Biosignature

For other uses, see Biomarker (disambiguation).

A biosignature (sometimes called chemical fossil or molecular fossil) is any substance – such as an element, isotope, molecule, or phenomenon – that provides scientific evidence of past or present life on a planet.[1][2][3] Measurable attributes of life include its physical or chemical structures, its use of free energy, and the production of biomass and wastes.

The field of astrobiology uses biosignatures as evidence for the search for past or present extraterrestrial life.

  1. ^ Steele; Beaty; et al. (September 26, 2006). "Final report of the MEPAG Astrobiology Field Laboratory Science Steering Group (AFL-SSG)" (.doc). The Astrobiology Field Laboratory. U.S.: the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) - NASA. p. 72.
  2. ^ "Biosignature - definition". Science Dictionary. 2011. Archived from the original on 2010-03-16. Retrieved 2011-01-12.
  3. ^ Summons RE, Amend JP, Bish D, Buick R, Cody GD, Des Marais DJ, et al. (March 2011). "Preservation of martian organic and environmental records: final report of the Mars biosignature working group" (PDF). Astrobiology. 11 (2): 157–81. Bibcode:2011AsBio..11..157S. doi:10.1089/ast.2010.0506. hdl:1721.1/66519. PMID 21417945. S2CID 9963677. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-11-28. Retrieved 2013-06-22.