NASA has awarded Georgia Tech $7.2 million to establish an Astrobiology Institute to study the early evolution of life on Earth. The School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the School of Biology will join together in a multidisciplinary approach to characterize the ribosomal machinery responsible for protein synthesis. The machinery of peptide synthesis will be studied to determine the chemistry of transition from the RNA world to the protein world. The Institute is headed by biochemist Loren Williams and includes as co-PIs biologists Steve Harvey, Roger Wartell, Eric Gaucher and Terry Snell. The Institute will attempt to rewind the tape-of-life to uncover the major biological transitions from the last common ancestor of life that lived nearly 3.5 billion years ago. The Institute also will recreate the key steps in life's transition from non-coded proteins to proteins synthesized from a genetic template. This research will enable the team to characterize some of the oldest traceable macromolecules of life, and the earliest discernable connection between early and modern forms of life.

Elizabeth Padilla, PhD student and NSF-Fellow, received the "Best Poster Award" at the 7th Annual International Symposium of Subsurface Microbiology. The poster was titled "Design and application of an oligonucleotide microarray for monitoring reductive dechlorination processes."

Elizabeth Padilla, PhD student and NSF-Fellow, received the "Best Poster Award" at the 7th Annual International Symposium of Subsurface Microbiology. The poster was titled "Design and application of an oligonucleotide microarray for monitoring reductive dechlorination processes."

Al Merril, professor in the School of Biology at Georgia Tech, shares in $38 million grant on LIPID MAPS. Dr. Merrill is part of "LIPID MAPS," a national association studying the structure and function of lipids. Lipid Metabolites And Pathways Strategy, or Lipid MAPS, is a national study led by the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. The national study includes 16 universities, medical research institutes, and companies across the United States.

For more information on LIPID MAPS visit their website: http://www.lipidmaps.org/.

Al Merril, professor in the School of Biology at Georgia Tech, shares in $38 million grant on LIPID MAPS. Dr. Merrill is part of "LIPID MAPS," a national association studying the structure and function of lipids. Lipid Metabolites And Pathways Strategy, or Lipid MAPS, is a national study led by the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. The national study includes 16 universities, medical research institutes, and companies across the United States.

For more information on LIPID MAPS visit their website: http://www.lipidmaps.org/.

Sarstedt, a manufacturer and supplier of laboratory equipment and consumables, has established an award that will be given to a Georgia Tech School of Biology graduate student who has made a significant contribution to the biological sciences through Ph.D. research. To be considered a nominating letter must be received from the student's faculty advisor that describes the research accomplished and its significance. Please, send your nominations to the Graduate Committee (c/o Roger Wartell (roger.wartell@biology.gatech.edu). The $250 award will be announced and presented at the SoB Holliday party. Special thanks to Sandra Battista, Sarstedt representative, who helped to establish this award.

Sarstedt, a manufacturer and supplier of laboratory equipment and consumables, has established an award that will be given to a Georgia Tech School of Biology graduate student who has made a significant contribution to the biological sciences through Ph.D. research. To be considered a nominating letter must be received from the student's faculty advisor that describes the research accomplished and its significance. Please, send your nominations to the Graduate Committee (c/o Roger Wartell (roger.wartell@biology.gatech.edu). The $250 award will be announced and presented at the SoB Holliday party. Special thanks to Sandra Battista, Sarstedt representative, who helped to establish this award.

Hispanic Business Inc. awards Georgia Institute of Technology biology graduate student Elizabeth Padilla with Hispanic Business 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Elizabeth was chosen out four thousand applicants. Elizabeth will be presented the award with three other recipients November 6, 2008 at the EOY (Entrepreneur of the Year) Awards Gala in Los Angeles, California.

Hispanic Business Inc. awards Georgia Institute of Technology biology graduate student Elizabeth Padilla with Hispanic Business 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Elizabeth was chosen out four thousand applicants. Elizabeth will be presented the award with three other recipients November 6, 2008 at the EOY (Entrepreneur of the Year) Awards Gala in Los Angeles, California.

Link to Nature's Research Highlight: Virology: collective calm

Link to Dr. Weitz's article: Collective decision making in bacterial viruses