[AndrewC]

Their reasoning is that even if the type of life found is only microscopic in nature which existed many millions of years ago in the past, it would prove once and for all that life on our planet is not a one-off event requiring the services of a creator. In other words, discover life on Mars; prove evolution; disprove God.

Okay. So is abiogenesis a facet of evolution or not?

P.S. It is absolutely presumptuous to conclude life just because a lander arrived safely on Mars.

[Soliton]

Okay. So is abiogenesis a facet of evolution or not?

Apparently it is in India. I think though they are saying that Genesis would be in trouble. An obvious question that hasn't been asked is "What if they find a Martian Bible that describes God's creation on Mars?"

[js1138]

Okay. So is abiogenesis a facet of evolution or not?

One could ask the same question of genetics. When a science of genetics developed, it was incorporated into evolution. But that synthesis was 80 years after Darwin published "Origin."

When biogenesis has some good things to add to evolution, it will be incorporated into evolution. In the meantime, evolution is about change and the origin of diversity.