Debates often focus on how much time and effort should be expended on investigating the possibility of any microscopic life on a planet before deciding whether to terraform, and what level of sophistication or chances for future development alien life would deserve varying levels of commitment to non-interference.
Debates frequently address how much time and effort should be spent on searching for any microscopic life on a planet before deciding whether to modify it, and what level of respect or future prospects alien life would deserve at different levels of non-interference.