Astrobiology : an evolutionary approach Astrobiology: an overview Aaron David Goldman Origin of elements and formation of solar system planets and exoplanets Ken Rice Astrobiology education and public outreach Timothy F. Slater Analysis of extraterrestrial organic matter in Murchison meteorite: a progress report Philippe Schmitt Kopplin Mourad Harir Basem Kanawati Régis Gougeon Franco Moritz Norbert Hertkorn R. Sonny Clary Istvan Gebefügi and Zelimir Gabelica Prebiotic syntheses of biochemical compounds: an overview Henderson James (Jim) Cleaves Biochemical pathways as evidence for prebiotic syntheses Gene D. McDonald Roles of silicon in life on earth and elsewhere Joseph B. Lambert and Senthil Andavan Gurusamy Thangavelu Fossil records for early life on earth David Wacey Prebiotic chemistry: in water and in the solid state Vera M. Kolb Encapsulation of organic materials in protocells Erica A. Frankel Daniel C. Dewey and Christine D. Keating Role of phosphorus in prebiotic chemistry Matthew Pasek Cold and dry limits of life Christopher P. McKay Alfonso F. Davila and Henry J. Sun Microorganisms in space Gerda Horneck and Ralf Moeller Search for life on Mars: an astrogeological approach Jesús Martínez Frías Elusive definition of life: a survey of main ideas Radu Popa Language and communication as universal requirements for life Guenther Witzany Transition from abiotic to biotic: is there an algorithm for it Sara Imari Walker Extraterrestrial life: what are we looking for Dirk Schulze Makuch Louis N. Irwin and Alberto G. Fairén Evolutionary approach to viruses in astrobiology Matti Jalasvuori and Jaana K.H. Bamford Virolution can help us understand the origin of life Luis P. Villarreal Can virolution help us understand recent human evolution Luis P. Villarreal