{"id":35022,"date":"2023-10-28T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-28T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/e6961cf2-f2e1-4aa0-aa70-77d759004b6e"},"modified":"2023-10-28T10:47:28","modified_gmt":"2023-10-28T08:47:28","slug":"this-bold-new-theory-of-quantum-weirdness-could-rewrite-the-story-of-evolution","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/this-bold-new-theory-of-quantum-weirdness-could-rewrite-the-story-of-evolution\/","title":{"rendered":"This bold new theory of ‘quantum weirdness’ could rewrite the story of evolution"},"content":{"rendered":"

Natural selection may be underlined by quantum mechanics, argues a physics professor. <\/p>

By Prof Stephon Alexander\n <\/p>

Published: Saturday, 28 October 2023 at 08:00 AM<\/p>

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In 1990, within the intellectual haven of Haverford College, I embarked on a transformative academic journey into biophysics \u2013 the captivating intersection of physics and biology.<\/p>

It was during this time that I delved into the tantalising notion of quantum mechanics operating within living organisms.<\/p>

Unbeknownst to me, this exploration would etch an enduring imprint on my scientific voyage, kindling a lifelong fascination with biophysics. Ultimately, I charted my research course in quantum cosmology, but the echoes of biophysics persisted.<\/p>

One of the most potent strategies in unveiling new truths in physics arises from principles that unify seemingly disparate phenomena. Einstein’s principle of relativity, for instance, harmonised electromagnetism with the fabric of four-dimensional spacetime.<\/p>

Similarly, physicists like Richard Feynman and Paul Dirac achieved remarkable feats by bringing together disparate principles, uniting quantum theory with relativity to birth a new perspective on the quantum field.<\/p>

This yielded predictions like the existence of antimatter and the Standard Model of elementary particles, which have since been validated at particle accelerators worldwide.<\/p>

During my tenure as a physics professor at Dartmouth College, I met a remarkable molecular biologist, Salvador Almagro Moreno<\/a>. Over numerous intellectual exchanges over pints, Salvador and I discerned a common thread weaving through our distinct fields: the potential for a symbiosis between physics and biology.<\/p>

Quantum survival strategies<\/h2>

Our collaborative brainchild emerged by converging Darwin’s theory of natural selection and the quantum superposition principle. This weaved the relentless engine of evolution<\/a> into the enigmatic behaviour of quantum entities.<\/p>

Darwin’s theory of natural selection hinges on genetic variations, survival, and reproduction. It favours organisms with advantageous traits, thereby propelling evolution.<\/p>

Conversely, the principle of quantum superposition illuminates the peculiar ability of quantum entities, such as electrons or molecules, to exist in multiple states simultaneously \u2013 a concept that defies classical physics.<\/p>

We christened our creation the ‘bio-dynamic optimisation principle’. At its core, it asserts that living systems evolve to exploit any aspect of physics that enables exploration of all possible \u2018fitness landscapes\u2019.<\/p>

As seen below, a \u2018fitness landscape\u2019 is a visual or conceptual representation in biology and evolution that shows how the fitness, or success, of an organism depends on its genetic traits, or genotype, and how those traits interact with the surrounding environment.<\/p>

Fitness landscape showing how different evolutionary peaks can be reached from the same starting point. Photo credit: Jeremy Van Cleve<\/a>\/Daniel B.Weissman<\/a>\/PNAS\/DOI 1507916112<\/figcaption><\/figure>

It’s essentially a map that helps us understand which traits are advantageous or disadvantageous for survival and reproduction in a specific environment. High peaks on the landscape represent traits that lead to greater fitness, and success, while valleys represent less advantageous traits.<\/p>

This concept helps to explain how natural selection works and how species evolve over time. The idea may hopefully breathe new life into the role of quantum mechanics within the often wet and thermally dynamic environments of living organisms.<\/p>

For example, consider the unassuming firefly. These luminescent insects rely on quantum transitions to generate light \u2013 a vital survival strategy. One might conjecture that the tumultuous milieu of biology would erode such delicate quantum phenomena. However, our bio-dynamic optimisation principle suggests otherwise.<\/p>

It posits that natural selection acts as a vigilant guardian, preserving the quantum coherence essential for survival-related quantum activities, such as bioluminescence in fireflies. The quantum of life also appears to function in photosynthesis, allowing birds to navigate and perhaps even influence the brain.<\/p>

The future of quantum biology\u00a0<\/h2>

Our principle opens up promising avenues for exploration. So, what other predictions might arise from this marriage of evolution and quantum physics? There are several:<\/p>