The application of quantum-mechanical concepts to biological systems.

Alia Tadjer, Rossen L. Pavlov, J. Maruani +2 more

Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman, Jack A. Tuszyński

Fernando Parisio, D. Felinto, Matheus Cândia Araña +2 more

Quantum biology explores the possibility that fundamental quantum phenomena—such as coherence, tunneling, and entanglement—play functional roles in living systems. While biological environments are warm, wet, and noisy, making them seemingly inhospitable to quantum effects, a growing body of theoretical and experimental work suggests that quantum mechanics may influence processes at the molecular and cellular scale. In this review, we provide a concise introduction to the essential concepts of quantum mechanics most relevant to biology through an exploration of the radical pair mechanism, theorized to play a role in avian navigation during the migratory season. We examine the radical pair mechanism step-by-step from activation to recombination, introducing the concepts from quantum mechanics necessary to start to understand the full workings of the mechanism. By balancing pedagogical clarity with critical evaluation, this review aims to provide both newcomers and specialists with an accessible entry point into quantum biology and to point toward the interdisciplinary challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Badr AbdullGaffar

Quantum mechanics (QM) and surgical pathology might seem totally unrelated fields of science. Because QM or particle physics explains the very basic structure and function of nature, there are growing interconnections between the fundamentals and applications of QM and biologic sciences. QM is not only applied to the structure of atoms but also probes the structure of biologic molecules, explains their mutational changes and has provided an insight into the basic mechanisms of many different biologic systems. Many of the current applications in biologic sciences, medicine, and surgical pathology rely on the principles of QM. Because surgical pathology uses quantum phenomena such as light and studies disease's alterations that are ultimately governed by quantum changes at nanoscale levels, QM will have potential future implications for the progress of surgical pathology. These might include quantum-enhanced refinements in light, ancillary tools, and interpretation assistance computerized systems. The future of applying the concepts, discoveries, and tools of QM in surgical pathology might create something analogous to quantum biology; that is, quantum pathology or "QuPath."

Alexander W. Stern

Sadguru Prakash, Ashok Kumar

Quantum life science is a rapidly developing interdisciplinary domain that combines concepts from quantum physics with biological sciences to investigate the underlying mechanisms of living systems at the molecular and cellular levels. The principles of quantum mechanics, including quantum tunneling, superposition, and entanglement, are believed to contribute to various biological processes and may help explain phenomena that cannot be fully understood through classical biological models. Studying these quantum effects in living organisms remains difficult because biological environments are highly dynamic and are affected by factors such as decoherence and energy dissipation, which can mask quantum behavior. To overcome these limitations, researchers are employing sophisticated tools and methodologies such as biological nano-scale quantum sensors, quantum-enhanced hyperpolarized MRI and NMR techniques, ultrafast two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy, and advanced computational modeling. The integration of these technologies is accelerating progress in quantum biology and related disciplines. As the field continues to evolve, it offers promising opportunities for advancing knowledge in genetics, molecular biology, medicine, biotechnology, and bioengineering, potentially leading to innovative diagnostic and therapeutic applications.