Course: Abiotic Molecular Evolution and Biosignatures (2302-411)

Persons:

• Dr. Stefan Fox (verantwortlich)

Type of Course:

lecture

In-Class Hours Per Week:

1

Contents:

This lecture gives an overview about abiotic chemical reactions and chemical evolution in extreme environments such as the interstellar medium and planetary systems with their small celestial bodies (comets, asteroids, meteorites). Further the following topics are included: the early Earth, asteroid impacts, primordial volcanic islands, black smokers, past and present environmental conditions on Mars, the search for life on Mars (e. g. ExoMars mission), lithopanspermia, survival of microorganisms in space, homochirality, protometabolism, rocks and minerals, the origin of life, traces of life and biosignatures. The excursion leads to the Ries-Krater-Museum in Nördlingen.

Literature:

Plaxco, K. W., Gross, M.: Astrobiology - A Brief Introduction, 2nd edition, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2011.
Rothery, D. A., Gilmour, I., Sephton, M. A. (eds.): An Introduction to Astrobiology, revised edition, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2011.
Sullivan III, W. T., Baross, J. A. (eds.): Planets and Life - The Emerging Science of Astrobiology, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2007.
Pösges, G., Schieber, M.: Das Rieskrater-Museum Nördlingen, 3. Auflage, Pfeil, München, 2009; The Ries Crater Museum Nördlingen, Pfeil, München, 1997.

Location:

Hohenheim

Remarks:

The contents of the lecture are in part aligned to the contents of the modules "Practical Course Chemical Evolution" (1301-431) and "Astrobiology" (1301-400).

Module:

• 2302-410 Spring School "Extreme Environments" (compulsory)
• 1301-410 Spring School "Extreme Environments" (compulsory)

eLearning:

Course in ILIAS