Quantum biology
Quantum biology is the study of quantum mechanics, theoretical chemistry, and biology. This study cannot be explained by classical physics. This is why quantum mechanics must be used.[1]
In biology, there are many processes that involve quantum mechanics. For example, converting (or changing) energy into different forms uses quantum mechanics. Chemical reactions, light absorption, forming excited electronic states and transfer of excitation energy all involve quantum mechanics and biology. Also, electrons and protons (hydrogen ions) move in chemical reactions. These processes make photosynthesis, olfaction and cellular respiration happen.[2]
Quantum biology can use math computations (or calculations) that explain the effects of light in biology.[3]
Quantum biology studies important and unexpected things that happen while studying quantum biology. These important and unexpected things are called "non-trivial quantum phenomena".[4] These phenomena use physics to explain complicated biology processes. However, the physics in quantum biology is very hard to study.[5]
There are 4 common biology processes that are affected by quantum mechanics. These are enzyme catalysis, sensory processing, energy transfers, and information encoding.[6]
Enzyme catalysis
Enzymes are biological catalysts. This means they are living molecules (usually a protein) that makes the reaction rate (or speed) of a chemical reaction go faster. Scientists have learned that enzymes might use quantum tunneling in electron transport chains. Electron transport chains move an electron from one place to another. Enzymes could possibly use quantum tunneling to move electrons along the transport chain.[7][8][9] Quantum tunneling lets more energy to move moved through the electron transport chain.
Proteins have four structures. These structures organize how the protein is formed. The fourth structure is called the protein quaternary structure. Scientists think that the quaternary structures in enzymes have adapted to let quantum entanglement and coherence happen in themselves. Quantum entanglement and coherence are needed for quantum tunneling to happen.[10]
In quantum tunneling, electrons and protons are transferred, or moved. The protons are in the form of an hydrogen ion, or H+.[11][12] Quantum tunneling is when a subatomic particle moves through a "potential energy barrier". In classical physics, the particle would be reflected off this barrier because it does not have enough energy. In quantum tunneling, the particle moves past this barrier.[13] Particles are able to do this because of complementarity. Complementarity is when measuring something changes the thing. Since electrons and protons are both waves and particles, they can move through potential energy barriers.[14][15]
In physics, a semiclassical (SC) physics is useful in explaining this process. This is because it involves both quantum objects (e.g. particles) and larger objects (e.g. biochemicals).[9][16]
Quantum Biology Media
Generic photosystem Complex
Antennae complex found in photosystems of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes
Diagram of FMO complex. Light excites electrons in an antenna. The excitation then transfers through various proteins in the FMO complex to the reaction center to further photosynthesis.
The radical pair mechanism has been proposed for quantum magnetoreception in birds. It takes place in cryptochrome molecules in cells in the birds' retinas.
Electron microscope image of placental macrophage ferritin
Conductive atomic force microscopy image of human substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) tissue
Electron spectroscopic imaging of iron (red) outside of neuromelanin organelles
Electron microscope image of glial cell from SNc showing structures similar to ferritin in placental tissue
References
- ↑ Kristiansen, Anita. The future of quantum biology | Royal Society. royalsociety.org. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
- ↑ Quantum Biology. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Group.
- ↑ Quantum Biology: Powerful Computer Models Reveal Key Biological Mechanism Science Daily Retrieved Oct 14, 2007
- ↑ Brookes, J. C.. Quantum effects in biology: golden rule in enzymes, olfaction, photosynthesis and magnetodetection. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 473 (2201) (May 2017). p. 20160822. doi:10.1098/rspa.2016.0822.
- ↑ Al-Khalili, Jim. How quantum biology might explain life's biggest questions (24 August 2015). Retrieved 2018-12-07.
- ↑ Brookes, Jennifer C.. Quantum effects in biology: golden rule in enzymes, olfaction, photosynthesis and magnetodetection (in en). Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 473 (2201) (May 2017). p. 20160822. doi:10.1098/rspa.2016.0822.
- ↑ Marcus, R. A.. On the Theory of Oxidation-Reduction Reactions Involving Electron Transfer. I. The Journal of Chemical Physics 24 (5) (May 1956). p. 966–978. doi:10.1063/1.1742723.
- ↑ Editorial. Photosynthesis Research 22 (1) (January 1989). p. 1. doi:10.1007/BF00114760.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Gray, H. B.. Electron tunneling through proteins. Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics 36 (3) (August 2003). p. 341–372. doi:10.1017/S0033583503003913.
- ↑ Apte, S.P. Quantum biology: Harnessing nano-technology's last frontier with modified excipients and food ingredients, J. Excipients and Food Chemicals, 5(4), 177–183, 2014
- ↑ Glickman, Michael H.. Extremely Large Isotope Effects in the Soybean Lipoxygenase-Linoleic Acid Reaction. Journal of the American Chemical Society 116 (2) (January 1994). p. 793–794. doi:10.1021/ja00081a060.
- ↑ Nagel, Z. D.. Tunneling and dynamics in enzymatic hydride transfer. Chemical Reviews 106 (8) (August 2006). p. 3095–3118. doi:10.1002/chin.200643274.
- ↑ Griffiths, David J.. Introduction to quantum mechanics (2005). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-111892-7. OCLC 53926857.
- ↑ Masgrau, Laura. Atomic description of an enzyme reaction dominated by proton tunneling. Science 312 (5771) (April 2006). p. 237–241. doi:10.1126/science.1126002.
- ↑ Zewail, Ahmed H.. Physical biology : from atoms to medicine (2008). London, UK: Imperial College Press. ISBN 978-1-84816-201-3. OCLC 294759396.
- ↑ Nagel, Z. D.. Tunneling and dynamics in enzymatic hydride transfer. Chemical Reviews 106 (8) (August 2006). p. 3095–3118. doi:10.1021/cr050301x.