Does quantum mechanics play a non-trivial role in life?

Davies, P.C.W.

doi:10.1016/j.biosystems.2004.07.001

Cited by 187Quantum Mechanics and ApplicationsBiofield Effects and BiophysicsPhilosophy and History of Science

Does quantum mechanics play a non-trivial role in life?

Davies, P.C.W.·2004·Biosystems

DOI 10.1016/j.biosystems.2004.07.001

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Abstract

There have been many claims that quantum mechanics plays a key role in the origin and/or operation of biological organisms, beyond merely providing the basis for the shapes and sizes of biological molecules and their chemical affinities. These range from Schrödinger's suggestion that quantum fluctuations produce mutations, to Hameroff and Penrose's conjecture that quantum coherence in microtubules is linked to consciousness. I review some of these claims in this paper, and discuss the serious problem of decoherence. I advance some further conjectures about quantum information processing in bio-systems. Some possible experiments are suggested.

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More extreme hypothetical cases include life-forms that do not use polymers to encode genetics, such as quantum-based life scenarios.
“More extreme hypothetical cases include life-forms that do not use polymers to encode genetics, such as quantum-based life scenarios (Davies, 2004).”
From The Astrobiology Primer v2.0 (2016) · cites this paper as Davies, 2004

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Authors: Davies, P. C. W.
Affiliations: Macquarie University (AU)
Corresponding author: Davies, P.C.W.
ORCID: Davies, P.C.W.
Venue: Biosystems
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2004-12
Volume: 78
Issue: 1-3
Pages: 69-79
ISSN: 0303-2647 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2004.07.001
OpenAlex: W1982126411
Cited by: 187
References: 65
Citations by year: 2026: 5 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 10
FWCI: 3.99
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Biosystems (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Quantum Mechanics and Applications
Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Biofield Effects and Biophysics
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy and History of Science
Keywords: quantum biology, Erwin Schrödinger, quantum consciousness, decoherence, origin of life, biomolecules
MeSH terms: Biophysics, Mutation, Quantum Theory, Biophysical Phenomena

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