Originally Posted by MaDeR

Probably not, because Phoenix is not designed to discover life. Only one chance (remote) is with Phoenix's microscopes.

And if is life on Mars, on this depth we would except anyway only biological byproducts, dead bacterial bodies and microfossils. And even these in very low (but maybe detectable through TEGA and MECA experiments) quanitites. And even if detected, we will not know for certain that these organics are really from bioleftovers.

So, don't get up so fast. It will be long story. It will be many missions until we will know for sure even in best case.