ECE 730 Topic 32 - Quantum Biology and its Devices and Applications
Instructor
Professor
Chris
Backhouse
Office:
QNC
3622,
office
hours
by
appointment.
email:
chrisb@uwaterloo.ca
(Do
not
use
LEARN
email
to
reach
the
instructor)
Lecture hours
To be determined.
Description
Quantum biology is an active area of development with intriguing suggestions that some living systems use quantum effects to achieve outcomes that could not be attained through purely classical means. Upon completion of this course the student will be abreast of the state of the art in quantum biology, its devices and its applications. Without requiring a background in molecular biology, the students will be introduced to the technologies involved, how to design with them, as well as the devices and applications that have been demonstrated and proposed. Topics covered will include energy production, coherence in energy transport in photosynthetic systems, spin-correlated systems such as cryptochromes, and the role of tunnelling in biological systems.
Course/teaching objectives
This course will help students with no or limited prior background in the field to:
- Acquire a general background and selected specific knowledge in the field of quantum biology with an emphasis on basic theory, applications, challenges and recent developments.
- Acquire in-depth understanding and working knowledge of the technologies being used to advance the field.
- Acquire in-depth understanding of the potential applications of the field.
Antirequisites
None.
Syllabus
Topics and schedule (will vary slightly depending on class size and departments of origin, presently assuming 15 people)
-
Biological
assembly
technologies
(6
hours)
Introduction to DNA and protein based assembly methods -
Biological
design
methods
(3
hours)
Design methods for molecular machine development, primarily upon directed evolution-based design methods with some discussion of simulation methods. -
Molecular
machinery
in
living
systems
(3
hours)
Molecular machines, their design, principles of operation and applications in living organisms. -
Molecular
machinery
in
applications
(3
hours)
Molecular machines in computation, energy production, green manufacture and similar applications within human-designed systems. -
Proton
pumps
(6
hours)
Theory, principles of operation and applications of proton pumps. -
Spin
(3
hours)
Spin in biological systems: Theory, principles of operation and applications. -
Summary
of
challenges
and
frontiers
in
quantum
biology
(3
hours)
Summary of quantum effects in biological systems, their applications and challenges. -
Term
projects
(9
hours)
Class presentations of term projects with questions/answer sessions and in-class analysis (case-study style) following each.
Textbook
No textbook required. Lecture notes and handouts will be provided.
General references
On-line e-journal references will be provided throughout the course – all of which are available through the University of Waterloo Library.
Marking scheme
- 25% Term Paper (checked for plagiarism with standard tools)
- 15% Class Presentation (on topic of term paper)
- 10% Class Participation (in-class discussion and answers to specific questions during term
- 50% Final Exam (a written exam)