Radical-pair mechanism: Difference between revisions
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In [[quantum biology]], the '''radical-pair mechanism''' is a proposed explanation for [[magnetoreception]], the ability for an organism to sense weak magnetic fields. | In [[quantum biology]], the '''[[Radical (chemistry)|radical]]-pair mechanism''' is a proposed [[Spin chemistry|spin-chemistry]] explanation for [[magnetoreception]], the ability for an organism to sense weak magnetic fields. It has been significantly studied in the context of [[bird migration]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Zadeh-Haghighi |first=Hadi |last2=Simon |first2=Christoph |date=2022-08-01 |title=Magnetic field effects in biology from the perspective of the radical pair mechanism |url=https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2022.0325 |journal=Journal of The Royal Society Interface |volume=19 |issue=193 |pages= |doi=10.1098/rsif.2022.0325 |issn=1742-5689}}</ref> | ||
== Mechanism == | |||
A [[Radical (chemistry)|radical]] is a molecule with an unpaired [[valence electron]]; thus, a pair of radicals is a radical pair. In the radical-pair mechanism, the unpaired electrons of the radical pair are [[Spin (physics)|spin]]-correlated, oscillating between a [[singlet state]] and a [[triplet state]]. Importantly, the radical pair spin state can interact with its environment, particularly with external magnetic fields, which influences which state it will be in.<ref name=":1" /> | |||
<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Adams |first=Betony |last2=Sinayskiy |first2=Ilya |last3=Petruccione |first3=Francesco |date=2018-10-24 |title=An open quantum system approach to the radical pair mechanism |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-34007-4 |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |publisher=Nature Publishing Group |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=15719 |doi=10.1038/s41598-018-34007-4 |issn=2045-2322|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hore |first=P. J. |last2=Mouritsen |first2=Henrik |date=2016-07-05 |title=The Radical-Pair Mechanism of Magnetoreception |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27216936 |journal=Annual Review of Biophysics |volume=45 |pages=299–344 |doi=10.1146/annurev-biophys-032116-094545 |issn=1936-1238 |pmid=27216936}}</ref> | |||
== Effects == | |||
== Discovery == | |||
The radical-pair mechanism was first described in the 1960s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The radical-pair mechanism as a paradigm for the emerging science of quantum biology |url=https://arxiv.org/html/1512.00450v2 |access-date=2026-09-23 |website=arxiv.org|date=2016|last=Kominis|first=Iannis K.}}</ref> | |||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
Revision as of 19:24, 23 September 2026
In quantum biology, the radical-pair mechanism is a proposed spin-chemistry explanation for magnetoreception, the ability for an organism to sense weak magnetic fields. It has been significantly studied in the context of bird migration.[1]
Mechanism
A radical is a molecule with an unpaired valence electron; thus, a pair of radicals is a radical pair. In the radical-pair mechanism, the unpaired electrons of the radical pair are spin-correlated, oscillating between a singlet state and a triplet state. Importantly, the radical pair spin state can interact with its environment, particularly with external magnetic fields, which influences which state it will be in.[1]
Effects
Discovery
The radical-pair mechanism was first described in the 1960s.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Zadeh-Haghighi, Hadi; Simon, Christoph (2022-08-01). "Magnetic field effects in biology from the perspective of the radical pair mechanism". Journal of The Royal Society Interface 19 (193). doi:. ISSN 1742-5689. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2022.0325.
- ↑ Adams, Betony; Sinayskiy, Ilya; Petruccione, Francesco (2018-10-24). "An open quantum system approach to the radical pair mechanism" (in en). Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group) 8 (1): 15719. doi:. ISSN 2045-2322. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-34007-4.
- ↑ Hore, P. J.; Mouritsen, Henrik (2016-07-05). "The Radical-Pair Mechanism of Magnetoreception". Annual Review of Biophysics 45: 299–344. doi:. ISSN 1936-1238. PMID 27216936. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27216936.
- ↑ Kominis, Iannis K. (2016). "The radical-pair mechanism as a paradigm for the emerging science of quantum biology". https://arxiv.org/html/1512.00450v2.