NASA has published a list of criteria for identifying fossil bacteria in samples from Mars, as part of a search for evidence of life. Which of the following is good evidence for the presence of bacterial cells?
a. The cell size of 0.5 to 2 microns
b. Three-dimensional organization of cells in a starburst pattern
c. Absence of carbon in the material
d. No evidence of water in the surrounding mineral

The correct answer is - option A.

Explanation:

Among all of the given options the best character of the bacterial cell is the size of the cell which ranges in between 0.5 to 2 microns. The best evidence for the presence of bacterial cell is the smaller size of the cells.

Rest of the characters provided in the options does not matches with the characteristics of bacterial cells and not related to the bacteria.

Thus, the correct answer is option A.

more words for this could be abiotic and biotic

abiotic: living organisms within an ecosystem

biotic: non-living organisms within an ecosystem