Quantum Microbiology

J T Trevors,L Masson

doi:10.21775/cimb.013.043

Abstract

During his famous 1943 lecture series at Trinity College Dublin, the reknown physicist Erwin Schrodinger discussed the failure and challenges of interpreting life by classical physics alone and that a new approach, rooted in Quantum principles, must be involved. Quantum events are simply a level of organization below the molecular level. This includes the atomic and subatomic makeup of matter in microbial metabolism and structures, as well as the organic, genetic information code of DNA and RNA. Quantum events at this time do not elucidate, for example, how specific genetic instructions were first encoded in an organic genetic code in microbial cells capable of growth and division, and its subsequent evolution over 3.6 to 4 billion years. However, due to recent technological advances, biologists and physicists are starting to demonstrate linkages between various quantum principles like quantum tunneling, entanglement and coherence in biological processes illustrating that nature has exerted some level quantum control to optimize various processes in living organisms. In this article we explore the role of quantum events in microbial processes and endeavor to show that after nearly 67 years, Schrödinger was prophetic and visionary in his view of quantum theory and its connection with some of the fundamental mechanisms of life.

Highlights

At the turn of the 1900’s, one of the most successful theories, quantum mechanics (QM) arose from the understanding that Newtonian mechanics or classical physics did not account for new atomic knowledge (Witten, 1982)
This theory, which contradicted both classical physics and electromagnetic theory, signaled the start of a revolution in physics and the generation of various complex and novel ideas that formed the basis of quantum mechanics
Quantum theory applies to all levels of physical and biological organization, from chemical bonds and subatomic particles, to the cosmos (Haydon et al, 2010), only the former can be explained by QM, whereas the latter is better explained by Einstein’s theory of general relativity or the science of the

Summary

Introduction

At the turn of the 1900’s, one of the most successful theories, quantum mechanics (QM) arose from the understanding that Newtonian mechanics or classical physics did not account for new atomic knowledge (Witten, 1982). Science has yet to discover the quantum events that tipped non-living atoms and molecules to become a living organism (the quantum to classical transition) given that the pre-biotic cell has no known means yet discovered, to select for the code (genes) and the corresponding proteins that must be present and expressed in the same time and space domains, so the pre-biotic cell can make the transition to a living microbial cell.

Results

Conclusion