About this Research Topic
Quantum biology has recently witnessed a renewed interest due in part to advances in measurement technology, with focus on quantum processes that function in photosynthesis, vision, animal migration, enzymes, cell biology, olfactory sensing, and brain consciousness. The key quantum mechanistic features that are potentially harnessed in living systems include tunneling, superposition, and entanglement. To a large extent, quantum biology remains at the edge of conventional life science laboratories. While the central dogma in biology is based on classical physics, the goal here is to merge the gap between conventional biological methodologies with applied quantum measurement science. There is increasing interest to understand how Nature utilizes quantum properties that give rise to non-classical emergent behavior, and ultimately, highly organized biological structures, operating across spatial-temporal domains.
Cellular metabolism and signaling have evolved in fluctuating electronic and magnetic field environments, and therefore potentially or necessarily utilized them in biological function. To understand the role of quantum at the border between the physical and the biological world, the collaboration and exchange of ideas between different disciplines such as biology, spin chemistry, biophysics, and physiology must be facilitated and enhanced. Shared interdisciplinary expertise will significantly promote and accelerate the understanding of these quantum processes and the resulting physiological consequences. This Frontiers Research Topic therefore encourages scientists to engage and discuss the current states of knowledge from all the different perspectives. The immediate goals are to identify quantum-related biological processes and to develop novel methodologies for measuring quantum in biology. Most importantly, though, we want to draw attention to this exciting interdisciplinary field, which has been neglected for decades, helping therewith to integrate it as a central part of common life sciences.
We welcome contributors to submit research articles, reviews, perspectives, or opinions for the following subject areas:
- interaction of magnetic fields with cells, including weak or moderate magnetic fields, static and radio frequency fields
- quantum processes in photosynthesis, vision, animal migration, enzymes, cell biology, olfactory sensing, and brain consciousness
Cellular metabolism and signaling have evolved in fluctuating electronic and magnetic field environments, and therefore potentially or necessarily utilized them in biological function. To understand the role of quantum at the border between the physical and the biological world, the collaboration and exchange of ideas between different disciplines such as biology, spin chemistry, biophysics, and physiology must be facilitated and enhanced. Shared interdisciplinary expertise will significantly promote and accelerate the understanding of these quantum processes and the resulting physiological consequences. This Frontiers Research Topic therefore encourages scientists to engage and discuss the current states of knowledge from all the different perspectives. The immediate goals are to identify quantum-related biological processes and to develop novel methodologies for measuring quantum in biology. Most importantly, though, we want to draw attention to this exciting interdisciplinary field, which has been neglected for decades, helping therewith to integrate it as a central part of common life sciences.
We welcome contributors to submit research articles, reviews, perspectives, or opinions for the following subject areas:
- interaction of magnetic fields with cells, including weak or moderate magnetic fields, static and radio frequency fields
- quantum processes in photosynthesis, vision, animal migration, enzymes, cell biology, olfactory sensing, and brain consciousness
Keywords: quantum biology, quantum processes, cell biology, physiology, applied quantum measurement
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
