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Quantum Jumps and Genetic Mutation: Has Schrodinger's Prediction Come True?
With the development of science, quantum biology has gradually become a frontier field at the intersection of biology and physics. Quantum biology focuses on exploring how quantum mechanics affects biological systems and reveals its importance in biological processes. From enzymatic catalysis to sensory processes to energy conversion, the operation of these processes shows the profound influence of quantum mechanics. In his 1944 book What is Life? " explores these concepts, puts forward its central quantum thesis, and has led many subsequent researchers to think about the role of quantum phenomena in life.
Schrodinger’s prediction
Schrodinger believes that the genetic information of life may be stored in a "non-periodic crystal" and that mutations may appear in the form of "quantum jumps."
Today, the development of quantum biology has unlocked part of the mysteries of life and challenged the traditional view of biology. Many researchers are working to clarify how quantum mechanics affects enzyme catalysis and cellular function, especially in energy conversion processes such as photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Electron transfer and proton tunneling during enzyme catalysis have been shown to be essential in many biological processes.
Quantum effects of enzyme catalysis
Enzymes are biological catalysts that derive their efficiency in part from quantum tunneling. Quantum tunneling is when, under certain circumstances, particles are able to pass through energy barriers that should be impossible to cross. Enzymes in many organisms have been found to be involved in electron transfer, making these processes more efficient.
Quantum tunneling is not only the basis for electron transfer, but also an important mechanism for proton transport.
Quantum mechanism of energy transfer
In photosynthesis, photosynthetic pigments work with membrane-bound pulse systems to absorb photons and transfer this energy to reaction centers. In this process, quantum coherence is considered a key factor, contributing to the efficient transfer of energy. Existing research shows that photosynthetic pigments can transfer energy with an efficiency of more than 99%, an efficiency that cannot be explained by classical physics alone.
Quantum coherence allows energy transfer during photosynthesis to utilize multiple pathways, thereby increasing efficiency.
Quantum phenomena in sensory systems
In addition to energy transfer, sensory systems also show the presence of quantum effects. For example, quantum tunneling may be involved in how the sense of smell works. One theory in olfaction is that olfactory receptors detect odors based on molecular vibrations, suggesting that quantum phenomena play an important role in our perception.
Whether the sense of smell depends on the existence of quantum tunneling is still under active research.
Future research directions
As quantum biology continues to develop, future research will explore more deeply the specific impact of these quantum phenomena in biology. We may find that more biological processes are driven by the principles of quantum mechanics, for example, how to facilitate the application of new medical technologies. Many biological experiments today also need to be reinterpreted, providing a new perspective on the integration of comparative biology (biophysics) and quantum biology.
Will quantum properties of biology change our understanding of the nature of life?
The scientific community is facing a far-reaching question: Will quantum mechanics become an important cornerstone of future biotechnology and help us unlock the deep secrets of genetic variation? How do these quantum phenomena change our basic understanding of life? Perhaps it will become an important topic in scientific research in the next few decades?
