Scientists Turned Our Cells into Quantum Computers–Sort Of
3 days ago
- #medical diagnostics
- #biotechnology
- #quantum computing
- Researchers have engineered fluorescent proteins to behave like qubits in living cells.
- Fluorescent proteins, such as EYFP, can maintain superposition when zapped with laser pulses, enabling precise cellular monitoring.
- This breakthrough could lead to ultra-sensitive disease detection by tracking abnormalities at the molecular level.
- Qubits in superposition can exist in two states simultaneously, unlike binary bits which are either on or off.
- The stable triplet state in EYFP's fluorophores makes it suitable for quantum behavior manipulation.
- Genetically engineered protein qubits can attach to target proteins, acting as nano-probes to monitor cellular processes.
- Potential applications extend beyond biology, including advancements in quantum information sciences and bioengineering.