As 21st-century biology probes the dynamics of ever-smaller systems (individual atoms and molecules inside living cells) the signs of quantum mechanical behavior in the building blocks of life are becoming increasingly apparent. Quoting an article published on Medium that describes how cells utilize quantum mechanics in their functioning:
“One of the great puzzles of biology is how the molecular machinery of life is so finely coordinated. Even the simplest cells are complex three dimensional biochemical factories in which a dazzling array of machines fill the shop floor. These machines pump, push, copy, and compute in a dance of extraordinarily detailed complexity. Indeed, it is hard to imagine how the ordinary processes of conduction and electron transport allow this complexity to emerge given the losses that inevitably arise, even in much simpler circuits.”Medium: The Origin of Life And The Hidden Role of Quantum Criticality
Unfortunately most are more familiar with the older biological texts, which inadequately described processes and often left the precision of “how” processes were possible unexplained. Biological processes could never be described or understood via “classical” means. For example, enzymes speed up chemical reactions so that processes that would otherwise take thousands of years proceed in just seconds inside living cells – but we never understood how it was possible for those chemical reactions to be accelerated by such enormous factors (often more than a trillion-fold!) without the heat that would be generated destroying the cells! Recent experiments have shown that enzymes make use of a remarkable trick called quantum tunneling to accelerate biochemical reactions.
Many biological processes involve the conversion of energy into forms that are usable for chemical transformations, which are quantum mechanical in nature. Such processes involve chemical reactions, light absorption, formation of excited electronic states, transfer of excitation energy, and the transfer of electrons and photons in chemical processes, such as photosynthesis, olfaction, and cellular respiration. As an example, electrons and photons exhibit wave-like distribution patterns that, when combined with quantum tunneling enable them to transverse cell walls.
The application of Quantum Mechanics to biology has been coined, “Quantum Biology“, which refers to the application of quantum mechanics and theoretical chemistry to biological objects and systems.
Here are some more examples of how Quantum Mechanics fits into the biological realm:
- This helps to explain the metamorphosis of tadpoles into frogs. Quantum tunneling explains how materials can break down and re-assemble so quickly – something that could not prior be explained.
- Photosynthesis! This is an example of the uncertainty principle where, rather than the exciton bouncing around in the cell trying to find it’s way out, instead it acts like a wave allowing it to navigate in an efficient manner.
- The Robin migrates its spring / fall path yearly with the help of quantum entanglement. The birds eyes contain entanglement-based compasses.
- Interestingly enough – we also have a tiny, shiny crystal of magnetite in the ethmoid bone, located between your eyes and just behind the nose. It seems that flies also have one.
- Studies indicate that people, just like birds, turtles, ants, and sharks, are also able to detect the Earth’s magnetic field (Sources: Science Daily, Smithsonian, Discover, BBC). How is this done? It seems that scientists have discovered that a protein in the eye can detect magnetic fields.
- Quantum mechanics can be used to help describe how our sense of smell works! It seems that every scent molecule has a different shape, with each shape vibrating at a different frequency. The combination of the scent shape and the frequency of the vibration dictates the scent (vibration theory of olfaction).
- There is a concept that DNA is held together by quantum entanglement! It appears that DNA is also able to detect the spins of electrons when forming!
- Here is an article advising of other mysteries that have been recently solved referencing Quantum Biology.
- Here is a paper, published in PMC, “Quantum physics meets biology“.