• The subsurface as an abode and potential cradle for life's origin on Earth and other bodies in our solar system

(M. Meyer / D.R. Lovely / J.D. Farmer )

• How late/early could the most recent common ancestor have lived? Fossil, molecular and geological evidence

(S.J. Mojzsis / C.H. House/ R.E. Summons/ M.A. van Zuilen)

• Weird Life - possible alternative chemistries for extraterrestrial life

(J.P. Ferris / S.A. Benner / A. Weber)

• The early atmosphere and early archean environments on Earth

(B. Runnegar / J. Farquhar / A. Pavlov / G. Byerly )

• Solar and extrasolar planets

(B.M. Jakosky / P. Butler / J.L. Beauchamp)

• Extent of lateral gene transfer in early evolution

(J.L. Siefert / W.F. Doolittle / G. Olsen / A. Lazcano)

• Origin and amplification of biomolecular chirality

(S. Pizzarello / K. Soai/ D.K. Kondepudi)

• Sequence evolution in the RNA world and beyond

(D.H. Burke / J.W. Szostak / P. Schuster / E. Koonin)

• Evening lecture on "The Primordial Bubble: Symmetry Breaking and the Origin of Structure."

  (L. Lerman)