Quantum Biology - Woo or Not?

[Limbo]

In your estimation, is quantum biology (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_biology) a pseudoscience, or a fringe science, or woo, or mainstream, or what?

[Ziggurat]

Isn't that just quantum chemistry applied to biological systems? What's controversial about that?

[Doctor Evil]

Are you sure you are not mixing up two notions. One is that some biological reactions may involve quantum mechanical processes such as tunnelling. (Mostly involving a transfer of one electron, or one proton.) The other is that quantum entanglement is somehow relevant to consciousness.

The first is science, the second is not.

[kalen]

In your estimation, is quantum biology (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_biology) a pseudoscience, or a fringe science, or woo, or mainstream, or what?

Quantum mechanics is necessary when investigating matter at the molecular level.

The Wiki article itself seems to be based firmly in reality.

However, the "See Also" section has links bordering on woo. eg. "Consciousness causes collapse" and "Roger Penrose".

[Limbo]

Quantum biology has come in from the cold (http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20527462.500-quantum-biology-has-come-in-from-the-cold.html)

1. Does anyone have a link to the full paper

2. Does anyone have an opinion on the paper

[Dancing David]

Um, there are grades of what happens, the quantum effect in photosynthetic cells is very short in range and very short in time.

:)

[Aepervius]

It depends on what you are speaking.

QM influence on macro process like thought or neuron function ? Woo.

QM influence on biological process on the molecular level, like photosynthesis, decomposition etc... Not Woo.