[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:01.11,0:00:05.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'd like to introduce you \Nto an emerging area of science.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.74,0:00:09.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One that is still speculative,\Nbut hugely exciting.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.84,0:00:12.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's certainly one that's \Ngrowing very rapidly.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.32,0:00:17.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum biology asks\Na very simple question.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.70,0:00:22.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Does quantum mechanics, that weird\Nand wonderful, and powerful theory
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.15,0:00:24.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the subatomic world\Nof atoms and molecules
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.93,0:00:29.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that underpins so much of modern\Nphysics and chemistry, also play
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.52,0:00:31.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a role inside the living cell?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.94,0:00:37.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In other words, are there processes,\Nmechanisms, phenomena in living organisms
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.16,0:00:43.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that can only be explained with a helping\Nhand from quantum mechanics?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.55,0:00:47.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, quantum biology isn't new.\NIt's been around since the early 1930s.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.07,0:00:51.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But its only in the last decade or so,\Nthat careful experiments
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.74,0:00:58.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in biochemistry labs, using spectroscopy\Nthat have shown very clear, firm evidence
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.86,0:01:03.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that there are certain specific mechanisms\Nthat require quantum mechanics
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.57,0:01:04.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to explain them.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.82,0:01:09.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum biology brings together \Nquantum physicists, biochemists,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.18,0:01:10.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,molecular biologists.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.27,0:01:12.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a very interdisciplinary field.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.87,0:01:16.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I come from quantum physics.\NSo, I'm a nuclear physicist.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.73,0:01:21.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've spent more than three decades trying \Nto get my head around quantum mechanics.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.90,0:01:24.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the founders of quantum \Nmechanics, Neil Bohr said,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.63,0:01:27.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you're not astonished by it,\Nthen you haven't understood it.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.31,0:01:32.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, I sort of feel happy that I'm still\Nastonished by it and that's a good thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.75,0:01:39.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it means I study the very smallest\Nstructures in the universe.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.78,0:01:41.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The building blocks of reality.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.88,0:01:46.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we think about the scale of size,\Nstart with something, an everyday object
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.98,0:01:50.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like the tennis ball, and just go down\Norders of magnitude and size.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.11,0:01:56.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,From the eye of a needle, down to a cell,\Ndown to a bacterium, down to an enzyme.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.31,0:01:57.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You eventually reach the nano world.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.98,0:02:00.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, nanotechnology may \Nbe a term you've heard of.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.84,0:02:03.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A nanometer is \Na billionth of a meter.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.69,0:02:08.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My area is the atomic nucleus,\Nwhich is the tiny dot inside an atom.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.97,0:02:10.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's even smaller in scale.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.91,0:02:14.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the domain of quantum mechanics,\Nand physicists and chemists have had
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.98,0:02:16.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a long time to get used to it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.05,0:02:22.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Biologists on the other hand\Nhave got off lightly, in my view.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.18,0:02:26.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They are very happy with their \Nballs-and-sticks models of molecules.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.62,0:02:27.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.64,0:02:30.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The balls are the atoms, the sticks\Nare the bonds between the atoms
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.66,0:02:32.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when they can't build them\Nphysically in the lab,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.43,0:02:37.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nowadays they have very powerful\Ncomputers that will simulate a huge model.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.07,0:02:41.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a protein made up \Nof 100,000 atoms.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.06,0:02:46.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It doesn't really require much in the way \Nof quantum mechanics to explain it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.66,0:02:51.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum mechanics was \Ndeveloped in the 1920s.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.13,0:02:57.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is a set of beautiful and powerful \Nmathematical rules and ideas
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.67,0:03:00.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that explain the world\Nof the very small.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.50,0:03:03.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's a world that very different\Nfrom our everyday world
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.70,0:03:05.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,made up of trillions of atoms.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.34,0:03:09.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a world built on probability\Nand chance.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.82,0:03:11.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a fuzzy world.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.34,0:03:16.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a world of phantoms, where particles\Ncan also behave like spread out waves.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.16,0:03:21.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we imagine quantum mechanics\Nor quantum physics, then as
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.38,0:03:26.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the fundamental \Nfoundation of reality itself.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.42,0:03:29.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's not surprising \Nthat we say quantum physics
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.10,0:03:30.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,underpins organic chemistry.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.57,0:03:32.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After all, it gives us\Nthe rules that tells us
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.79,0:03:34.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how the atoms fit together\Nto make organic molecules.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.14,0:03:40.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Organic chemistry, scaled up in complexity\Ngives us molecular biology,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.08,0:03:41.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which of course leads \Nto life itself.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.22,0:03:44.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, in a way, it's sort \Nof not surprising.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.27,0:03:45.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's almost trivial.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.83,0:03:49.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Say, well of course life ultimately\Nmust depend of quantum mechanics.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.28,0:03:52.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, so does everything else.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.67,0:03:56.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So does all inanimate matter, \Nmade up of trillions of atoms.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.44,0:04:02.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ultimately, there's a quantum level\Nthat we know where we have to delve
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.28,0:04:03.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into this weridness.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.61,0:04:06.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in everyday life, \Nwe can forget about it.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.46,0:04:10.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because once you put together trillions \Nof atoms, that quantum weirdness
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.83,0:04:12.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just dissolves away.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.44,0:04:20.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum biology isn't about this.\NQuantum biology isn't this obvious.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.68,0:04:24.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Of course quantum mechanics underpins\Nlife at some molecular level.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.20,0:04:33.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum biology is about looking\Nfor the non-trivial, the counterintuitive
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.17,0:04:38.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ideas in quantum mechanics and to see\Nif they do indeed play an important role
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.97,0:04:41.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in describing the processes of life.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.60,0:04:47.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Here is my perfect example\Nof the counterintuitiveness
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.76,0:04:49.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the quantum world.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.46,0:04:50.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the quantum skiier.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.76,0:04:53.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He seems to be intact, he seems\Nto be perfectly healthy.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.38,0:04:57.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And yet, he seems to have gone around\Nboth sides of that tree at the same time.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.31,0:05:01.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, if you saw some tracks like that\Nyou'd guess some sort of stunts of course.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.38,0:05:03.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in the quantum world,\Nthis happens all the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.07,0:05:08.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Particles can multitask, they can be\Nin two places at once.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.02,0:05:10.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They can do more than\None thing at the same time.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.39,0:05:12.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Particles can behave\Nlike spread out waves.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.45,0:05:14.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's almost like magic.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.54,0:05:19.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Physicists and chemists have had\Nnearly a century of trying
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.22,0:05:20.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to get used to this weirdness.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.72,0:05:24.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't blame the biologists for not\Nhaving or wanting to learn
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.42,0:05:25.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,quantum mechanics.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:25.36,0:05:31.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, this weirdness is very delicate\Nand we physicists work very hard
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.22,0:05:33.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to maintain it on our labs.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.56,0:05:37.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We sort of cool our system down\Nto near absolute zero,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.84,0:05:41.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We carry out our experiments \Nin vacuums, we try and isolate it
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.16,0:05:42.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from any external disturbance.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.94,0:05:48.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's very different from the warm,\Nmessy, noisy environment of a living cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.07,0:05:54.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Biology itself, if you think of molecular\Nbiology, seems to have done very well
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.62,0:05:57.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in describing all the processes of life,\Nin terms of chemistry.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.69,0:05:58.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Chemical reactions!
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.10,0:06:04.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And these are reductionist, deterministic\Nchemical reactions showing that
Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.31,0:06:08.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,essentially life, is made of the same\Nstuff as everything else,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.60,0:06:11.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if we can forget about quantum \Nmechanics in the macro world,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.97,0:06:15.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then we should be able to forget \Nabout it in biology, as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.72,0:06:19.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, one man begged \Nto differ with this idea.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.06,0:06:24.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Erwin Schrödinger, he of Schrödinger's Cat\Nfame, an Austrian physicist.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.69,0:06:28.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was one of the founders\Nof quantum mechanics in the 1920s.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.46,0:06:31.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In 1944, he wrote a book\Ncalled "What is Life?"
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.91,0:06:33.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was tremendously influential.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:33.68,0:06:35.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It influenced Francis Crick\Nand James Watson,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.91,0:06:38.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the discoverer's of the double helix\Nstructure of DNA.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.42,0:06:44.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,To paraphrase a description in the book,\Nhe says, at the molecular level,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.96,0:06:51.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,living organism have a certain order,\Na structure to them that's very
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.77,0:06:56.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,different from the random thermodynamic\Njostling of atoms and molecules
Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.78,0:07:01.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in inanimate matter \Nof the same complexity.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.50,0:07:06.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, living matter seems to behave\Nin its order, in its structure
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.60,0:07:10.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just like inanimate matter cooled\Ndown to near absolute zero,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:10.64,0:07:13.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where quantum effects \Nplay a very important role.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.42,0:07:17.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's something special about\Nthe structure, the order
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.46,0:07:20.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,inside a living cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.05,0:07:25.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, Schrödinger speculated that maybe\Nquantum mechanics plays a role in life.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.90,0:07:30.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a very speculative, sort of\Nfar-reaching idea and it didn't
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.10,0:07:32.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,really go very far.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.40,0:07:35.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, as I mentioned at the start,\Nin the last 10 years
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.93,0:07:40.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there have been experiment emerging,\Nshowing where some of these certain
Dialogue: 0,0:07:40.83,0:07:43.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,phenomena in biology, do seem\Nto require quantum mechanics.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.68,0:07:46.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to share with you\Njust a few of the exciting ones.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.22,0:07:52.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is one of the best known \Nphenomena in the quantum world.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.28,0:07:53.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum tunneling.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.94,0:07:59.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The box on the left, shows the wavelike\Nspread out distribution of quantum entity.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.34,0:08:00.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A particle, like an electron.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:01.05,0:08:03.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which is not a little ball \Nbouncing off a wall.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:04.53,0:08:09.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a wave that has a certain probability\Nof being able to permeate through
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.61,0:08:12.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a solid wall, like a phantom \Nleaping through to the other side.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.79,0:08:16.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can see a faint smudge of light\Nin the right hand box.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.50,0:08:22.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum tunneling suggests that a particle\Ncan hit an impenetrable barrier and yet,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:22.87,0:08:27.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,somehow, as if by magic, disappear from\None side and reappear on the other.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:27.42,0:08:31.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The nicest way of explaining it,\Nis if you want to throw a ball
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.98,0:08:35.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,over a wall, you have to give it enough\Nenergy to get over the top of the wall.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.81,0:08:38.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the quantum world, you don't have\Nto throw it over the wall.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.87,0:08:42.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can throw it at the wall and three's\Na certain non-zero probability that it'll
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.74,0:08:45.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,disappear on your side,\Nand reappear on the other.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.19,0:08:49.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This isn't speculation, \Nby the way, we're happy
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.02,0:08:51.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-- I'm sorry, happy is not the right word.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.41,0:08:52.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.68,0:08:54.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We are familiar with this.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.69,0:08:55.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.72,0:09:00.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum tunneling takes place \Nall the time, in fact
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.76,0:09:03.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's the reason our sun shines.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.09,0:09:06.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The particles fuse together in the sun\Nis turning hydrogen into helium
Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.39,0:09:08.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through quantum tunneling.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.55,0:09:14.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Back in the 70s and 80s, it was discovered\Nthat quantum tunneling also takes place
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.71,0:09:16.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,inside living cells.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.60,0:09:22.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Enzymes, those workhorses of life,\Nthe catalysts of chemical reaction.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.81,0:09:26.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Enzymes are biomolecules that speed\Nup chemical reactions in living cells.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.83,0:09:28.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By many, many orders of magnitude.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.67,0:09:31.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's always been a mystery\Nhow they do this.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.69,0:09:36.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, it was discovered that one\Nof the tricks that enzymes have evolved
Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.25,0:09:41.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to make use of, is by transferring\Nsubatomic particles, like electrons
Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.85,0:09:46.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and indeed protons, from one part\Nof a molecule to another via
Dialogue: 0,0:09:46.61,0:09:48.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,quantum tunneling.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:48.45,0:09:50.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's efficient, it's fast, \Nit can disappear
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.79,0:09:54.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-- a proton can disappear from one place\Nand a reappear on the other.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.05,0:09:56.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Enzymes help this take place.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.60,0:10:01.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is research that's been carried out\Nback in the 80s, particularly by a group
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.26,0:10:03.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in Berkeley, Judith Klinman.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.53,0:10:07.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Other groups in the UK have now also\Nconfirmed that enzymes really do this.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.29,0:10:14.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Research carried out by my group\N-- so I mentioned I'm a nuclear physicist,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:14.13,0:10:17.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I've realize I've got these tools\Nof using quantum mechanics
Dialogue: 0,0:10:17.16,0:10:22.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in atomic nuclei and so can apply those\Ntools in other areas, as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.57,0:10:27.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One question we asked was, whether \Nquantum tunneling plays a role
Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.88,0:10:29.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in mutations in DNA.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.72,0:10:33.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Again, this is not a new idea.\NIt goes all the way back to the early 60s.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.53,0:10:37.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The two strands of DNA, the double helix \Nstructure are held together by rungs,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.96,0:10:39.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's like a twisted ladder.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:39.60,0:10:42.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And those rungs of the ladder\Nare hydrogen bonds.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.97,0:10:46.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Protons that act as the glue\Nbetween the two strands.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.70,0:10:51.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, if you zoom in, what they're doing\Nis holding these large molecules,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.68,0:10:53.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nucleotides, together.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.38,0:10:55.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Zoom in a bit more.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:55.30,0:10:57.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, this a computer simulation.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.12,0:11:02.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The two white balls in the middle\Nare protons and you can see that
Dialogue: 0,0:11:02.69,0:11:03.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's a double hydrogen bond.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:04.18,0:11:08.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One prefers to sit one side, \Nthe other on the other side of the stands.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:08.00,0:11:11.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The two strands of the vertical lines\Ngoing down, which you can't see.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.65,0:11:15.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It can happen that these \Ntwo protons can hop over.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:15.78,0:11:19.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Watch the two white balls.\NThey can jump over to the other side.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.34,0:11:25.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If the two strands then separate,\Nleading to the process of replication,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:25.91,0:11:31.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the two protons are in the wrong\Npositions, this can lead to a mutation.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.11,0:11:32.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This has been known for half a century.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.99,0:11:38.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The question is how likely can they do \Nthat, and if they do, how do they do it?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:38.20,0:11:40.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do they jump across, like the ball\Ngoing over the wall?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:40.91,0:11:44.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or can they quantum tunnel across,\Neven if they don't have enough energy?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.09,0:11:49.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Early indications suggest that quantum\Ntunneling can play a role here.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:49.57,0:11:53.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We still don't know yet how important\Nit is, it's still an open question.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:53.33,0:11:57.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's speculative, but it's one of those \Nquestions that it is so important,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:57.60,0:12:01.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that if quantum mechanics plays\Na role in mutations, surely this must
Dialogue: 0,0:12:01.22,0:12:06.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have big implications, to understand\Ncertain types of mutations, possibly even
Dialogue: 0,0:12:06.26,0:12:09.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,those that lead to turning \Na cell cancerous.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.52,0:12:16.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another example of quantum mechanics\Nin biology is quantum coherence
Dialogue: 0,0:12:16.34,0:12:19.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in one of the most important process\Nin biology, photosynthesis.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.00,0:12:25.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Plants and bacteria taking sunlight,\Nusing that energy to create biomass.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:26.12,0:12:30.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum coherence is the idea\Nof quantum entities multitasking.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:30.91,0:12:32.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's the quantum skier.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.54,0:12:37.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's an object that behaves like a wave,\Nso that it doesn't just move
Dialogue: 0,0:12:37.05,0:12:41.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in one direction or the other, but can\Nfollow multiple pathways at the same time.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:42.71,0:12:48.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some years ago, the world of science\Nwas shocked when a paper was published
Dialogue: 0,0:12:48.72,0:12:52.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,showing experimental evidence,\Nthat quantum coherence takes place
Dialogue: 0,0:12:52.36,0:12:55.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,inside bacteria, \Ncarrying out photosynthesis.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:55.62,0:12:58.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The idea is that the photon, \Nthe particle of light, the sunlight,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:59.03,0:13:03.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the quantum of light, captured by \Na chlorophyl molecule, is then delivered
Dialogue: 0,0:13:03.09,0:13:06.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to what's called the reaction center where\Nit can be turned into chemical energy.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:06.91,0:13:10.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in getting there, it doesn't just\Nfollow one root, it follows multiple
Dialogue: 0,0:13:10.64,0:13:15.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pathways at once, to optimize the most\Nefficient way of reaching the reaction
Dialogue: 0,0:13:15.58,0:13:18.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,center, without dissipating \Nas waste heat.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:19.23,0:13:22.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum coherence taking place\Ninside a living cell.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:22.56,0:13:30.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A remarkable idea, and yet evidence\Nis growing almost weekly with new papers
Dialogue: 0,0:13:30.11,0:13:33.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,coming out, confirming that \Nthis does indeed take place.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:33.56,0:13:38.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My third and final example is the most\Nbeautiful, wonderful idea.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:38.56,0:13:42.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's also still a very speculative,\Nbut I have to share it with you.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.66,0:13:48.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The European Robin migrates from\NScandinavia, down to the Mediterranean
Dialogue: 0,0:13:48.44,0:13:52.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every autumn and like a lot of other\Nmarine animals and even insects,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:52.93,0:13:57.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they navigate by sensing \Nthe Earth's magnetic field.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.95,0:14:01.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now the Earth's magnetic \Nfield is very, very weak.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:01.34,0:14:03.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's 100 times weaker than\Na fridge magnet and yet
Dialogue: 0,0:14:03.89,0:14:09.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it affects the chemistry, somehow,\Nwithin a living organism.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:09.93,0:14:13.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's not in doubt, \Na German couple of onothologists
Dialogue: 0,0:14:13.76,0:14:18.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Wolfgang and Roswitha Wiltschko,\Nin the 1970s confirmed that indeed
Dialogue: 0,0:14:18.05,0:14:21.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the robin does find it's way by somehow\Nsensing the Earth's magnetic field,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:21.95,0:14:25.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to give it directional information,\Na built-in compass.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:25.40,0:14:27.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The puzzle, the mystery was\Nhow does it do it?
Dialogue: 0,0:14:28.35,0:14:32.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, the only theory in town,\Nwe don't know if it's the correct theory,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:32.85,0:14:36.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the only theory in town, is that\Nit does it via something called
Dialogue: 0,0:14:36.08,0:14:37.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,quantum entanglement.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:38.48,0:14:42.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Inside the robin's retina\N-- I kid you not.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:42.20,0:14:45.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Inside the robin's retina, \Nis a protein called cryptochrome,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:45.37,0:14:46.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is light sensitive.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:46.62,0:14:50.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Within cryptochrome, a pair of electrons\Nare quantum entangled.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:50.89,0:14:54.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now quantum entanglement is when two\Nparticles are far apart and yet somehow
Dialogue: 0,0:14:54.62,0:14:56.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,remain in contact with each other.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:56.92,0:15:00.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even Einstein hated that idea, he called\Nit spooky action at a distance.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:00.48,0:15:01.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:15:02.43,0:15:05.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If Einstein doesn't like it, then we can\Nall be uncomfortable with it.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:05.76,0:15:10.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Two quantum entangled electrons within\Na single molecule, dance a delicate dance
Dialogue: 0,0:15:10.27,0:15:12.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is very sensitive \Nto the direction the bird flies
Dialogue: 0,0:15:12.92,0:15:14.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the Earth's magnetic field.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:15.04,0:15:19.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We don't know if it's the correct\Nexplanation, but wow wouldn't it be
Dialogue: 0,0:15:19.50,0:15:22.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,exciting if quantum mechanics\Nhelps birds navigate.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:22.82,0:15:29.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quantum biology is still in it infancy.\NIt's still speculative.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:29.85,0:15:33.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I believe it's built on solid science.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:34.04,0:15:39.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I also think that in the coming decade,\Nor so, we're going to start to see
Dialogue: 0,0:15:39.57,0:15:45.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that actually it pervades life, that life\Nhas evolved tricks that utilize
Dialogue: 0,0:15:45.90,0:15:47.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the quantum world.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:48.03,0:15:49.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Watch this space.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:49.68,0:15:50.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:50.82,0:15:52.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)