The European robin uses its ability
to detect the earth's magnetic field to migrate, yet the magnetic force is very
weak but the robins use quantum entanglement to make it work.
The steam engine works by heating
water so that the random motion of the steam pushes a piston. A balloon
inflating is producing order from the disorder of the random motions of the air
inside. But Schrodinger thought order from disorder would not apply to life
because of the small scale and fewer molecules involved.
"This process by which random
molecular motion disrupts carefully aligned quantum mechanical systems is known
as decoherence." But life can produce order from order. Quantum tunneling allows
particles to cross a barrier that should be impossible. A body made up of many
particles must remain coherent to tunnel. Enzymes allow quantum tunneling.
Electrons travel along respiratory chains via quantum tunneling. Protons can also
quantum tunnel. At the molecular level biological
processes can be very fast and confined to short distances so tunneling can
have an effect and decoherence avoided. In photosynthesis a protein (FMO) keeps
decoherence at bay trying all path like a quantum computer. Photosynthesis and
respiration are not that different underneath. Plants obtain carbon from air
but we get it from organic sources. Maybe this quantum coherence can be brought
to solar cells.
Biomolecules can detect vibrations
of chemical bonds via quantum tenneling. Olfactory receptors may work this way.
Further chapter treat quantum genes,
mind, how life began, and quantum biology.
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