Molecular Geobiology

This lecture will provide a comprehensive overview about molecular lines of inquiry in Geobiology and Paleoenvironmental Sciences. Students will learn how these techniques contribute to the exploration of the origins of life as well as the early life on Earth. Applications of molecular biomarkers will be exemplified with case studies from various eras in Earth history. Current research on the diversity of life, its functions in the environment and the limits of life in extreme environments will complement the contents focusing on past life. We will also introduce the concepts and current topics in Astrobiology. We will address fundamental questions such as:
What is life and how did it originate?
How did life function without oxygen and which traces did it leave in the geological record?
How can we recognize and quantify consequences of life such as primary production?
How can the appearance of certain life forms enable conclusions regarding past environmental conditions?
What are the limits of life on Earth and other planets?
What information regarding environmental conditions can we extract from molecules preserved in sediments and rocks?

Students of this course will obtain an overview about current techniques in organic geochemistry, geobiology and molecular biology as these relate to the development and evolution of life on Earth. Additionally, they will be familiar with molecular biomarkers as paleontological tools for studying environmental change. After completion of this lecture, students will be in a position to critically discuss the major geobiological hypotheses regarding geosphere-biosphere interactions through time.

Oral exam of about 30 min length with two of the particpating lecturers.

oral exam

Introduction to Geomicrobiology, Kurt Konhauser, Blackwell Publishing
Echoes of Life, Oxford University Press, 2009, selected chapters.

Examples of scientific papers:
Brocks, J. J. Logan, G. A. Buick, R. and Summons, R. E., 1999. Archean molecular fossils and the early rise of eukaryotes. Science 285, 1033-1036.
Eglinton, T. I. and Eglinton, G., 2008. Molecular proxies for paleoclimatology. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 275, 1-16.
Conte, M. H. Sicre, M. A. Rühlemann, C. Weber, J. C. Schulte, S. Schulz-Bull, D. and Blanz, T., 2006. Global temperature calibration of the alkenone unsaturation index (UK`37) in surface waters and comparison with surface sediments . Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 7, Q02005.
Rasmussen, B. Fletcher, I. R. Brocks, J. J. Kilburn, M. R. Rasmussen, B. Fletcher, I. R. Brocks, J. J. and Kilburn, M. R., 2008. Reassessing the first appearance of eukaryotes and cyanobacteria. Nature 455, 1101.