EPSc 230 Introduction to Astrobiology
Spring 2004
EPSc 230 – Introduction to Astrobiology
Lecture: 361 McDonnell Hall, TTh 1:00-2:30
Discussion section A: 103 Wilson Hall,Th 2:30-3:30
Discussion section B: 103 Wilson Hall, F 11:00-12:00
Instructor
Dr. Carrine Blank
305 McDonnell Hall
blank@levee.wustl.edu
314-935-4456
office hours
Tuesdays 2:30-3:30 or by appointment.
teaching assistants
Justin Hall and Eugenia Legarda.
jthall@levee.wustl.edu (email for an appointment)
17 Wilson Hall
1
Spring 2004
prerequisites
None. It is generally recommended that students be sophomore in
standing, although freshman can enroll. This course is intended for both science and nonscience majors and fulfills distribution requirements in the cluster system:
distribution/clusters:
Cluster 1802, Evolution and the Planets
Cluster 1782, Impact of Life on the Earth
text
Life in the Universe, by Bennett, Shostak, and Jakosky
summary
Astrobiology is the study of life - its origin, distribution, impact on the
Earth, and the destiny of life elsewhere in the universe. Course includes the investigation of the
influence of pseudoscience and the media on public understanding of scientific issues, the origin
of the solar system and the Earth, origin of life, the early Earth environment, the evolutionary
history of life on Earth, life in extreme environments, and methods for detecting life on other
worlds such as Mars and Jupiter's satellite Europa. Discussion sections will cover philosophical
issues such as the nature of life and the significance of finding life elsewhere, and we will debate
such issues as whether we should have manned missions to the moon and Mars.
class structure
Each week, we will have two lectures (3 hours) plus one discussion
section (1 hour). In discussion sections, problem sets will be handed out that are intended to use
critical thinking skills; there will also be TA-led discussions and debates about topics relevant to
the lecture material. We will also have three midterm exams and a short comprehensive final
examination. Attendance will be taken in discussion sections.
class participation
Daily class participation will be 10% of the final grade.
Class
participation can range anywhere from submitting newspaper or magazine articles to the
professor or TAs related to the topic of astrobiology (2 points each), giving 3 minute in-class
update on current events that relate to the topic of Astrobiology (5 points), writing a short 2 page
essay on a current topic in Astrobiology (10 points), going to a local Astrobiology event (research
seminar, the planetarium, etc., 5 points), participating in a GeoClub activity (5 points), or hosting
an Opportunity landing party. You need to submit a 1 page summary of the event and include
documentation of your participation in the event (ticket stubs, a digital image of the event, etc.).
There is a maximum of 12 participation points per week! So, don’t plan on doing everything
during the last week of the semester!
EPSc 230 Introduction to Astrobiology
Spring 2004
2
Here is a breakdown of the due dates and points:
midterm #1
midterm #2
midterm #3
discussion section
class participation
comprehensive final
total:
Feb 19, 2004
Mar 30, 2004
May 6, 2004
May 6,2004
100 points
100 points
100 points
100 points
50 points (max)
50 points
500 points
Class schedule and Lecture topics:
date
day
wk
Jan 20
T
1
Jan 22
Th
DS
Jan 27
Jan 29
T
Th
2
Feb 3
Feb 5
DS
Feb 10
T
Th
3
T
4
Feb 12
DS
Feb 17
Feb 19
DS
Feb 24
Feb 26
Th
DS
T
Th
5
T
Th
6
T
Th
7
T
Th
8
T
Th
9
Mar 23
Mar 25
DS
Mar 30
Apr 1
DS
T
Th
10
T
Th
11
Apr 6
Apr 8
DS
T
Th
12
DS
Mar 2
Mar 4
DS
Mar 9
Mar 11
DS
Mar 16
Mar 18
DS
Lecture and Discussion Section Topics
What is Astrobiology? Outline of The Course. Fundamental
Characteristics of Life as We Know It.
Pseudoscience and Critical Thinking About Scientific Issues. Was the
Moon Landing a Hoax??
Alien Autopsy: Fact or Fiction. Is it great stuff or just plain hooey? What
are the chances that ET will have two arms & legs, 10 fingers & toes, 2
eyes, a nose, and a mouth??
What is Life? What are the Hallmarks of Life (As We Know It)?
Origin of the Solar System: Accretion, Age of the Solar System,
Radiometric Dating, and Relative Dating.
Thought exercise: how does your definition of life affect how you look for
life? Do we need a formal definition of life?
Origin of the Earth-Moon System: Age of the Earth, and Geologic Time.
The Early Earth Environment: Outgassing and Impacts.
Superposition Exercise to determine the age of a planetary surface.
Origin of Life: Possible Locations for the Origin, Prebiotic Chemistry, and
The Primordial Soup.
Microbes: Microbial Life, Metabolism, and Biogeochemical Cycles
Debate the current bill in the State Legislature: HB911
Extremophiles. How Microbes Have Changed the Chemistry of the Earth.
Midterm #1
Debate: should we have manned missions to the Moon and Mars?
Phylogenetic Trees and the Tree of Life
Eukaryote Evolution: Symbioses, Cambrian Explosion, and the
Colonization of Land
Tutorial: How to build a phylogenetic tree.
Mass Extinctions and Their Possible Causes. Guest Lecturer: Justin Hall.
SnowBall Earth and Ice Ages in Earth’s History
Debate the issue of global warming in light of the SnowBall Earth and Ice
Ages.
Spring Break!!
Panspermia – The Transfer of Life Between Worlds
The Politics of Astrobiology: Research Funding in the U.S., The Space
Race, and what the Public Likes/Wants
Create a public survey to see what the general public thinks about space
exploration and the possibility of finding life elsewhere. Give the survey
to all your friends and relatives.
A Biological Tour of the Solar System
Past/Present Exploration of the Solar System.
Discuss results of the public survey.
Midterm #2
Early and Modern Mars
If we find life elsewhere, what do you predict it will be like? Think about
what we have talked about the tree of life, extremophiles, and
Panspermia.
Looking for Life on Mars: Viking, Pathfinder, Spirit, and (?) Opportunity
Looking for Life on Europa and Other Icy Moons.
Each discussion section will come up with their own design for a mission
to another planet/moon to look for life. What will you look for? How will
you look for it? How much will it cost? How long will it take? Why do
Reading
Assignments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapters 3, 5
HB911
Chapters 3, 5
Chapters 3, 5
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Chapter 4
A Novel
A Mystery
A Biography
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
EPSc 230 Introduction to Astrobiology
Apr 13
T
Apr 15
Th
13
DS
Apr 20
Apr 22
T
Th
14
Apr 27
T
15
Apr 29
DS
Th
DS
Spring 2004
you chose your destination?
Life Detection Methods: Looking for Evidence of Past Life and Looking
for the Geological Context
Life Detection Methods: Looking for Evidence of Extant Life, in situ
Methods, and Sample Return.
Is Planetary Protection necessary? What are the risks and what are the
benefits?
Habitable Zones Galore.
Extrasolar Planets and the Search for Microbial Life Outside the Solar
System
Is our solar system typical? What is the role of Jupiter in the evolution of
life on Earth? How much was due to random chance events?
SETI (The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), The Drake Equation
and the Fermi Paradox
The Significance of Finding Life Elsewhere
What is intelligence? Do we have to define it to be able to look for it?
3
Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapters 11,
12, 13
Chapter 14