If they have protein in their samples and find amino acids of both chirality, then get exited. If they only find the chirality naturally occurring in earth based life: forgetaboutit
My bet is on the latter.
My bet is on the latter.
Bioinformatics might be able to bring further light into this problem. If they do find DNA/RNA then they can tell when terrestrial life and whatever this is parted ways. If this root can be pinpointed after known mutations from fossil records, then this must be terrestrial life.