Exploring microbial interactions with rocks on the International Space Station - Charles Cockell, professor of Astrobiology, University of Edinburgh

Vibrational modes of water predict spectral niches for photosynthesis in lakes and oceans. Webinar by Jef Huisman, professor Aquatic Microbiology, University of Amsterdam (UvA)

Her research on prebiotic RNA replication provided an experimental scenario for the RNA world hypothesis of the origin of life. She has worked on constructing liposome bioreactor synthetic cells.

His main interest is theoretical evolutionary biology and focuses on the common principles of the major steps in evolution, such as the origin of life, the emergence of cells, and the origin of animal societies.

In this talk, Betül will survey her group’s efforts in towards establishing a molecular paleobiology approach. She will further discuss how exploring the early evolution of ancient biomolecules, protein-cofactor interaction interfaces and metallosystems contribute to our understanding of origins and first life on Earth.

How can we derive answers to the question of the origin of life? Instead of simply collecting facts, biological systems can now be directly tested by synthetically reconstructing them.

Our Solar System was born from a dark and cold cloud made out of molecular gas and small dust particles. Thanks to powerful telescopes, we can now study in detail these clouds, their chemical ingredients and their evolution.

The spindle, the self-organizing structure that segregates chromosomes during cell division, shows remarkable diversity between species. I will present work in which we aim to integrate mechanistic and evolutionary studies of spindles.

Prof. Deamer will describe how mixtures of certain organic compounds present on the early Earth can assemble into systems of encapsulated polymers referred to as protocells.

All the constituents for life’s emergence were there, at a submarine alkaline vent, about 4.4 billion years ago.