Quantum Processes in Biology (eBook)

In recent years, extensive research on stochastic processes such as neuron networks, molecular motors, dynamics models, anomalous diffusion, and disordered media has led to the development of various methods for applying the Classical and Quantum Smoluchowski Equation to these phenomena. This book focuses on presenting the solution to the Fokker-Planck equation using the Crank-Nicholson formalism. This method is particularly effective for handling systems with numerous interactions, requiring vector and matrix-oriented approaches suitable for implementation in Matlab. Among the topics treated in the book are: Dynamics of protons in DNA, Photosynthesis and the quantum mechanochemical model, Entanglement, coherence and decoherence, Excitons in the Fenna-Mathews-Olson complex, and Energy exchange between cells.

The author has made an incredible work in facilitating the understanding of these complex topics. This book includes a brief and clear explanation of the Quantum theory and also includes code to build useful software to use in research environments. This volume is particularly helpful for graduate students in physics and biology interested in understanding biological processes with the use of quantum physics tools.

Prof. Dr. José Antonio Fornés studied Physics at La Plata University, Argentina, where he received his doctoral degree in Physics in 1972. In 1973 he worked as a postdoctoral fellow in Quantum Chemistry at Uppsala University, Sweden. In 1974 he was a postdoctoral fellow at Middlesex Hospital Medical School of London University, in experimental biophysics. He was visiting Professor at the University of California at Irvine, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, during 1989-1991. Also, he was visiting Professor at the Department of Physics of São Paulo University, Brazil, during 1998-2001. He was visiting professor at the Department of Applied Physics of the Complutense University in Madrid, Spain, during 2005-2006. He has been full Professor of Physics at the Department of Physics of the Federal University of Goiás during 1981-1998, and retired after that. His research interests comprise electrical fluctuations in molecular systems, molecular biophysics, hydrodynamic fluctuationsas well as molecular motors.