Quantum Effects in Biology

Explores the role of quantum mechanics in biology for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in physics, biology and chemistry.

Masoud Mohseni (Edited by), Yasser Omar (Edited by), Gregory S. Engel (Edited by), Martin B. Plenio (Edited by)

9781107010802, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 7 August 2014

416 pages, 26 b/w illus. 69 colour illus.
25.4 x 18 x 2.3 cm, 1.01 kg

'Having previously thoroughly enjoyed reading two books relating to quantum biology, I was delighted to review this book.' Stephen Hoskins, The Biologist

Quantum mechanics provides the most accurate microscopic description of the world around us, yet the interface between quantum mechanics and biology is only now being explored. This book uses a combination of experiment and theory to examine areas of biology believed to be strongly influenced by manifestly quantum phenomena. Covering subjects ranging from coherent energy transfer in photosynthetic light harvesting to spin coherence in the avian compass and the problem of molecular recognition in olfaction, the book is ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in physics, biology and chemistry seeking to understand the applications of quantum mechanics to biology.

List of contributors
Preface
Part I. Introduction: 1. Quantum biology: introduction Graham R. Fleming and Gregory D. Scholes
2. Open quantum system approaches to biological systems Alireza Shabani, Masoud Mohseni, Seogjoo Jang, Akihito Ishizaki, Martin Plenio, Patrick Rebentrost, Alàn Aspuru-Guzik, Jianshu Cao, Seth Lloyd and Robert Silbey
3. Generalized Förster resonance energy transfer Seogjoo Jang, Hoda Hossein-Nejad and Gregory D. Scholes
4. Multidimensional electronic spectroscopy Tomáš Man?al
Part II. Quantum Effects in Bacterial Photosynthetic Energy Transfer: 5. Structure, function, and quantum dynamics of pigment protein complexes Ioan Kosztin and Klaus Schulten
6. Direct observation of quantum coherence Gregory S. Engel
7. Environment-assisted quantum transport Masoud Mohseni, Alàn Aspuru-Guzik, Patrick Rebentrost, Alireza Shabani, Seth Lloyd, Susana F. Huelga and Martin B. Plenio
Part III. Quantum Effects in Higher Organisms and Applications: 8. Excitation energy transfer in higher plants Elisabet Romero, Vladimir I. Novoderezhkin and Rienk van Grondelle
9. Electron transfer in proteins Spiros S. Skourtis
10. A chemical compass for bird navigation Ilia A. Solov'yov, Thorsten Ritz, Klaus Schulten and Peter J. Hore
11. Quantum biology of retinal Klaus Schulten and Shigehiko Hayashi
12. Quantum vibrational effects on sense of smell A. M. Stoneham, L. Turin, J. C. Brookes and A. P. Horsfield
13. A perspective on possible manifestations of entanglement in biological systems Hans J. Briegel and Sandu Popescu
14. Design and applications of bio-inspired quantum materials Mohan Sarovar, Dörthe M. Eisele and K. Birgitta Whaley
15. Coherent excitons in carbon nanotubes Leonas Valkunas and Darius Abramavicius
Glossary
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Biology, life sciences [PS], Physics [PH], Mathematics & science [P]