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Coherence phenomena arise from interference, or the addition, of wave-like amplitudes with fixed phase differences. Although coherence has been shown to yield transformative ways for improving function, advances have been confined to pristine matter and coherence was considered fragile. However, recent evidence of coherence in chemical and biological systems suggests that the phenomena are robust and can survive in the face of disorder and noise. Here we survey the state of recent discoveries, present viewpoints that suggest that coherence can be used in complex chemical systems, and discuss the role of coherence as a design element in realizing function.

Photosynthesis is the natural process that converts solar photons into energy-rich products that are needed to drive the biochemistry of life. Two ultrafast processes form the basis of photosynthesis: excitation energy transfer and charge separation. Under optimal conditions, every photon that is absorbed is used by the photosynthetic organism. Fundamental quantum mechanics phenomena, including delocalization, underlie the speed, efficiency and directionality of the charge-separation process. At least four design principles are active in natural photosynthesis, and these can be applied practically to stimulate the development of bio-inspired, human-made energy conversion systems., Author(s): Elisabet Romero (corresponding author) [1]; Vladimir I. Novoderezhkin [2]; Rienk van Grondelle [1] Humankind is facing an energy challenge: the urgent need to find a clean source of energy [...]

The role of conformational changes in explaining the huge catalytic power of enzymes is currently one of the most challenging questions in biology (1-7). Although it is now widely regarded [...]

Author(s): Alexander V. Ruban [1, 6]; Rudi Berera [2, 6]; Cristian Ilioaia [3, 4]; Ivo H. M. van Stokkum [2]; John T. M. Kennis [2]; Andrew A. Pascal [3]; Herbert [...]

Author(s): Svetlana Bahatyrova [1, 5]; Raoul N. Frese [1, 2, 5]; C. Alistair Siebert [3]; John D. Olsen [3]; Kees O. van der Werf [1]; Rienk van Grondelle [2]; Robert [...]

The article reports on a study which finds the role played by quantum-mechanical processes in the light-harvesting apparatus of marine cryptophyte algae. It looks into the importance of light-harvesting proteins, or antennas, in photosynthetic organisms with emphasis on biochemical reaction. It also cites the factors played by the optimal spacing of the photosynthetic pigments, the supramolecular organization of the photosynthetic apparatus and the quantum coherence in the efficiency of the light-harvesting process. Moreover, it notes the investigation of the two kinds of antenna complex obtained from cryptophyte algae with emphasis on the use of photo-echo spectroscopy in the measurement of the oscillating excitation dynamics.