You have to remember that to the best of our knowledge, the materials that made life possible here on Earth came from comets and such. Keeping this in mind means that it is very likely that life could also exist else where in the Universe. And more than likely would be eerily similar to life here, whether it's micro organisms or sentient life.

There are over 100 billion stars (suns) in our galaxy, and there is over 100 billion galaxies. The odds say life is out there, so why not Mars as well? I don't ask if, I ask when?

William H. Millard

I think there are far too many possibilities to make any definite conclusions. I completely understand your logic, but I'm going to keep an open mind on the situation.

Oh, and as another theory, who knows how the first clump of inanimate matter became animate and was life. The process could have happened recently on Mars, leaving no time for evolution.
And on that note, that question has always annoyed me. How does a bunch of junk just…become alive?! I'm not turning to religion for the answer, either. I think science will answer it…one day.

There's some research going on right now on Earth btw to try and find "alien" life forms that use different chemistries than our "normal" life. ~

Good because I have always thought that our searches for life were a close-minded search for carbon based life forms. I'm glad we're searching for possible life with different chemical make-ups.

As far as these people who are saying "Oh man, that mossy rock has no idea what we've got in store for it!" Chill, guys. I remember reading that Phoenix was isolated in its development and storage and should contain nothing biological on it. And sure, human contact with mars will contaminate the planet, but you guys are acting like you know the exact chain of events.
We might never inhabit the entire planet of mars. Current ideas involve taking up an area smaller than a car (aside from explorations). We might have a negative impact on life in the close vicinity, but for us to wipe out the entire planet's life? Not very likely? At least not in our early explorations (which will be the greater portion of the next hundred years or more). And, in worst case scenario, we would most definitely create a reservation or keep a living sample of any endangered life. While our species can be destructive in our curiosity, we've become concerned with not annihilating entire species.

Cheers.

Telephone 1-608-258-0840>

That the availability of the oxygen in the Martian Atmosphere is miniscule of it's amount, and continues to be escaping of it's amounts what would constrain of an impedation of life's process produced then not so plausibly existing on or in the Martian
Environment…and of these dynamiques than, what is more then likely true…one can consider at this point, of the investigation, and knowledge known: this is that circumstance what would prevent or preclude of the accoutrements of any American or of the Russian Astronauts having of an entrance entering into the Martian Environment
then prevented or precluded from contamingating the non-existent Martian Life's possibilities.

The Martian Environmment being contaminated by or of the accoutrements of the any one of the Americans or the Russians entering into the Martian Environment, this is a near non-possibility, and that the danger of the contamination of the Martian Environment of it's non-life is not so low from being contaminated by or of a foreign life form having entered into the Martian Planetary mix.

The Americans and or the Russians entering into the Martian World than are precluded from the commission of a crime, that one, of destroying the non-life on the Martian Planet when more then likely, environmentally, life on the Martian World can not, at all, survive on the Martian World because of the escaping atmospherique content…

That the life supporting oxygen of the Martian Planet, merely, floats away into space; the Americans and or the Russian Lives more then likely are going to have of a negative effect or life threatening effect on the non-life forms what do not exist on the Martian Planet, the latter being true when the Martian Environment accommodates of the escapement of it's atmospherique gases, merely, going away from the planet into space, the planet Mars, of it's related environment, does not support life what does not nor can not naturallly exist in or on the Martian World (sphere)?

American and Russian Astronauts; they, more then likely, are, both, exempt from criminal prosecution when, no-doubt, they have had of their not so negative effects produced upon of the Martian Non-life supporting circumstance what then would be non-menial when the atmosphere of the Martian World is of the Martian Content had of the Martian Environment what is at a life supporting minimal if not zero because the planetary mass volume had of the Martian World what is so small that the Martian Planet,
having of it's low mass; the mass volume had of the Martian World does not matter nor anti-matter accrete?

William H. Millard

Related effects as having to do with the intricacies of the working MECHANIQUES as would be had of the COSMOLOGICALLY related forms of the ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

Unfortunately for the mars purists, the survival of our species and creatures from this planet will eventually take priority over anything growing on mars.
The preservation of a mossy rock will be of little consolation if we lose the best chance at saving our own species.

Nexus, I believe the surface marking on Europa is caused by lichen. We will both be glued to our TV's when a mission arrives at that frozen surface.

Yeah, right. Let's nuke Mars, just in case…

Its the only way to be sure….

Right, so the entire argument is pointless. Our life won't overwhelm the native life because it's far better adapted to the Martian environment. Survival of the fittest. Would take millions of years before anything we bring would be well-suited to the environment (barring some generous genetic engineering anyway).

upps … I am already one step too far

There's some research going on right now on Earth btw to try and find "alien" life forms that use different chemistries than our "normal" life.