Quantum Biology: Current Status and Opportunities
17 September 2012 - 18 September 2012
WORKSHOP REPORT
Evidence has recently emerged that plants use a form of quantum computing to calculate how best to direct energy through their photosynthetic apparatus. Scientists have discovered that birds, insects and other animals appear to use entanglement (what Einstein called “spooky action at a distance”) to detect the earth’s magnetic field. And there is solid evidence that enzymes, those metabolic workhorses that drive much of the action in our cells, use the process known as quantum tunnelling to accelerate chemical reactions. We may even use quantum mechanics to smell! Centres of quantum theoreticians and experimentalists on both sides of the Atlantic are struggling to understand how fragile quantum mechanical phenomena previously thought to be confined to highly rarefied laboratory systems at temperatures close to absolute zero, manage to survive in the wet, warm biological world.
The workshop sponsored by the Institute of Advanced Studies, BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) and MILES (Models and Mathematics in Life and Social Sciences) proved to be a great success and was attended by some of the leading researchers in this exciting new interdisciplinary field from across the world.
The talks, both plenary and shorter ones, stimulated much discussion and led to a vibrant and informative ‘discussion’ session at the end of Day 2. Filmed keynote talks, interviews and a group discussion are available below.
Keynote presentations and interviews (Surrey YouTube Channel)
DAY 1
Session 1
Professor Johnjoe McFadden, University of Surrey
Why biology needs quantum mechanics
Presentation
and interview
Dr Paul Davies, Arizona State University
Quantum epigenetics
Presentation
and interview
Session 2
Professor Jim Al-Khalili, University of Surrey
Quantum tunnelling models of genetic mutations
Presentation
and interview
Session 3
Professor Greg Scholes, University of Toronto
Evolution, speciation, and coherence in the light harvesting proteins of photosynthetic algae
Presentation
and interview
Dr Alexandra Olaya-Castro, University College LondonQuantum phononics in biology
Presentation
Session 4
Professor Greg Engel, University of Chicago
Design principles behind long-lived quantum coherence
Presentation
and interview
DAY 2
Session 5
Professor Thorsten Ritz, UC Irvine
A biological compass built on coherent quantum reactions: Design principles and supporting evidence
Presentation
and interview
Dr Jennifer Brooks, University College London / Harvard University Can the nose smell quantized properties of odorant molecules in olfaction?
Presentation and interview
Session 6
Professor Nigel Scrutton, University of Manchester
Quantum effects in biological catalysis
Presentation
Session 7
Professor Vlatko Vedral, University of Oxford
Quantum thermodynamics of electron transport
Presentation
and interview
Session 8
Filmed Group discussion can be viewed here
A complete Programme with paper and poster abstracts can be found here.Themes
Overall, this was a meeting of three very different fields: quantum physicists, quantum chemists and molecular biologists tend to use different approaches, skills and language. This was a wonderful opportunity not just to cross-fertilise ideas but to reach a common understand and consensus on the major problems in this field. Broadly, the scientific themes that emerged from the talks can be split into two categories that match very well with the subheading of the workshop itself:- Current status (in both experimental biology and theoretical quantum modelling)
- Opportunities (for future experiments, for theoretical developments and for research collaborations)
Outcomes
In bringing together such a diverse group of scientists, the workshop was hugely successful in sowing the seeds for future collaborations and potential funding opportunities for further research. The workshop also served to stimulate local interest among Surrey academics in attendance, from Physics, Electronic Engineering, Computing, Microbiology and Mathematics.
Here is a list of the main outcomes of the workshop:
- Establishes the Surrey organisers as part of the international community working in this field (building contacts with other researchers, invited to future meetings and conferences elsewhere, etc).
- Allowed the opportunity to discuss the science at an informal, yet deep level, that is difficult to achieve in any other setting.
- Helped clarify future research direction and aims of organisers with hope of Surrey publications in 2013, potentially jointly with collaborators elsewhere, such as the quantum chemistry group ay UCL.
- Led to the organisers establishing a series of seminars (once monthly) to be held at Surrey (initially funded by the BBSRC). Already, a commitment has been made by Nobel Prize winning biochemist, Sir Tim Hunt, to give a seminar at Surrey during early summer of 2013.
- Provided very useful background material for a book on the subject currently being written jointly by the organisers and to be published in UK (Bantam Press) and US (Random House) in 2014.
As an immediate result of the workshop, the BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) held a media briefing in London at which Jim Al-Khalili and Johnjoe McFadden reported on the workshop and their latest research to journalists and science correspondents.
Please note: A dedicated Quantum Biology website featuring forthcoming events and news will be available soon. Please check this page for updates.
From an organisational point of view, it was flawless, right down to the wonderful workshop dinner at the Withies Inn, Compton village.
Acknowledgements
Workshop convenors:
Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Department of Physics, University of SurreyProfessor Johnjoe McFadden, Microbial Sciences, University of Surrey
Professor Vlatko Vedral, University of Oxford