In this chapter, we’ll look at the competing theories of how life originated and new research into the role that quantum effects may have played. After all, quantum effects are themselves very old indeed. They don’t depend on the existence of life for their operation. Far from it. The earliest theories of quantum mechanics, in their complexity, often assumed quantum phenomena could only take place in very rarefied circumstances, and certainly not in the hot, wet environment of biology. We now know that’s not the case, and the tantalising prospect arises that quantum effects may have played a significant role in the earliest manifestations of life and may also be continuing to play a role in our evolution today.

Buy the book here