Quantum Criticality at the Origin of Life

TL;DR

This paper reveals that biomolecules operate at a quantum critical point, exhibiting properties of a new universal quantum critical material that facilitates charge transport in living systems.

Contribution

It demonstrates that biomolecules are tuned to a quantum critical point, showing universal energy level statistics and multifractal wave functions, indicating a novel quantum critical mechanism in biology.

Findings

Biomolecules' electronic Hamiltonians are at the metal-insulator transition point.

Energy level statistics follow the universal distribution of the critical point.

Wave functions are multifractal, consistent with Anderson transition theory.

Abstract

Why life persists at the edge of chaos is a question at the very heart of evolution. Here we show that molecules taking part in biochemical processes from small molecules to proteins are critical quantum mechanically. Electronic Hamiltonians of biomolecules are tuned exactly to the critical point of the metal-insulator transition separating the Anderson localized insulator phase from the conducting disordered metal phase. Using tools from Random Matrix Theory we confirm that the energy level statistics of these biomolecules show the universal transitional distribution of the metal-insulator critical point and the wave functions are multifractals in accordance with the theory of Anderson transitions. The findings point to the existence of a universal mechanism of charge transport in living matter. The revealed bio-conductor material is neither a metal nor an insulator but a new quantum critical material which can exist only in highly evolved systems and has unique material properties.