Quantum-mechanical effects with measurable biological function. Foundational experiments and theory: Fleming 2007 and Engel 2007 2D-electronic-spectroscopy of the Fenna-Matthews-Olson (FMO) complex reporting long-lived (~500 fs at cryo,…
quantum-biology
FMO complex: 2D-ES oscillations → long-lived coherence between exciton eigenstates
Fenna-Matthews-Olson (FMO) complex is a 7-bacteriochlorophyll antenna in green sulphur bacteria that funnels excitation energy from the…
Avian radical-pair compass: cryptochrome photo-pair S↔T₀ mixing under Earth-field + hyperfine
Ritz-Schulten 2000 theoretical proposal for avian magnetoreception in migratory birds — notably European robin (Erithacus rubecula), garden…
Enzyme H-tunneling: Bell factor κ(H)/κ(D) ≫ 1 gives KIE beyond classical 7:1 ceiling
Classical transition-state theory (Eyring 1935) predicts a maximum H/D kinetic-isotope-effect of KIE = k_H/k_D ≈ 6.9 at 298 K, set by the…
FMO coherence dephasing: ρ_12(t) = ρ_12(0)·exp(-γ_φ t); τ_φ = 1/γ_φ
Secular Redfield / Lindblad master-equation treatment of pure dephasing on the FMO exciton coherence. In the site basis after…
Radical-pair: Φ_S = k_S/(k_S + k_T) under equilibrated S/T mixing
In the fast-spin-mixing limit where hyperfine + Zeeman dynamics equilibrate the singlet (S, population 1/4) and triplet (T: T_+, T_0, T_−,…
Primary H/D KIE: classical TST ≤ 7 at 298 K; Bell-factor amplification → 10–100
Primary H/D kinetic isotope effect for a single proton / hydride / H-atom transfer step: KIE = k_H/k_D. Under classical transition-state…