[Coral-List] Biomineralization at Fall AGU

[Anne Cohen]

Dear Colleagues

We'd like to draw your attention to a special session on 
"Biomineralization" at the Fall AGU Meeting to be held in San Francisco 
December 13-17, 2004. The session description is as follows:

Biomineralization describes the variety of processes by which inorganic 
minerals are synthesized and organized into functional units within 
biological systems.  Embedded within these structures are compositional 
signals that reflect environmental conditions during growth, signals 
that we use to reconstruct paleoclimates.  In this session we explore 
the biological and physical processes by which organisms initiate and 
regulate skeletal growth and how these processes impact skeletal 
chemistry ("vital effects").  Contributions are invited that address all 
aspects of biomineralization, as well as the influences of environment 
versus physiology on mineral composition.
Potential topics include:  Calcification mechanisms and their influence 
on isotope and trace element geochemistry of aquatic skeletons; 
Mediation of crystal nucleation and growth by organic 
matrices/macromolecules; Role of amorphous precursors in skeletal 
construction; Kinetic disequilibria, surface enrichment and equilibrium 
controls on mineral composition and growth; Biomineralization and 
climate change

We encourage abstract submissions from researchers across a broad range 
of disciplines including paleobiology, geochemistry, paleoclimatology 
and materials science. Submissions from theorists, modelers and 
experimentalists are also encouraged. The abstract deadline is September 
1 for paper submissions and September 9 for electronic submissions.  
Instructions for submission are available at 
http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm04/.

Please contact either Laura or myself with any questions you may have 
regarding this session.

 Convenors:
Laura Wasylenki, Virginia Tech (lew at vt.edu)
Anne Cohen, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (acohen at whoi.edu)

************* WITH APOLOGIES FOR CROSS POSTINGS*********************



-- 
Dr Anne L. Cohen
Department of Geology and Geophysics
Mailstop 23
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole
MA 02543
USA

508 289 2958 (tel)
508 457 2175 (fax)
http://www.whoi.edu/science/GG/people/acohen/

-- 
Dr Anne L. Cohen
Department of Geology and Geophysics
Mailstop 23
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole
MA 02543
USA

508 289 2958 (tel)
508 457 2175 (fax)
http://www.whoi.edu/science/GG/people/acohen/