Life is very likely a natural (and inevitable!) outcome of geo-chemical processes.

I have opined that biology follows (as a natural consequence) from geology.

Here's some speculation that this is entirely so!

http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/feature/2009/3/the-origin-of-life/1

This is a bit "dense" but worthwhile.  Obviously scientific rigor must proceed, but it is fascinating regardless.
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Cheers,

Frish