Molecular Paleo workshop

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First SEPM Congress in Sedimentary Geology
Aug. 13-16, 1995
TradeWinds Resort , St. Petersburg Beach Florida

Pre-Meeting Workshop August 13, 1995:
Molecular Paleontology: New techniques and applications

General Overview
Molecular Paleontology is a young, interdisciplinary field that offers new approaches for
interpreting the fossil record. Analysis of organic/inorganic constituents in geological materials
can potentially provide valuable information on taxonomy, paleoecology, as well as diagenesis of
the components over time. So many molecular techniques are being presently employed that it
can be a daunting prospect to "keep up" on the latest innovations, the potential of techniques and
their pitfalls. We have yet to take full advantage of the wealth of information that remains
confined within the organic component of fossils. Come expand your background and evaluate
the prospects of this information in your research area by hearing experts in the field discuss the
latest in research, applications, and future directions.

Goals
This workshop is designed to acquaint the participant in some of the fundamental principals and
techniques for the recovery and analysis of molecular data. Experts will discuss topics such as
using residual molecules of skeletal components for taxonomy and tracing decay pathways;
detection and recovery of ancient DNA and its application to taxonomic problems; the use of
antibodies for taxonomic studies; microstructural concerns (organic/inorganic interactions) and
their potential use; biomarkers and their application to fields of paleoecology and geology.

Structure
This workshop is divided into a morning and an afternoon session. The participants will become
familiarized with some of the major innovations in the field and their new applications in the
morning session. The afternoon session will include "hands on" demonstrations and poster
discussions.

Workshop Leaders and Participants:
Lisa L. Robbins (U. South FL) and Peggy Ostrom (Michigan State): Molecular analysis of
ancient proteins;

Participants:
Emily CoBabe (UMass): Use of bivalve shell lipids as paleoecological and paleo-
environmental indicators;
Matthew Collins (Univ. Newcastle England): Diagenetic pathways of fossil organic material;
Jean-Pierre Cuif and Yannicke Dauphin (Universite de Paris): Molecular preservation in ancient
sponges, corals and mollusks;
Stephen Macko (Univ. of Virginia): Authentication of amino acid indigeneity in ancient materials;
George Poinar, (UCal- Berkeley) and Hendrik Poinar (U. Munich) - Extraction and analysis of
ancient DNA ;

Registration: Professionals-$125.; Students-$50.
For more information, please contact Dr. Lisa Robbins, (813) 974-1597;
robbins@chuma.cas.usf.edu