| LEC # | TOPICS | KEY DATES |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introductory Remarks; Course Structure and Content Seminar Consisting of Three Talks for the International Meeting on Organic Geochemistry (IMOG) | |
| 2 | Acetogenic Lipids and their Fossil Counterparts; Chain-length, Branching Systematics and Isotopic Compositions - Indicators of Biological Sources; Algeanans; Functional Roles; Branched Alkanes with Quaternary Carbon Centers (BAQCs); Geological Patterns of Occurrence | |
| 3 | Seminar on Biomarkers and Earth's Redox History | |
| 4 | Isoprenoid Lipids; Biosynthesis; Isomerism and other Structural Aspects; Archaeal and Non-archaeal Sources; Structure vs. Physiology; Bicyclic and Tricyclic Isoprenoids; other Cyclised Polyprenoids; Geological Record | First term paper issued |
| 5 | Seminar on Acyclic Isoprenoids | |
| 6 | Analytical Techniques for Biomarker Analysis | |
| 7 | Continued Lecture on Analytical Techniques | |
| 8 | Steroids; Biosynthetic Issues; Formation by Bacteria and Eukaryotes; Role of Oxygen Sterol to Sterane Diagenesis; Biomarkers for Source and Maturity in Fossil Organic Molecules (OM); Age-related Changes in Occurrence and Paleoenvironmental Indicators | |
| 9 | Seminar on Steroids | |
| 10 | Continuing Lecture on Steroids | |
| 11 | Seminar on Isotopic and Molecular Indicators for a Biogenic Origin of Organic Matter | Second term paper issued |
| 12 | Mono-, Sesqui-, di- and Triterpenoids 1; Biosynthetic Issues; Bacteria and Eukaryotes; Bacteriohopanepolyols (BHP); Analytical Issues; Phylogeny and Physiology vs. Structure; BHP to Hopane Diagenesis; Biomarkers for Source, Maturity of OM | |
| 13 | Seminar on Triterpenoids | |
| 14 | Diterpenoids and Triterpenoids 2; Plant-derived Terpenoids; Biomarkers for an Evolving Ocean Plankton Biomarkers Diagnostic of Geological Age | First term paper due |
| 15 | Pigment-derived Biomarkers; Porphyrins and Carotenoids | |
| 16 | Seminar on the Permian-Triassic Boundary Extinction | |
| 17 | Seminar on Pigment-derived Biomarkers | |
| 18 | Diagenesis and Catagenesis; OM Preservation; Kerogen Formation Role of Reduced Sulfur | |
| 19 | Petroleum Formation, Occurrence and Characterization | |
| 20 | Seminar on Neoproterozoic Glaciations | |
| 21 | Seminar on Atmospheric Oxygen Evolution, Paleo-ocean Chemistry, and Biomarkers | |
| 22 | Kerogen; Experimental Approaches to Classification and Structural Analysis; Rock Eval; Pyrolysis and Chemical Degradation | Second term paper due |