Title : Quantum physics and cells: The evolution of life from energy
Abstract:
We now stand at the threshold of a transformative era in medicine, where cellular and molecular approaches are revolutionizing treatment of chronic diseases. To fully harness this potential, an understanding of matter at its most fundamental level is required. The subatomic realm - where energy and mass become interchangeable according to Einstein's E=mc² - offers profound insights for biomedical innovation. But to comprehend these quantum-scale phenomena, we must begin with the fundamental physics that govern all matter. As an example, nearly 99% of our visible mass as a human being comes from the binding energy of the strong nuclear force that holds quarks together within protons and neutrons – “quantum chromodynamics energy”. Only about 1-2% of our mass represents the intrinsic mass of fundamental particles like quarks and electrons, which themselves acquired mass through interactions with the Higgs field following electroweak symmetry breaking. In other words, our mass really is “just” energy. Where did life come from? The Physicist consensus is that Life evolved from the energy released from the “big bang” at t=0. The understanding of the first seconds after the Big Bang relies on a combination of mathematical models rooted in general relativity, quantum field theory, and particle physics. The bottom line is that the universe began as pure energy, from which we evolved. Within the first second after the Big Bang, the four fundamental forces of nature—gravity, electromagnetism, the weak nuclear force, and the strong nuclear force—became distinct. Quarks formed and combined into protons and neutrons. By 10 seconds, electrons and other leptons emerged. Between 3 to 20 minutes, the first atomic nuclei (hydrogen, helium, trace lithium) formed through Big Bang nucleosynthesis. From 3 minutes to 47,000 years after the Big Bang, photons and neutrinos dominated the universe's energy density which was also filled with the hot, dense plasma of nuclei and electrons. During the following 380,000 years of expansion and cooling, nuclei captured electrons to form stable neutral atoms, releasing the cosmic microwave background radiation we detect today. This primordial matter underwent remarkable transformations—condensing into stars and planets, ultimately leading to life through an unbroken chain of increasing complexity. The first atoms became stellar fuel, with nuclear fusion in stars forging heavier elements like carbon and oxygen, while supernovae created even heavier elements. Earth formed from this enriched material 4.6 billion years ago, where energy-driven chemistry produced life's building blocks—amino acids, sugars, and nucleotides.
The transition to life required self-replicating systems, with RNA likely serving dual roles as both genetic material and catalyst in early protocells bounded by lipid membranes. By 3.5 billion years ago, prokaryotic cells with DNA genomes and metabolic pathways had emerged. Cyanobacteria developed photosynthesis, eventually oxygenating Earth's atmosphere. An evolutionary leap occurred when prokaryotes formed endosymbiotic relationships—aerobic bacteria evolved into mitochondria, while photosynthetic bacteria became chloroplasts. This endosymbiosis granted eukaryotic cells unprecedented energy efficiency, enabling greater size and complexity. Multicellular life subsequently developed, featuring specialized, cooperative cells.
Each evolutionary milestone—from stellar nucleosynthesis to cellular respiration—represents energy's transformation into increasingly complex systems. Human consciousness stands as the current pinnacle of this 13.8-billion-year cosmic journey, demonstrating energy's extraordinary capacity for self-organization from quantum beginnings to biological complexity.
This is the 21st Century. Life is organized energy. We are organized energy. The time has come to understand and innovate around this. Quantum biology is a nascent field that seeks to uncover how living systems harness quantum phenomena—such as coherence, entanglement, and tunneling—to achieve remarkable efficiencies that defy classical explanation. By studying how photosynthesis achieves near-perfect energy transfer, how enzymes leverage quantum tunneling to accelerate reactions, or how birds might use quantum entanglement for navigation, this emerging field aims to bridge physics and biology. Its ultimate goal is twofold: to reveal nature's quantum tricks for optimizing life's processes, and to translate these discoveries into transformative technologies—from ultra-efficient solar cells modeled on photosynthetic complexes to quantum-inspired medicines that target diseases at the molecular level with unprecedented precision. Success could rewrite our understanding of life's fundamental mechanics while delivering breakthroughs in energy, computing, and healthcare.
