Physics of life: The dawn of quantum biology

Ball, Philip

doi:10.1038/474272a

Cited by 239 publications

(195 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Silicate minerals, for example, can have a high coherency of frequencies and may act as a template for preferred discrete oscillations. These minerals have been regarded as candidates for trans-material catalysts, since they are resonance carriers that are able to resonate within a quantum field (Bechmann, 2013). Therefore, a causal association between preferred coherent frequencies of minerals and biological frequencies might exist.…”

Section: The Role Of Nano-and Submicron Minerals As Quantum Replicatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yet, Einstein was not happy with a quantum jargon mixing wave and particle elements and was sure that wave-particle duality should be finally resolved in favor of a wave model perse. Indeed nowadays quantum biological effects at room temperature have been discovered (reviewed by Arndt et al, 2009;Ball, 2011;Lambert et al, 2013;Lloyd, 2014;Huelga and Plenio, 2013). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Quantum Wave Information of Life Revealed: An Algorithm for Electromagnetic Frequencies that Create Stability of Biological Order, With Implications for Brain Function and Consciousness

Geesink¹,

Meijer

2016

Neuroquantology

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We propose a hypothesis of a mathematical algorithm for coherent quantum frequencies, that may create stability of biological order. The concept is based on an extensive literature survey, comprising 175 articles from 1950 to 2015, dealing with effects of electromagnetic radiation on in vitro and in vivo life systems, indicating that typical discrete coherent frequencies of electromagnetic waves are able to stabilize cells, whereas others cause a clear destabilization. We find support for the hypothesis of H. Fröhlich, that a driven set of oscillators condenses in a broad energy range, may activate a vibrational mode in life organisms at room temperature. Taking into account the life sustaining frequencies, as extracted from literature, an algorithm of coherent frequencies of standing waves for the stability of biological order was inferred. Interestingly, we found that the origin of the particular biological algorithm can be mathematically approached by a selected "tempered Pythagorean" reference acoustic scale. The algorithm expresses one-dimensional wave equations known for vibrating strings. The origin of the biological algorithm was condensed in a mathematical expression, in which all frequencies have ratios of 1:2 and closely approach ratios of 2:3. This inferred algorithm was subsequently verified with regard to various frequencies of electromagnetic waves, as applied in the above-mentioned independent biological studies. It was also matched with a range of 23 different measured quantum resonances emitted by a selected inorganic silicate mineral, that is able to catalyze the oligomerization of RNA. The selected silicate was experimentally shown to act as a quantum replicator, specifically emitting EM radiation at frequencies that are fully in line with this algorithm. Such silicate quantum replicators, therefore may have been instrumental in the initiation of first replicating, life, cells at the edge of pre-biotic evolution. Our model may imply that, at the quantum scale, an underlying electromagnetically defined order may have been present, that was a prerequisite for the coding of synthesis and functional arrangement of cellular elements in biological evolution. Far infrared dynamics, reminiscent of coherent nonrelativistic super fluids in 3+1-dimensions, may have played a role. Finally, we address the question whether the identified electromagnetic fields may also influence neural systems in general and human (self) consciousness in particular. We are finding support for recent electromagnetic and stochastic zero-point energy field theories in quantum consciousness studies. The striking similarity of electromagnetic wave frequencies, detected by us in the biological studies, and in selected clay minerals, as well as in color spectra, tone scales and sound induced geometric Chladni patterns, may indicate that we identified the involvement of a universal electromagnetic principle, that underlies the observed life sustaining effects and also may have been instrumental in the creation of biologica...

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Section: The Role Of Nano-and Submicron Minerals As Quantum Replicatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantum Wave Information of Life Revealed: An Algorithm for Electromagnetic Frequencies that Create Stability of Biological Order, With Implications for Brain Function and Consciousness

Geesink¹,

Meijer

2016

Neuroquantology

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“…In the following we will explain findings in the energygap dependence of the Modified Redfield rates by referring to terms in the respective rate equations given in Eqs. (26) and (30). In particular, explanation of the intensive band at zero energy gaps in the Modified Redfield rates and of the increased intensities of the neighboring side bands compared to the Förster rates requires a closer consideration.…”

Section: B Extraction Of Transfer Rates From Population Dynamics Witmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite current attention to fine effects of underdamped intramolecular vibrational modes [24][25][26][27][28] and to details of spectral density shapes [29], and despite recent efforts to introduce a paradigm shift in understanding of the origin of the photosynthetic EET efficiency [30][31][32], the overall picture of this process, as drawn by the master equations of the Förster and Redfield types, remains valid [33] (see e. g. [34] for quantitative results). Recent theoretical advances enabling exact numerical solutions of some types of energy transfer problems e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrafast energy transfer with competing channels: Non-equilibrium Förster and Modified Redfield theories

Seibt

Mančal

2017

The Journal of Chemical Physics

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We derive equations of motion for the reduced density matrix of a molecular system which undergoes energy transfer dynamics competing with fast internal conversion channels. Environmental degrees of freedom of such a system have no time to relax to quasi-equilibrium in the electronic excited state of the donor molecule, and thus the conditions of validity of Förster and Modified Redfield theories in their standard formulations do not apply. We derive non-equilibrium versions of the two well-known rate theories and apply them to the case of carotenoid-chlorophyll energy transfer. Although our reduced density matrix approach does not account for the formation of vibronic excitons, it still confirms the important role of the donor ground-state vibrational states in establishing the resonance energy transfer conditions. We show that it is essential to work with a theory valid in strong system-bath interaction regime to obtain correct dependence of the rates on donor-acceptor energy gap.

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“…For example, quantum coherence has been shown to play a fundamental role in photosynthesis [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8], while quantum measurement dynamics have been demonstrated to underlie radical-ionpair reactions [9][10][11], the spin-dependent biochemical reactions at the heart of the avian magnetic compass mechanism. Even electron spin entanglement has also been addressed with respect to the chemical compass [12,13], paving the way for the dawn of quantum biology [14].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnetic sensitivity and entanglement dynamics of the chemical compass

Kominis

2012

Chemical Physics Letters

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We present the quantum limits to the magnetic sensitivity of a new kind of magnetometer based on biochemical reactions. Radical-ion-pair reactions, the biochemical system underlying the chemical compass, are shown to offer a new and unique physical realization of a magnetic field sensor competitive to modern atomic or condensed matter magnetometers. We elaborate on the quantum coherence and entanglement dynamics of this sensor, showing that they provide the physical basis for testing our understanding of the fundamental quantum dynamics of radical-ion-pair reactions.Quantum physics, in particular quantum information, control and measurement are concepts rapidly infiltrating biological or biochemical processes. For example, quantum coherence has been shown to play a fundamental role in photosynthesis [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8], while quantum measurement dynamics have been demonstrated to underlie radical-ionpair reactions [9][10][11], the spin-dependent biochemical reactions at the heart of the avian magnetic compass mechanism. Even electron spin entanglement has also been addressed with respect to the chemical compass [12,13], paving the way for the dawn of quantum biology [14].We will here show that spin-selective radical-ion-pair reactions are no different than atomic [15] or solid state quantum sensors [16] used in e.g. precision metrology [17][18][19], and in principle are able to offer an exquisite magnetic sensitivity. We will establish the fundamental quantum limits to the magnetic sensitivity of these biochemical sensors, and we will elaborate on the fundamental decoherence mechanism present. We will show that the mechanism damping singlet-triplet coherence also damps any electron spin entanglement possibly present, as is well understood in precision measurements. In so doing, we will also show that the recently appeared entanglement considerations [12,13] are questionable, since these works have not taken into account the fundamental singlet-triplet decoherence process. Finally, we will compare the three different and currently competing master equations attempting to describe the quantum dynamics of radical-ion-pair reactions. Based on their ability to correctly account for the coherence and entanglement dynamics of these reactions, it will be shown that one out of the three theories can be eliminated.Radical-ion pairs (Fig. 1) [20][21][22] are biomolecular ions with two unpaired electrons and any number of magnetic nuclei, created by a charge transfer from a photo-excited D * A donor-acceptor molecular dyad DA. The magnetic nuclei of the donor and acceptor molecules couple to the two electrons via the hyperfine interaction, leading to singlet-triplet (S-T) mixing, i.e. a coherent oscillation of the total electron spin state, also affected by the electrons' Zeeman interaction with the external magnetic field. Singlet-triplet coherence (and its relaxation) is studied in a variety of contexts, as e.g. in NMR [23][24][25] and quantum dots [26][27][28]. The additional complication of radical-ion-pair reactio...

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Physics of life: The dawn of quantum biology

Cited by 239 publications

References 11 publications

Quantum Wave Information of Life Revealed: An Algorithm for Electromagnetic Frequencies that Create Stability of Biological Order, With Implications for Brain Function and Consciousness

Quantum Wave Information of Life Revealed: An Algorithm for Electromagnetic Frequencies that Create Stability of Biological Order, With Implications for Brain Function and Consciousness

Ultrafast energy transfer with competing channels: Non-equilibrium Förster and Modified Redfield theories

Magnetic sensitivity and entanglement dynamics of the chemical compass

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