Today's Most Popular: Recent Findings Hints Quantum Physics Binds DNA

In what would be a potentially explosive finding, a team of scientists at the National University of Singapore suggested that it is quantum entanglement that holds our DNA together.

In quantum entanglement, two objects are connected by an invisible wave that allows them to essentially share the same existence. If something happens to one object, it immediately happens to the other, regardless of their apart.

Elisabeth Rieper and colleagues at the National University of Singapore say this entanglement might hold the DNA double helix together.

According to MIT's Technology Review, Rieper and colleagues used a theoretical model of DNA in which each nucleotide consists of electrons orbiting a positively charged nucleus. The movement of the negative cloud is a harmonic oscillator. When the nucleotides bond to form a base pair, the clouds must oscillate in opposite directions or the structure won't be stable. Rieper and colleagues asked what would happen to those oscillations when the base pairs are stacked in a double helix.

The helix should vibrate and fall apart, but it doesn't because the oscillations occur as a superposition of states -- meaning they oscillate in all possible states at once. A quantum entanglement that effectively holds it all together.

Rieper and colleages say that in a standard analysis, there's not enough energy to hold DNA together, but their quantum theory makes it work. Proof will have to follow to confirm their theory.

Casey Kazan via technologyreview.com

Comments

[Bob Greenwade]

"Proof will have to follow..." well, yes, of course. Such is true of all such things; the hypothesis comes first, and then proof is sought one way or the other. That's the way exploration of all kinds works. I recognize why that has to be said, but saying it shouldn't be necessary.

Still, this is an interesting theory. I'm a little skeptical of it, though; wouldn't quantum entanglement also require that entangled particles physically move in sync, either in the same direction or in opposite directions? So as I move my fingers to type this, what does that mean for the DNA molecules in my manual extremities? I'm a total duffer at physics, so there's probably something I'm missing here, but I'd sure like to know.

On the other hand, if this turns out to be true I think it would be a massive discovery for designing devices using quantum states.

[Alex Reynolds]

If this is true, then it might mean that entanglement is necessary for life anywhere in the universe..... that, as a matter of fact, life was pre-programmed into the universe right from its birth, since entanglement has existed since then.

[Mike Falino]

This would fundamentally change our understanding of the universe! It would officially link physics and biology, as well as present a legitimate basis for discussing the problem of consciousness in quantum physics!

[voldemort]

extraordinary theory, although i don't quite get how quantum entanglement bonds DNA together. Could somebody possibly give an explanation please, thanks.

[John A]

You mean an explanation beyond the next to last paragraph? Beyond that you'd better start taking some physics courses.

[Justin]

It almost has to be the reason to what makes life happen. How else would life get started if it weren't for this quantum physics coding for it to happen? Say you have all the materials needed for life say is in a puddle, wouldn't it just be a puddle without life. But throw in quantum physics and it kind of organizes itself without really knowing what to do but it reacts in a manner to evolve. Maybe even quantum physics played a role in how our stars developed in our universe to differ from other universes.

[Mehmet Saglam]

As "quantum realities" come to the surface bit by bit, one wonders if all the quantum events are creations of a collective mind of the whole universe!!! Comments on that point would be most gratifying. Regards... MS

[Bob Greenwade]

@MS: I find this very likely. There's some evidence that the brain (I was going to say the human brain, but other species' brains would do the same) functions as a quantum computer. There's also some evidence that consciousness exists as the ultimate reality, beyond space, time, matter, and energy, affecting quantum states. Since quantum states likewise affect classical states, if these two ideas turn out to be true then it would bear out what you way.

[trifon]

PROOF
PROOF

proof is the only thing that matters in physics

Otherwise I could even say that it is the impact of dark matter and primoridal neutrinos that ties DNA together

[Simon Salosny]

"...regardless of their apart" ? might be "regardless the distance that they might be apart" or another definition. One should take care with the language. As for the topic in itself, Mehmet Saglam´s comment sort of gives a good, partial idea of the quantum magic reality, but doesn´t mention entanglement to complete it. Anyway; it seems that quantum magic, mechanics, philosophy, or whatever definition proposed, are just dreamworld concepts, still far from human understanding or capacity to frame any. Once understood, humans would surely find a way and justification to "change" everything.

[Frunze Petrosyan]

I will not be amazed if this theory will come true. Quantum tunneling is responsible for human smelling (it's more than a theory), and quantum entanglement also must somehow be envolved in human design. One day it will turn out that we are all Qu-men.

[Bob Greenwade]

Frunze: I have not heard about the theory that the sense of smell is based on quantum tunneling. Do you have a citation for that? I'm very, very interested!

[Frunze Petrosyan]

Hi Bob, there are few articles in Phys. Rev. Lett. but you better look at this: http://scienceblogs.com/neurophilosophy/2007/09/the_quantum_mechanics_of_smell.php

[JD Benson]

It is frustrating to see most still cling to there core value of understanding, when what we are peering into is a vast sea of new concepts that smash all previous agreements with our own reasoning. The "beginning" , The "Birth of", when there is an obvious trend of clue's that will obliterate all previousness. Everything is connected, there is no beginning or end, there is only transformation that is intelligence. Yes, the "universe floating in a Thumbnail" theories and "we are God and God is us" stuff is all true yet to constantly struggle to grasp is such evidence of our vanity it is laughable.
Enjoy Folks, let your wildest imaginations run truly wild.
Peace!

[baseball hats]

Beautiful pictures,thanks for you blogging.keep it up.

[arnold]

when you study physics you'll find out that every process taking place at the scale of atoms and small molecules need to be described with a quantum phyisical approach.
All the molecular physics (e.g. molecular spectroscopy) is therefor based on quantum mechanics.
So this article doesn't contain anything new at all.

[Jeff G]

If you are a total duffer at physics - I dont see how you can really have opinion on this article at all.