Quantum theory and directed mutation

Date: Wed, 22 Nov 1995 00:23:27 -0800
From: Vasily Ogryzko <HVO@CU.NIH.GOV>
To: quantum-d@teleport.com
Subject: QUANTUM-D: Quantum theory and directed mutation

Some of you might be interested in my unpublished paper approaching the
"lamarkian" phenomenon of directed mutations from the quantum-theoretical 
point of view...

The phenomenon of directed (adaptive) mutations has kept the attention of
biologists for several years. It contradicts the darwinian theory of
evolution and the central dogma of molecular biology, which are the two
corner-stones of the current paradigm in biology. According to the
phenomena, directed mutations arise not as a result of a blind variation on
the genetical level and consequent selection (as the paradigm insists), but
by some sort of purposeful behavior of the cell as a whole. However, no
mechanisms for this behavior has yet been identified.

In the paper, I propose a new approach to the phenomenon of directed
mutations, based on the possible role of quantum concepts in biology
originally discussed by Niels Bohr. I am currently working on an approach
which includes the principles of quantum theory (in particular, the
principle of nonseparability) in the physical description of intracellular
dynamics. As a logical consequence of the involvement of quantum
concepts, the language of observables and measurement can be used for
the description of cellular dynamics and of the behavior of the cell as a
whole. I use this idea in the paper to approach the phenomena of directed
mutations and discuss whether it is justified from the physical point of
view.

As for the phenomenon of directed mutations, I find this "purposeful
behavior" of the cell very similar to the more elaborated behavior of
human mind; in a way, we can consider this phenomena as a very primitive
analog, an embryo of a human consciousness. The cell is simpler and better
studied object than the brain, therefore if my hypothesis is correct in
describing the former, it can ultimately help in approaching the problem
of the later.

The abstract of the paper is included below.


A QUANTUM-THEORETICAL APPROACH TO THE PHENOMENON
OF DIRECTED MUTATIONS IN BACTERIA
          (hypothesis)


       Vasily V. Ogryzko

 Laboratory of Molecular Growth Regulation,
 NICHD, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA


          A B S T R A C T
Darwinian paradigm of biological evolution is based on the
independence of genetic variations from selection which occurs
afterwards. However, according to the phenomenon of directed mutations,
some genetic variations occur mostly when the conditions favorable for
their growth are created. I propose that the explanation of this
phenomenon should not rely on any special "mechanism" for the appearance
of directed mutations, but rather should be based on  the principles of
quantum theory. I consider a physical model of adaptation whereby a
polarized photon, passing through a polarizer, changes its polarization
according to the angle of the polarizer. This adaptation occurs by
selection of the "fitted" polarized state which exists as a component of
superposition in the initial state of photon. However, since the same
state of the incoming photon should be decomposed differently depending
on the angle of the polarizer, in this case the set of variations subjected
to selection depends upon the selective conditions themselves. This
reveals the crucial difference between this model of adaptation and
canonical darwinian selection.

Based on this analogy, the capacity of cell to grow in particular conditions
is considered an observable of the cell; the plating experiments are
interpreted as measurement of this observable. The only nontrivial
suggestion of the paper states that the cell, analogously to the polarized
photon, may be in a state of superposition  of eigenfunctions of the
operator which represents this observable, and with some probability can
appear as a mutant upon the measurement. Alternative growth conditions
correspond to the decomposition of the same state vector into different
superposition, consistent with measurement of different observable and
appearance of different mutants. Thus, consistent with the suggested
analogy, directed mutations are explained as a result of random choice
from the set of outcomes determined by environment.