Woodward Fischer
Woodward Fischer
Student Invited Lecture
Wed, Oct. 17, 2018, 4:30pm
Edward C Taylor Auditorium, Frick B02
Host: G.S.O. and The Groves Lab
Wed, Oct. 17, 2018, 4:30pm
Edward C Taylor Auditorium, Frick B02
Host: G.S.O. and The Groves Lab
The role of manganese in the evolution of photosynthesis
Oxygenic photosynthesis is the most important bioenergetic innovation in Earth’s history. It dramatically increased global primary production and transformed Earth’s chemical cycles. At the same time, this new source of dioxygen brought about tremendous biological change, facilitating evolution of the richness we associate with modern biology. I will present observations from a range of perspectives including genomes, biochemistry, and the ancient rock record to illustrate what we can learn about how this process emerged two-and-a-half billion years ago—drawing specifically on the special role of manganese in this history.