RootsUwPE Sources BioCom Detectors Tools Introduction to Biophotonics or The Light of Life embedded in Prof. KW Kratky’s Lecture Series “Physics in physiologic Processes” Contribution by Pierre MADL Biological tissue exhibits autoluminescence, i.e. spontaneous ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) fluxes without prior photo-excitation. First discovered by A. Gurwitsch in 1923, these emissions where originally termed mitogenetic radiation (MGR) to denote that living cells and tissues generate extremely weak, yet biologically active forms of electromagnetic radiation, in particular in the ultraviolet range, and that the presence of this radiation is somehow intimately connected with the nature of living processes themselves. Although some scientist still deny their existence,[1] the availability of novel detection techniques undoubtedly proof their existence. Moreover, the classical dose-response relationship patterns fall short as these extremely weak signals reveal their maximum effect at intensities that - when viewed at from a classical perspective - seem to be counter-intuitive to any macroscopically observed experience. The Arndt–Schulz rule,[3] later extended into the Weber-Fechner law however, regain validity when such weakly interacting signals couple coherently, thereby phase-locking oscillatory processes enabling even the weakest signal to become amplified to significantly high intensities as to induce measurable, macroscopic effects. This part of the four-part lecture series attempts to shed light on these aspects and provide evidence of various types to highlight the relevance of UPE signaling originating from biotic systems. Image: artist's view of two Paramecia coordinating their metabolic activities via "flashes" of light.[2] Source: [1] Langmuir I, Hall RN (1989) Colloquium on Pathological Science. Physics Today, Vol.42(10): 36-48. [2] Fels D (2012) Electromagnetic cell communication. International Conference on Basic Research and Theory on Cell Electromagnetic Fields and their Contribution to Life Processes. Basel, Switzerland (fieldsofthecell2012.com). [3] "Weak stimuli promote, moderately strong stimuli tend to slow down and intense stimuli inhibit life processes" Contact details: Pierre MADL (PhD, MSc, EE) - University of Salzburg; Dep. of Physics & Biophysics / Hellbrunnerstr. 34 / -A-5020 Salzburg & EDGE-Institute / A-5440 Golling, AT [email protected] biophysics.scb.ac.at/talk/Why_QFT_matters-BP.pdf 0 RootsUwPE Sources BioCom Detectors Tools Overview (1/3) The lecture in a nutshell i) The Roots About myself: .... Historical aspects and how it all started • electronics engineer i) The Concept of Biophotons • MSc in ecology .... as proposed by FA Popp • PhD in biophysics • current position: i) Modes of emissions in living samples Dep. of Physics & Biophysics, .... spontaneous vs induced (delayed mode) Faculty of Natural Sciences, i) emissions from biotic samples Salzburg, AT .... from lower to higher organisms & EDGE Institute, Golling, AT i) technical aspects to measure biophotons .... photonic emissions from living tissues and organisms i) essential literature (books only) 19-03-14 Madl 1 1 RootsUwPE Sources BioCom Detectors Tools Overview (2/3) Why: What are BP and i) involved in Bio-Communication (exchange of information, where do they originate from that does not primarily rely on energy), and why does it matter? i) is an intrinsic feature of all Life-forms across kingdoms (most Eubacteria Protists, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia) Where: Synonyms: MGR (mitogenetic radiation) i) originates from within cells (DNA, Microtubuli, Proteins, etc.), LLCL (low level chemi-luminescence) i) during cellular metabolism UPE / UwPE (ultra-weak photon i) form spontaneously, but also during oxidative reactions (ROS) emission What: i) according to the Theory of • Imperfection …. by-product of photo-biochemistry (QM) Bischof & DelGiudice, 2013 • Coherence …. by-product of coherent delocalized EMF (QED) 2 -1 -2 Cifra & Bosposil, 2014 i) few quanta per second and cm (typ. 100 photonssec cm ) i) within the UV-VIS-IR-range (<200-800nm @ 1.67 - 3.41 eV) thus with very low intensities (see previous slide) 19-03-14 Madl 2 Why: The problem of bio-communication has been addressed in recent times within the frame of the molecular paradigm, which states that a living organism is an ensemble of appropriate molecules kept together solely by chemical forces, whose essential features are that they can be always reduced to pairwise interactions [1]. 1) the existence of chemical codes remains unexplained since no reason is given why a molecule is able to encounter its molecular partner in the sequence underlying the given biological cycle just in the right place at the right time; 2) spreading of information about each molecular event to the other component molecules of the organism would require the emission of signals, such as chemical messengers or electromagnetic signals, whose formation would require energy. The huge ensemble of all the signals necessary to keep other parts of the organism informed about what is going on in one part …. would demand an immense consumption of energy. There are two opposite "theories" about BP-emission, i.e., the "imperfection theory" and the "coherence theory“[1] …. see later slides …. Ultra-weak photon emission originates from the oxidative metabolic reaction in microbial, plant and animal cells. It is generally considered that electronically excited species formed during the oxidative metabolic processes are solely responsible for the ultra-weak photon emission. Spontaneous photon emission without any special dedicated high-intensity-luminescent enzymatic systems (e.g. luciferin/luciferase) is what distinguishes ultra-weak photon emission from ordinary bioluminescence. Photon emission without external stimulation by light is a feature that distinguishes ultra-weak photon emission from fluorescence and phosphorescence. Experimental evidence for other types of luminescence than chemi-luminescence (for instance mechano- luminescence and electro-luminescence in biological systems is very limited[2]. Source: [1] Bischof M, DelGiudice E (2013). Communication and the Emergence of Collective Behavior in Living Organisms: A Quantum Approach. Molecular Biology International, Vol. 2913, ID 987549: 1-19. doi:10.1155/2013/987549. [2] Cifra M, Pospsil P (2014). Ultra-weak photon emission from biological samples: Definition, mechanisms, properties, detection and applications. J Photochem Photobiol B. Vol. XX pii: S1011-1344(14)00046-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2014.02.009. 2 RootsUwPE Sources BioCom Detectors Tools Overview (3/3) How can BP be harnessed? Possible applications: i) Food quality (examination & control) i) Pollution (bio-indication of toxic load) i) Drugs (efficiency & dosage …. dose-effect relation) i) Disease processes (chronic pathologies, incl. cancer) i) Cell-metabolism (development, growth, differentiation & senescence) i) Bio-communication (investigating the flow of information by non-chemical means) Popp, 1992 Despite their low intensities, biophotons have the advantage of a rather high signal/noise-ratio. In view of their correlations to many, if not all, biological functions they provide a most powerful, non-invasive tool for analyzing biological systems. Irrespective of how one interprets the results, the very sensitive dependence of biophoton emission on almost all external and internal influences has already opened up many applications, e.g.: • the examination and control of food quality, • bioindication of pollutants and other environmental factors, • research on the efficacy of drugs, • diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of different kinds of illness, such as immune diseases and cancer. A wide range of basic problems in the life sciences may be amenable to investigation by means of biophoton emission. These include molecular interactions, immunological and repair processes in aging, growth and differentiation, pattern formation in development, biocommunication and the nature of consciousness. Source: Popp FA (1992). Preface: Introductory Remarks. In: Popp FA, Li KH, Gu Q (eds) Recent Advances in Biophoton Research and its Applications. World Scientific Publ., Singapore. RootsUwPE Sources BioCom Detectors Tools A Note to the reader Brief intro for this lecture series: Module-I Biophotonics Why QFT matters The following other O modules on issues 2 raised herein are available as: 0. Why QFT matters State of H th Biophotonics QFT in Biology in QFT 4 1. UwPE (Biophotonics) Biology in EMF 2. 4th state of Water 3. EMF in Biology 4. QFT in Biology Palladio (1562). 19-03-14 Madl 4 A short note to facilitate readability and render the presented issues more digestible. This lecture series consists of 4 (+1) modules. While each can be regarded as an independent entity, references therein (due to the multidisciplinary approach of the issues raised and because the issues are much better embedded therein) often refer to topics in one of the three other modules. Hence the five modules should be regarded as a full package. However, and due to the sheer size, each module is offered individually (see below). The entire lectures series is headed by this relatively short overview and provides a quick “dive” into the main subjects and acts as a teaser for the actual modules. Thus, this introductory module entitled "Why QFT matters", should be regarded as the enclosing envelop that should tickle the reader by presenting unsolved riddles in biology that shall be gradually lifted once the reader dares to