Margarida Hermida (King’s College London): ‘Philosophy of Quantum Biology’

Abstract: Quantum physics may be responsible for the behaviour and stability of matter, but it is less obvious that it has any specific relevance for the explanation of biological processes. Here I discuss the essential role of electron tunnelling in respiration, and its evolutionary consequences.

All complex life on Earth is eukaryotic. Eukaryotes originated from the endosymbiotic partnership between an archaeon and a bacterium – the latter evolving into the mitochondria, where respiration takes place. In respiratory complexes, electrons ‘jump’ from one redox centre to the next through quantum tunnelling, a phenomenon that only occurs consistently over very short distances. However, some subunits are coded by nuclear genes and others by mitochondrial genes. A fine balance between the two genomes must therefore be maintained for respiration to proceed smoothly. This co-adaptation is thought to drive many unique aspects of eukaryotic evolution, including the evolution of sex.

This case illustrates how the scales that are most relevant for scientific explanation can turn out to be quite different than expected and, in this particular case, a quantum process is essential to energy transfer processes that power our cells – with far-reaching evolutionary implications.

Margarida Hermida is the current Jacobsen fellow. Her postdoctoral research project is on ‘The Physics of Life’ and aims to study how the philosophy of biophysics can shed light on the relationship between physics and biology, and on the nature of life in the universe.

Schedule

15:30-16:00 tea/coffee and pastries (LAK G.01)

16:00-17:30 seminar and Q&A (LAK 2.02)

17:30 onwards pub visit and dinner (depending on speaker’s availability)

This event will take place in person on LSE’s campus. However, those unable to attend in person will have the option of taking part online.

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