This session is designed to cover:

• Interactions between minerals and bio-organic molecules
• The role of minerals as catalysts in the formation of bio-organic molecules
• Minerals detected in other planets and their possible significance in processes leading to the origin of life
• Stardust: the analysis results on ancient materials from the edge of the solar system.

Symposium Organizer: Gözen Ertem, Space Science Division, NASA Ames Research Center, M/S 239-4, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000, Phone: 650-604-6165, gertem@arc.nasa.gov.