[aratauto]

It will be very exciting to learn how life on Mars is different or similar to life on Earth. It would teach us what are might be fundamental blocks of life, and what is optional or can be "implemented" differently. It might bring us closer to understand beginnings of life.

Even if we find that life on Mars has common roots with life on Earth, it will be gives us new perspective on early life forms plus we will learn that lifeforms could survive interplanetary trips without special protections.