Just for the record
Sagan was a pretty good biologist, or at the least he knew a lot more than most astronomers did due to his own efforts.
Some of those biologists are, in my view, decidely old school, and I
also question how much their religious upbringing may have colored
their thinking.
And yes, I played a biologist on TV so I am qualified to speak on
this matter.
I do agree that we should be focusing our efforts on looking for life
in the Sol system away from Mars. We may find fossils there, but as
for actual living creatures, I would be aiming at the outer planet moons.
Is it no longer fashionable to still wonder if their is life in Jupiter's huge
atmosphere? If not giant floating gas bags, how about microbes at
least, or aerial jellyfish?