Gordon Research Conference - Isotopes in Biological & Chemical Sciences, to be held in Ventura, CA January 9-13, 2000

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9907192SchrammPartial support is provided for the Gordon Research Conference on Isotopesin Biological and Chemical Sciences held in Ventura, California,January 9-13, 2000. This longstanding conference has traditionally broughttogether researchers from physical, organic, and quantum chemistry,atmospheric and geosciences, and biological sciences. The conferees ofthis meeting consist of (1) scientists with theoretical and physicalinterests, (2) researchers interested in the atomic-level understanding ofchemical structure and reaction rate and, (3) experimentalists withbiochemical and biological interests and, (4) scientists who apply isotopicmethods to earth, atmosphere and archaeology problems. The uniting themeis the application of isotopic methods to solve important scientificproblems. As a result of its interdisciplinary nature, the Conference hasserved as a breeding ground for the generation of new concepts,methodologies and theories in these fields. Examples include theremarkable applications of isotopes to enzymatic reactions, including therole of nuclear tunneling in enzyme reactions; magnetic field effects inenzymatic reactions; and the recent successes in understanding enzymatictransition states. The discoveries of anomalies in the oxygen isotoperatios in the upper atmosphere have stimulated theoreticians to develop anew theory of chemical reactivity. Nuclear size and shape explain theanomalies in the isotope exchange equilibria involving heavy elements,unexplained for a half century. In recent years, the Conference hasdemonstrated its usefulness in bridging applications of isotopes betweenchemical and biological systems. This trend is reflected in the currentprogram, which includes new aspects of hydrogen transfer in catalysis, bothin chemical and in enzyme systems. This year's program also exploresrecently developed techniques for characterization and quantization of theisotopic phenomena. Four examples are ultra-sensitive carbon dating byaccelerator mass spectrometry, direct methods of measuring kinetic isotopeeffects, pressure-dependence of isotope effects to establish protontunneling and NMR methods to establish low-barrier hydrogen bonds. Theatmospheric geosciences address ozone layer chemistry by means of newisotopic data and mechanistic explanations. One particularly strongcomponent of this Conference is that it provides a continuing format forthe interaction of theoreticians with experimentalists.Nature has provided scientists with useful tools to investigate naturalprocesses in biological and chemical changes. Isotopes of normal atoms arecreated in stars, in space, at the boundaries of space and in researchlaboratories. They can be used to report on the age of fossils, the natureof ozone reactions in the stratosphere and the functions of molecules inliving cells. Every second year, scientists from diverse areas of researchgather to discuss advances in the use of isotopes to discover newknowledge. Advances in technology for the use of isotopes, and isotopicapplication to important problems in biology are shared with scientistsfrom around the globe. The Gordon Research Conference - "Isotopes inBiological and Chemical Sciences" provides a forum for information exchangebetween theoretical and experimental sciences, preparing both for newadvances at the frontiers of science.