Organisms respond to quantum information

[PIT2]

“We’ve known for a long time that biological systems are sensitive to light but not necessarily that they are sensitive to the phase information that may or may not be present in light,” explains Prokhorenko. “This finding opens up how we perceive biological systems and raises new questions such as, have biological systems designed themselves to be sensitive to phase information? What other roles do quantum effects play in nature?”
http://www.physorg.com/news76773461.html

And:

Because of the wave-particle duality inherent in quantum mechanics, different states along the pathway of a molecular rearrangement can interfere with each other like vibrations on a string. The phases and amplitudes of spectral components in light pulses that initiate photochemical reactions can now be created that can steer small molecules along distinct reaction trajectories by inducing constructive or destructive wave interference among states. Prokhorenko et al. show that this approach can modulate the efficiency of retinal isomerization in the protein bacteriorhodopsin (a rearrangement closely related to the vision response) by as much as 20% in either direction. The extent of modulation is remarkable in light of the many degrees of freedom in the protein environment that might be expected to randomize the wave phases
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/313/5791/1197b

So they have used phase information to control a biological process, but how about the organisms themselves: do they use light in the same way?

They also mention 'the vision response', is that our eyes? Do our eyes/brain use phase information to create our vision?

 

[selfAdjoint]

The bactrhodopsin molecule they mention is bacterial, but it is apparently a chemical relative of the opsin molecules that mediate our vision in our retinas. So they are suggesting that if bacteria can do it, maybe our eyes can do it, or be made to do it, too. Obviously that will be a subject of further research.

 

[ravenprp]

The idea that organisms may respond to quantum information is a fascinating and relatively new concept in the field of biology. The studies mentioned in the content suggest that biological systems, such as proteins and molecules, may be sensitive to phase information in light. This means that the specific timing and arrangement of light waves may play a role in how these biological processes function.

One of the main questions raised by this finding is whether or not organisms have evolved to be sensitive to phase information. This would suggest that there is a potential advantage to being able to utilize this type of information in biological processes. It also raises the question of what other roles quantum effects may play in nature and how they may impact biological systems.

The use of phase information to control a biological process, such as the retinal isomerization in bacteriorhodopsin, demonstrates the potential practical applications of this concept. By manipulating the phases and amplitudes of light pulses, scientists were able to modulate the efficiency of this process in a controlled manner. This could have implications for understanding and potentially treating certain medical conditions related to vision.

While it is not yet fully understood how organisms may use phase information in their biological processes, the potential is certainly there. The fact that this phenomenon has been observed in proteins and molecules suggests that it may play a role in other biological systems as well. Further research in this area may provide insight into the mechanisms behind this sensitivity and how it may impact various aspects of biology.