Quantum Evolution: The New Science of the Life Force - Hardcover

McFadden, Johnjoe

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 000255948X ISBN 13: 9780002559485

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2000

Synopsis

Quantum Evolution presents a revolutionary new scientific theory by asking: is there a force of will behind evolution? In his astonishing first book, Johnjoe McFadden shows that there is.

How did life start? How did something capable of replicating itself emerge from the primordial soup? How did it defy the odds? And how did it carry on seeking out the very mutations that enable survival?

Living organisms are controlled by a single molecule – DNA. Yet the study of physics tells us that the behaviour of single molecules is also controlled by the laws of quantum mechanics. The implications of this for biology have not been fully thought through. Until now.

In this brilliant debut, Johnjoe McFadden puts forward a theory of quantum evolution. He shows how living organisms have the ability to will themselves into action. Indeed, such an ability may be life’s most fundamental attribute. This has radical implications. Evolution may not be random at all, as recent evolutionary theories have taught: rather, cells may, in certain circumstances, be able to choose to mutate particular genes that provide an advantage in the environment in which the cell finds itself. This ‘will’ – described by McFadden as ‘the life force’ – has startling implications. It is at the root of consciousness and free-will and provides a new understanding of the origins of life and the purpose of death.

About this title

About the Author

Johnjoe McFadden is a Reader in Molecular Microbiology at Surrey University and editor of Britain’s leading text book on Molecular Biology. For over 10 years, Dr McFadden has specialised in examining tuberculosis and meningitis genes. He is the inventor of the first successful test for meningitis (which received worldwide press, radio and TV coverage) and was leader of another team, the first to successfully use artificial life computer programmes to model key transition stages in evolution (also covered by the media). This is his first book for a popular audience.

From the Back Cover

How did life start? How did something capable of replicating itself emerge from the primordial soup? How did it defy the odds? And how did it carry on seeking out those very mutations that enable survival? Life is an extraordinary phenomenon whose existence requires an extraordinary explanation.

Living organisms are controlled by a single molecule – DNA. Yet the study of physics tells us that the behaviour of single molecules is controlled not by classical laws but by the strange laws of quantum mechanics. The implications of this for biology have never been fully explored. Until now. In this brilliant debut, Johnjoe McFadden puts forward a theory of quantum evolution. He shows how quantum mechanics gives living organisms the ability to initiate specific actions including new mutations. Indeed, such an ability may be life's most fundamental attribute. This simple but staggering theory has radical implications. Evolution may not be random at all, as evolutionary theorists have taught recently: rather, it may be directed – cells may, in certain circumstances, be able to choose to mutate particular genes that provide an advantage in the environment in which the cell finds itself.

The property of living organisms to direct their actions has startling implications. It must be at the root of both consciousness and free will: 'Quantum Evolution' provides a new understanding of the origin of life and the meaning of death. Life, this brilliant book argues, is a quantum phenomenon. 'Quantum Evolution' provides a new biology for the new millennium.

Johnjoe McFadden is a Reader in Molecular Microbiology AT THE University of Surrey and editor of the first textbook on molecular mycrobacteriology.

For more than a decade, Dr McFadden has specialised in examining the genes of the bacteria that causes tuberculosis and meningitis. He is the inventor of the world's first successful molecular test for meningitis (which received world-wide press, radio and TV coverage) and was the leader of another team that developed artificial life computer programmes to model key transition stages in evolution (also covered throughout the media). He was runner-up for the 1997 Wellcome Trust Prize for popular science writing. This is his first book for a non-specialist audience.

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 000255948X
• ISBN 13: 9780002559485
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 352