Adriana Marais, Betony Adams, Andrew K. Ringsmuth, Marco Ferretti, J. Michael Gruber, Ruud Hendrikx, Maria Schuld, Samuel L. Smith, Ilya Sinayskiy, Tjaart P. J. Krüger, Francesco Petruccione, Rienk van Grondelle
Biological systems are dynamical, constantly exchanging energy and matter with the environment in order to maintain the non-equilibrium state synonymous with living. Developments in observational techniques have allowed us to study biological dynamics on increasingly small scales. Such studies have revealed evidence of quantum mechanical effects, which cannot be accounted for by classical physics, in a range of biological processes. Quantum biology is the study of such processes, and here we provide an outline of the current state of the field, as well as insights into future directions.
Biological systems are dynamical, constantly exchanging energy and matter with the environment in order to maintain the non-equilibrium state synonymous with living. Developments in observational techniques have allowed us to study biological dynamics on increasingly small scales. Such studies have revealed evidence of quantum mechanical effects, which cannot be accounted for by classical physics, in a range of biological processes. Quantum biology is the study of such processes, and here we provide an outline of the current state of the field, as well as insights into future directions.
Quantum biology is the study of quantum effects on biochemical mechanisms and biological function. Quantum physics describes the behaviour of the nanoscale particles that make up all matter including living organisms, but it was generally believed that the ‘warm, wet and noisy environment’ in living organisms would result in decoherence making it impossible for meaningful quantum effects to occur. However, there is now a substantial body of work supporting that nature has actually adapted in such a way as to exploit quantum properties to enhance cellular functioning and is believed to have role in a diverse range of key processes in living organisms ranging from maintaining the stability of DNA to neuron function to conscious cognition; from light harvesting in photosynthesis to avian magnetic field based navigation. This review aims to summarize the various mechanisms and functions in living organisms believed to utilize quantum mechanics to purposefully and effectively enhance their performance, and to explore the potential this could hold in diagnosing and treating various medical conditions.
Introduction Key features of quantum mechanics are the uncertainty principle, wave–particle duality, quantization of energies and the modification of classical probability laws. Biology is concerned with how natural systems function – from understanding how genetically coded information is replicated, to attaining a mechanistic model for complex multistep reactions. Recently researchers have been asking whether quantum mechanics, normally the domain of physics, is also needed to understand some biological processes. This field includes fascinating developments in theory and experiment, as well as multidisciplinary discussion, and the state-of-the-art is documented in this book. Erwin Schrödinger, in his famous book What is Life ? (Schrödinger, 1944), noted that quantum mechanics accounts for the stability of living things and their cellular processes because of our understanding, via quantum mechanics, of the stability and structure of molecules. The fact that quantum effects create, sometimes large, energy gaps between different states of a chemical system is also important. Such energy gaps, between electronic energy levels, enable living organisms to capture and store the energy carried from the sun by photons, and to visualize the world around them via optically induced chemical reactions. Davydov's view in Biology and Quantum Mechanics (Davydov, 1982) was that quantum mechanics is most relevant for isolated systems in pure states and therefore is of little importance for biological systems that are in statistical states at thermal equilibrium.
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.
• A Perspective paper published in PNAS presents the scope and future research directions of quantum biology. • Focuses on quantum coherence and synchronization at macroscopic scales, rather than simply being a collection of unexplained phenomena. • Proposes three core open questions: the development of quantum probes, quantum-like classical systems, and the macroscopic amplification of microscopic quantum effects. [Quantum Biology Society] Generally, the "warm, wet, and noisy" environment that makes up living organisms is considered the most hostile condition for true quantum effects like entanglement or coherence to exist. However, elucidating how living organisms overcome these paradoxical limitations and utilize unique quantum wave-like properties for functional advantages is the very core of "quantum biology." Recently, a Perspective paper titled "What is quantum biology?" was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), drawing the attention of the academic community. A research team including Gregory D. Scholes and Graham R. Fleming clearly declared that quantum biology is not simply a "grab bag of biological phenomena that cannot be fully explained quantitatively by current science." ■ 'Coherence' and 'Synchronization' Governing Life Phenomena The paper reviews existing representative studies, such as exciton spreading in photosynthesis and avian navigation (magnetic field sensing), focusing on the "coherence" and "resonance" phenomena occurring in vivo. According to the researchers, the evolutionary process finely tuned the local protein environments of chromophores to closely match electronic and vibrational energy gaps. This optimization of frequency resonance is strong evidence that living organisms actively utilize quantum mechanical entanglement and wave properties to gain macroscopic physiological advantages. Furthermore, they explained that noise does not merely act as a destructive factor that collapses quantum states; rather, it can play a beneficial role in amplifying minute quantum signals and assisting transport through "stochastic resonance" or "quantum ratchet" mechanisms. ■ 3 Core Open Questions for the Future of Quantum Biology The researchers proposed three core open questions that must be resolved to firmly establish quantum biology as an independent discipline and focus future research agendas. 1. Development of quantum probes: Measurement technologies called "quantum probes" are needed to clearly and sharply reveal the quantum functions hidden within complex biological systems. 2. Identification of quantum-like systems: It must be determined whether classical biological machineries have the potential to exhibit useful properties as if possessing a "quantum advantage" simply by mimicking quantum systems. 3. Amplification to the macroscopic scale: We must understand the missing link of how microscopic-scale quantum mechanical mechanisms are amplified to the biological scale, providing the foundation for new macroscopic functions. This paper clearly redefined the scope of quantum biology into categories including: ▲ interactions with fields such as light, magnetic, and electric fields; ▲ various forms of coherence phenomena; ▲ microscopic quantum dynamical systems including spin and proton tunneling; and ▲ complex systems that mimic quantum phenomena through networks. Experts anticipate that this study will serve as an important compass for future quantum biology research, going beyond merely confirming the physical laws of the microscopic world to asking how living organisms control and optimize quantum phenomena in macroscopic environments.
Abstract The lines separating Biology and Physics have started to blur in recent decades, leading to the emergence of the interdisciplinary field known as quantum Biology. This field looks into the possibility that basic quantum mechanical phenomena such as coherence, entanglement, tunneling, and superposition play crucial roles in biological processes that are beyond the scope of classical Physics. Biology has traditionally worked within the parameters of classical mechanics, presuming that delicate quantum effects cannot endure in the warm, humid, and cacophonous environments of living systems. But new findings in fields like photosynthesis, olfaction, avian magnetoreception, and enzyme catalysis indicate otherwise, suggesting that living things intentionally and possibly advantageously use quantum principles. From the earliest speculative theories to the most recent experimental confirmations, this book chapter methodically examines the evolution of quantum Biology. We investigate how the exceptionally high energy transfer efficiency in photosynthetic complexes particularly in the light-harvesting proteins of green sulfur bacteria and plants is supported by quantum coherence. The remarkable speed of proton transfers and enzymatic reactions during DNA replication is also investigated in relation to quantum tunneling. The chapter explores magnetoreception in migratory birds and suggests models in which sensitivity to Earth's geomagnetic field is made possible by radical pair mechanisms influenced by quantum entanglement. We also discuss the intriguing but controversial idea that quantum vibrations improve the human olfactory system's capacity for discrimination. In addition to examining particular occurrences, this research challenges more general theoretical models that seek to balance quantum mechanics with the decoherence commonly observed in biological settings. Recent developments in quantum information theory, biomimetic quantum technologies, and ultrafast spectroscopy are highlighted as essential instruments advancing empirical research. We also critically evaluate the field's methodological difficulties, the skepticism of overly optimistic interpretations, and the significant philosophical ramifications of acknowledging life as a quantum phenomenon. In conclusion, quantum Biology suggests that quantum effects are not uncommon aberrations but rather are an essential part of life, offering not only a fresh perspective for reinterpreting well-known biological processes but also the potential for a fundamental paradigm shift. Quantum biology has the potential to completely transform biotechnology, medicine, and our comprehension of consciousness and the origin of life as experimental methods advance. This chapter highlights the significance of interdisciplinary cooperation in order to completely comprehend the latest discoveries and possible future paths of quantum Biology, highlighting its revolutionary influence on our comprehension of life at the most basic levels. Key words: Quantum Biology, tunneling, avian magnetoreception, enzyme catalysis
Quantum biology is the field at the intersection of quantum-related physics and the biology of living systems. The goal of the field is to determine if quantum phenomena underpin biological function at the macroscale. Such results, supported by compelling experimental evidence, will be important because they will show how quantum effects can have functional relevance, even in very complex and nominally classical systems. Here, we attempt to define the scope of quantum biology with a forward-facing view to help focus the research agenda. To that end, we propose open questions fundamental to consolidating the field of quantum biology. These open questions highlight the importance of developing suitable probes at the quantum scale, the possibility that classical biological machinery might simply mimic quantum systems, and of elucidating the ways quantum function can be amplified to the macroscale.