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Origin of Life (GRS)

Gordon Research Seminar

January 19 - 20, 2008
Chairs and

Conference Description

In conjunction with the 2008 GRC Origin of Life conference, we are offering the second Origin of Life Gordon Research Seminar. The GRS is designed to identify top young talent in diverse fields and encourage them to present cutting edge research This is vital for the community as some of the most clever insights and inspiration are a result of junior researchers interacting among themselves, broadening their knowledge base, and communicating with leaders of the field.

The origin of life community encompasses disciplines as far ranging as cosmology to molecular biology. With such a diverse expertise and such a large field to search, students and young researchers are vital to our success.

The GRS will be held prior to the regular conference and is being co-chaired by PhD. Luis Delaye, UNAM Mexico and PhD. candidate Nicole R. Posth, U. of Tuebingen, Germany. Robert M. Hazen, Carnegie Institution of Washington and George E. Fox, University of Houston.

Related Meeting

This GRS will be held in conjunction with the "Origin of Life" Gordon Research Conference (GRC). Those interested in attending both meetings must submit an application for the GRC in addition to an application for the GRS. Refer to the associated GRC program page for more information.

Conference Program

SATURDAY
2:00 pm - 9:00 pmArrival and Check-in
4:00 pm - 6:00 pmPoster Session
6:00 pmDinner
7:30 pm - 7:40 pmWelcome / Introductory Comments by GRC Site Staff
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm ASTROCHEMISTRY AND THE ORIGIN OF LIFE
Discussion Leader: Michael Callahan (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of California)
7:30 pm - 7:50 pmHeather D. Bean (School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology)
"Formation of a beta-Pyrimidine Nucleoside by a Free Pyrimidine Base and Ribose in a Plausible Prebiotic Reaction"
7:50 pm - 8:00 pm Discussion
8:00 pm - 8:20 pmSteve Vance (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena)
"Tidal Evolution and Hydrothermal Activity in Habitable Icy Worlds"
8:20 pm - 8:30 pm Discussion
8:30 pm - 8:50 pmTrishool Namani (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Cruz)
"Plausible membranes for primitive cellular life under extreme prebiotic conditions"
8:50 pm - 9:00 pm Discussion
9:00 pm - 9:20 pmKatherine Petrie (The Scripps Research Institute)
"In Vitro Evolution with Tunable Mutagenesis"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm Discussion
9:45 pm Poster Session
SUNDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
8:30 amGroup Photo
9:00 am - 12:30 pm GEOBIOLOGY, GENOMICS AND EARLY LIFE
Discussion Leader: Matthew W.L. Lau (Simon Fraser University)
9:00 am - 9:20 amJelte Harnmeijer (Center for Astrobiology & Early Earth Evolution University of Washington)
"Earth’s Oldest Kerogenous Sedimentary Succession"
9:20 am - 9:30 am Discussion
9:30 am - 9:50 amFelix Olasagasti (UC Santa Cruz)
"Nonenzymatic replication of a nucleic acid"
9:50 am - 10:00 am Discussion
10:00 am - 10:20 amMadhan Tirumalai (Dept. Biology and Biochemistry University of Houston)
"Early Evolution of the Ribosome - Which Proteins Came First?"
10:20 am - 10:30 am Discussion
10:30 am Coffee Break
11:00 am - 11:15 amWilliam J. Brazelton (University of Washington)
"Methane cycling at 80°C and pH 10 by archaeal biofilms of the Lost City Hydrothermal Field"
11:15 am - 11:20 am Discussion
11:20 am - 11:35 amLuis D. Alcaraz Peraza (Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional)
"Bacillus coahuilensis: adaptations to a relic marine environment"
11:35 am - 11:40 am Discussion
11:40 am - 11:55 amMarina Resendes de Sousa António (Department of Biology, Indiana University)
"Warner Valley: Microbial ‘Pre-Cambrian explosion’?"
11:55 am - 12:00 pm Discussion
12:00 pm - 12:30 pmBusiness Meeting
(Discuss request for a subsequent GRS; Nominations for the next Student/Post-doc Vice Chair(s) to work with GRC Chair (serving as mentor); Fill out Evaluation Forms)
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pmGordon Research Seminar ends. For those attending the associated Gordon Research Conference, please be sure to check in at the GRC Office beginning at 4:00 pm.

Contributors

With thanks for the generous contributions provided by:

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
NASA Astrobiology Institute

Conference Links

Conference History Origin of Life
Additional Fee Info



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