Beilstein Bozen Symposium - Chemistry, Life and Evolution

Beilstein-Institut, Prien (Chiemsee), Germany
30 May - 3 June, 2016

This symposium will address the chemical processes involved in the origin, evolution, and processes of life. This is an area of research where lines of thought in chemistry, physics, biology and informatics meet and interact. We will examine not only current theories for the origin of life –pathways from simple molecules to proteins and nucleotides - but will also cover directed evolution, organic and inorganic systems, autocatalytic systems, the influence of chirality, and transfer of information and related topics.

What is life without chemistry? Is evolution possible without life? These are the questions which are addressed by this symposium by topics such as:

• From abiological environments to synthetic life
• Minimal chemistry required for the emergence of life
• Embodied abiotic ‘robotic’ evolution of non-biological materials, systems, and function
• Mimicking biological functions and properties with using the chemist’s toolbox
• Evolution of diversity (chirality, promiscuity, autocatalysis, self-organization, regulation and control)
• The role of epigenetics in driving and regulating development

Steven Benner / The Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Alachua, USA

Donna Blackmond / The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, USA

Dieter Braun / Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Germany

Timothy Clark / Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany

Shelley Copley / University of Colorado, Boulder, USA

Lee Cronin / University of Glasgow, UK

Antoine Danchin / AMAbiotics International Ltd, Evry, France

David W. Deamer / University of California, Santa Cruz, USA

Donald Hilvert / ETH Zürich, Switzerland

Wilhlem T.S. Huck / Radboud University, Nijmwegen, The Netherlands