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.
With thanks for the generous contributions provided by:
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
NASA Astrobiology Institute
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| SATURDAY |
| 2:00 pm - 9:00 pm | Arrival and Check-in |
| 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm | Poster Session |
| 6:00 pm | Dinner |
| 7:30 pm - 7:40 pm | Welcome / 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 pm | Heather 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 pm | Steve 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 pm | Trishool 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 pm | Katherine 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 am | Breakfast |
| 8:30 am | Group 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 am | Jelte 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 am | Felix Olasagasti (UC Santa Cruz)
"Nonenzymatic replication of a nucleic acid" |
| 9:50 am - 10:00 am | Discussion |
| 10:00 am - 10:20 am | Madhan 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 am | William 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 am | Luis 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 am | Marina 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 pm | Business 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 pm | Lunch |
| 1:30 pm | Gordon 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. |