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Quantum Biology – Novel Biophysical Methods
- By Steven Lenhert
- Published 05/16/2008
- Quantum Biology
- Unrated
Steven Lenhert
Dr Steven Lenhert
Steve started the first commercial nanotechnology website at http://about.com. Since then, he founded Quanteq, LLC and http://nanoword.net. In the year 2004, he received his doctoral degree in biology for the development of a new lithographic technique (Langmuir-Blodget Lithography), and its application in the contact guidance of biological cells. He is currently pursuing postdoctoral research in the topic of Dip-Pen Nanolithography.
For a full CV see:
http://www.nanoword.net/pages/lenhert.php
Quantum Biology – Novel Biophysical Methods
While most biochemical studies of actomyosin and other proteins ignore the delicate nature
of quantum mechanical effects such as superposition, coherence and entanglement, there is
much to be gained from such models. For instance, regulatory molecules and
pharmaceuticals may interact with the protein not only as a lock and key, but as several
locks and several keys. However, the exact geometry of the super cooled region of this ATP
bound engine (figure 1), upon which the coherence and entanglement would depend, is not
known. Although quantum mechanical models of proteins are currently too computationally
complex for our fastest supercomputers, molecular dynamics simulations may help to
elucidate the mechanisms by which the heat is pumped out of the frozen core, thus
revealing the boundary of the coherence. Novel biophysical methods resulting from the
fusion of biology and quantum mechanics have the potential to revolutionize our
understanding of both fields.
As biologists begin to realize the importance of nanoscale phenomena to their research,
quantum biology is emerging as an important discipline. At a time when numerous
physicists are racing to construct quantum computers, molecular biologists may
unknowingly be racing to dismantle them.
"Biology is not about applying quantum mechanics as it is already known through the
experiences of traditional physics, but rather about an attempt to extend quantum
mechanics in the manner that the physicists have not tried."
Acknowledgements - Thank you Koichiro Matsuno for
reviewing the text and for the enlightening comments.
References:
Gulick AM, Bauer CB, Thoden JB, Rayment I, 'X-ray
structures of the MgADP, MgATPgammaS, and
MgAMPPNP complexes of the Dictyostelium discoideum
myosin motor domain.' Biochemistry (Sep 30, 1997) 36
(39), 11619-28;Image created by your about
nanotechnology guide with 32-bit RasWin modeling
software.
Koichiro Matsuno, Raymond C. Paton, 'Is there a biology
of quantum information?' BioSystems (2000) 55, 39-46.
While most biochemical studies of actomyosin and other proteins ignore the delicate nature
of quantum mechanical effects such as superposition, coherence and entanglement, there is
much to be gained from such models. For instance, regulatory molecules and
pharmaceuticals may interact with the protein not only as a lock and key, but as several
locks and several keys. However, the exact geometry of the super cooled region of this ATP
bound engine (figure 1), upon which the coherence and entanglement would depend, is not
known. Although quantum mechanical models of proteins are currently too computationally
complex for our fastest supercomputers, molecular dynamics simulations may help to
elucidate the mechanisms by which the heat is pumped out of the frozen core, thus
revealing the boundary of the coherence. Novel biophysical methods resulting from the
fusion of biology and quantum mechanics have the potential to revolutionize our
understanding of both fields.
As biologists begin to realize the importance of nanoscale phenomena to their research,
quantum biology is emerging as an important discipline. At a time when numerous
physicists are racing to construct quantum computers, molecular biologists may
unknowingly be racing to dismantle them.
"Biology is not about applying quantum mechanics as it is already known through the
experiences of traditional physics, but rather about an attempt to extend quantum
mechanics in the manner that the physicists have not tried."
Acknowledgements - Thank you Koichiro Matsuno for
reviewing the text and for the enlightening comments.
References:
Gulick AM, Bauer CB, Thoden JB, Rayment I, 'X-ray
structures of the MgADP, MgATPgammaS, and
MgAMPPNP complexes of the Dictyostelium discoideum
myosin motor domain.' Biochemistry (Sep 30, 1997) 36
(39), 11619-28;Image created by your about
nanotechnology guide with 32-bit RasWin modeling
software.
Koichiro Matsuno, Raymond C. Paton, 'Is there a biology
of quantum information?' BioSystems (2000) 55, 39-46.
