Quantum Information Biology: from information interpretation of quantum mechanics to applications in molecular biology and cognitive psychology

TL;DR

Quantum information biology applies quantum formalism to model information processing across biological scales, from molecules to cognition, supported by extensive bio-data and grounded in the information interpretation of quantum mechanics.

Contribution

It introduces a multi-scale quantum-like model of biological information processing distinct from traditional quantum biophysics, emphasizing the information interpretation of quantum mechanics.

Findings

Supports the quantum-like paradigm with extensive bio-data

Proposes quantum adaptive dynamics as a new formalism

Links bio-quantum probabilities to Quantum Bayesianism

Abstract

We discuss foundational issues of quantum information biology (QIB) -- one of the most successful applications of the quantum formalism outside of physics. QIB provides a multi-scale model of information processing in bio-systems: from proteins and cells to cognitive and social systems. This theory has to be sharply distinguished from "traditional quantum biophysics". The latter is about quantum bio-physical processes, e.g., in cells or brains. QIB models the dynamics of information states of bio-systems. It is based on the quantum-like paradigm: complex bio-systems process information in accordance with the laws of quantum information and probability. This paradigm is supported by plenty of statistical bio-data collected at all scales, from molecular biology and genetics/epigenetics to cognitive psychology and behavioral economics. We argue that the information interpretation of quantum mechanics (its various forms were elaborated by Zeilinger and Brukner, Fuchs and Mermin, and D' Ariano) is the most natural interpretation of QIB. We also point out that QBIsm (Quantum Bayesianism) can serve to find a proper interpretation of bio-quantum probabilities. Biologically QIB is based on two principles: a) adaptivity; b) openness (bio-systems are fundamentally open). These principles are mathematically represented in the framework of a novel formalism -- quantum adaptive dynamics which, in particular, contains the standard theory of open quantum systems as a special case of adaptivity (to environment).