Chemistry - Biochemistry 147                                            Instructor: K. Plaxco

Astrobiology and the origins of life                                   Office: 1103 Chemistry

            kwp@chem.ucsb.edu

Text:    Astrobiology: A Brief Introduction (2nd ed)

Supplementary Links: http://www.chem.ucsb.edu/~kwp/astrobio.html

 

Setting the stage                                                                                           

 

Week 1:           Definition of and potential requirements for life                                  Ch. 1

            Origins and evolution of life-supporting Universe                              Ch. 2

Nucleosynthesis                                                                                  Ch. 2, 3

 

Week 2:           Origins of Solar System                                                                      Ch. 3

            Origins and evolution of Earth                                                            Ch. 3

 

Origins of Life

 

Week 3:           Prebiotic chemistries                                                                           Ch. 4

           

Week 4, 5:       Theories of the origins of life                                                              Ch. 5

                                                           

 

Midterm         Friday, February 8

 

 

Evolution of life on Earth

 

Week 5:           Origins of genetic code                                                                       Ch. 6

 

Week 6:           Homologous origins of contemporary biochemistry                           Ch. 6

 

Weeks 7, 8:     The evolution of higher organisms                                                      Ch. 7

 

 

Life in the cosmos

 

Week 9:           Extremophiles; physical range of biosphere                                        Ch. 8

Metabolic diversity of biosphere

 

Week 10:         Life in the context of the Solar System/cosmos                                   Ch. 9

            Search for life in Solar System and beyond                                        Ch. 10

 

 

Final Exam                            Tuesday March 19, 12-3 PM