • Attila Grandpierre

         Pages 369-385

4. Space Sciences

   1. Astronomical and Cosmological Considerations in Astrobiology

      1. Astronomical and Astrobiological Imprints on the Fossil Records: A Review

         • Julian Chela-Flores, Giouanna Jerse, Mauro Messerotti, Claudio Tuniz

         Pages 389-408

From Fossils to Astrobiology reviews developments in paleontology and geobiology that relate to the rapidly-developing field of Astrobiology, the study of life in the Universe. Many traditional areas of scientific study, including astronomy, chemistry and planetary science, contribute to Astrobiology, but the study of the record of life on planet Earth is critical in guiding investigations in the rest of the cosmos.  In this varied book, expert scientists from 15 countries present peer-reviewed, stimulating reviews of paleontological and astrobiological studies.  The overviews of established and emerging techniques for studying modern and ancient microorganisms on Earth and beyond, will be valuable guides to evaluating biosignatures which could be found in the extraterrestrial surface or subsurface within the Solar System and beyond.  This volume also provides discussion on the controversial reports of "nanobacteria" in the Martian meteorite ALH84001.  It is a unique volume among Astrobiology monographs in focusing on fossil evidence from the geological record and will be valuable to students and researchers alike.

• AgroMicro
• Astrobiology
• Biofilm
• Evolution
• Extraterrestrial Life
• Fossil Record
• Life on Mars
• Paleontology
• history of life
• microbe
• microbes
• microorganism
• the origin

From the reviews:

"This book emphasizes the study of Precambrian paleontology and its implications for investigating extraterrestrial biosignatures. … Largely technical in nature, this fascinating volume … will be of great interest to astrobiologists, planetary astronomers, evolutionary biologists, and paleontologists. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional collections." (D. A. Brass, Choice, Vol. 46 (9), May, 2009)

"In this book, expert scientists from 15 countries present peer-reviewed, stimulating reviews of paleontological and astrobiological studies. The overviews of established and emerging techniques for studying modern and ancient microorganisms on Earth and beyond will be valuable guides to evaluating biosignatures that could be found in the extraterrestrial surface or subsurface within the solar system and beyond. … It is a unique volume among astrobiology monographs in focusing on fossil evidence from the geological record and will be valuable to students and researchers … ." (Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin, 2009)

• The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

  Joseph Seckbach

• School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA

  Maud Walsh

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