Other courses
Other courses for degree students of the Faculty of Biosciences
Title: CHEM4801 Origins of Life
Abstract: Around four billion years ago, prebiotic chemistry established the molecular keystones of biology, paving the path to life. Chemical and geological processes on the ancient Earth caused increases in size and functionality of organic molecules, leading ultimately to RNA, DNA, protein, polysaccharides, membrane-forming amphipaths. The roots of biology present some of the most fascinating and difficult questions in the fields of chemical and biological sciences. In this course we will cover current scientific theories pertaining to the origin of life and early evolution. An intrinsically interdisciplinary topic, this class will include material as varied as the use of atmospheric physics to model the early Earth, to the use of genetics to map evolution and the tree of life. An emphasis will be placed on how our current knowledge of biology, chemistry and physics places limits on possible scenarios for the origin of life. Reading material will be provided from the scientific literature. The course will be informal, and students are expected to participate in each class discussions. Being prepared for class will include writing and handing in at least three discussion points and/or questions on each assigned reading.
Course Topics:
- Historical perspective of the search for the origin of life
- The molecules of contemporary life, and the clues they provide
- The nature of the early Earth
- The formation of the building blocks of life
- Prebiotic polymer formation
- The origin of biological information
- Compartmentalization, from membranes to the first cells
- Determining the age of life
- Energy as a constraint on life
- Evolution of the ribosome
- The origin of eukaryotes
- The search for the last common ancestor
- Other assorted topics regarding the origin of life
Bibliography:
1. Miller, S.L. (1953) A Production of Amino Acids under Possible Primitive Earth Conditions. Science, 117, 528-529.
2. Jacob, F. (1977) Evolution and Tinkering. Science, 196, 1161-1166.
3. Woese, C.R. and Fox, G.E. (1977) Phylogenetic Structure of the Prokaryotic Domain: The Primary Kingdoms. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 74, 5088-5090.
4. Gould, S.J. and Vrba, E.S. (1982) Exaptation—a Missing Term in the Science of Form. Paleobiology, 8, 4-15.
5. Hud, N.V., Cafferty, B.J., Krishnamurthy, R. and Williams, L.D. (2013) The Origin of RNA and “My Grandfather’s Axe”. Chem Biol, 20, 466-474.
6. Kovacs, N.A., Petrov, A.S., Lanier, K.A. and Williams, L.D. (2017) Frozen in Time: The History of Proteins. Mol Biol Evol, 34, 1252-1260.
7. Lanier, K.A., Petrov, A.S. and Williams, L.D. (2017) The Central Symbiosis of Molecular Biology: Molecules in Mutualism. J Mol Evol, 85, 8-13.
8. Lanier, K.A. and Williams, L.D. (2017) The Origin of Life: Models and Data. J Mol Evol, 84, 85-92.
9. Gould, S.J. and Lewontin, R.C. (2020) The Spandrels of San Marco and the Panglossian Paradigm: A Critique of the Adaptationist Programme. Routledge.
10. Frenkel-Pinter, M., Rajaei, V., Glass, J.B., Hud, N.V. and Williams, L.D. (2021) Water and Life: The Medium Is the Message. J Mol Evol, 1-10.
Classrooms, dates and schedules: Aula CB/004, 11 October – 20 November 12:30 – 13:30 h
|
Wednesday, October 11th
|
12:30-13:30
|
|
Friday, October 13th
|
12:30-13:30
|
|
Monday, October 16th
|
12:30-13:30
|
|
Wednesdat, October 18th
|
12:30-13:30
|
|
Monday, October 23rd
|
12:30-13:30
|
|
Wednesday, October 25th
|
12:30-13:30
|
|
Monday, October 30th
|
12:30-13:30
|
|
Wednesday, November 2nd
|
12:30-13:30
|
|
Monday, November 6th
|
12:30-13:30
|
|
Wednedsay, November 8th
|
12:30-13:30
|
|
Monday, November 13th
|
12:30-13:30
|
|
Wednesday, November 15th
|
12:30-13:30
|
|
Tueday, November 21st: final exam or project
|
15:00-18:00
|
Number of UAB students: 5-6
Who is the course for? The course is for students from 2nd to 4th of any Biosciences degree.
ATENTION! Command of English is required to sign up for the course. All the classes and avaluations will be done in English.
Inscriptions: If you want to sign up for this course, fill this form. The inscriptions will be open from September 19 to October 31, 2022. Si te quieres apuntar a este curso rellena el siguiente formulario. Las inscripciones estarán abiertas del 15 de septiembre al 9 de octubre de 2022. Selected students will receive an acceptation notification by e-mail.
UAB students who complete the course, will receive an achievement certificate.