How Did Life Begin? MOM 2026 Tackled One of Science's Most Fundamental Questions
06/18/2026Our group took part in Molecular Origins of Life (MOM 2026), held at LMU's Great Aula in Munich from 11–12 June 2026. The conference brought together the latest research and fostered interdisciplinary collaboration toward understanding the molecular beginnings of life.
"Molecular Origins of Life" (MOM 2026) addressed a wide range of questions on the origin of life, from the formation of planets and early Earth environments to the chemical systems and genetic materials that may have preceded living systems, and how Darwinian evolution could emerge from non-living chemistry. Through talks by international researchers, panel discussions, and poster sessions, the conference connected scientists from astronomy, biochemistry, biophysics, geosciences, theoretical chemistry, and physics, who exchanged ideas and pushed the field forward.
Takumi presented a poster at the conference, discussing the properties of a newly identified alkyltransferase ribozyme with members of the origins-of-life community.
The Molecular Origins of Life Munich 2026 was organized by the DFG-funded Collaborative Research Center 392 Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments. Claudia, Principal Investigator within CRC 392, and Nikolas also took part as members of the Collaborative Research Center 392 "Molecular Evolution in Prebiotic Environments."
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