Quantum Biology, Johnjoe McFadden

Lecture info:

Symposium Worlds of Entanglement 2017, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium.

Session: Quantum Beyond Physics (29/09/2017)

Abstract:

Quantum mechanics is the weirdest of sciences that allows particles to inhabit
multiple locations in space and time at once, travel through classicallyimpenetrable
barriers and possess spooky connections across vast regions of
space. Yet the science is usually considered to be limited to the tiniest components
of matter, such as protons or atoms. As systems get bigger, classical
behaviours in which particles tend to be in one place or another, cannot penetrate
impenetrable barriers and are not spookily connected, tends to dominate.
However, several; decades ago, one of the founders of quantum mechanics, Erwin
Schr¨odinger, proposed in his book, What is Life? published in 1944 that “a
gene or perhaps the whole chromosome fibre (is) an aperiodic crystal (in which)
every atom, and every group of atoms, plays an individual role which has to be
a masterpiece of highly differentiated order, safeguarded by the conjuring rod
of quantum theory.” He went on to claim that life was fundamentally quantum
mechanical. In this talk I will examine Schrdingers claim from the perspective
of modern quantum biology and molecular biology. I will discuss evidence for
the quantum tunnelling, quantum coherence and even quantum entanglement
a wide range of biological phenomena such as avian navigation, enzyme action,
photosynthesis, the sense of smell and mutation. I will also discuss advances in
relation to that most fundamental question of biology: what is life?