Kalra Lab logo The Quantum Bioengineering LabDr. Aarat P. Kalra · IIT Delhi

BML 7150 Quantum Biotechnology

Course overview

A multidisciplinary course for senior undergraduate and first-year graduate students, covering the fundamental principles, applications and new advances in the use of quantum mechanics and technologies for biotechnology and biochemistry.

Topics include* electronic energy transfer (Förster and Dexter models), electron (Marcus model) and proton transfer, superradiance and supertransfer, quantum tunneling in biology, magnetoreception and its uses in medicine, spin-correlations in biology, chiral-induced spin-selectivity, electron transport chains in biomedicine and in bio-inspired systems, photosynthetic systems, photocatalysis, and olfaction.

*The constraints of time will determine the level of detail used to cover a topic.

Course structure

Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. Assignments will include numerical problems, critiquing papers, and design-based questions, to be turned in one week after they are issued. Assignments in the class assume no prior programming knowledge.

The midterm exam will test students on topics covered in the first half of the semester. The final exam will test students on topics covered over the entire duration of the semester. A final presentation will consist of a 20-minute talk on a research article (pre-approved by the course instructor at least one week in advance, published in a quality journal), followed by ten minutes of questions. Students are graded on their understanding of the material, its difficulty, and their overall explanation.

Grading policy

Attendance — 10%
Assignments (×4, 5% each) — 20%
Midterm exam — 20%
Final presentation — 10%
Final exam — 40%

NOTE: Audit will be allowed only for students who attend 75% of class (as reflected in the Attendance Sheet at the end of the class).

References

  1. Scholes, G. D., Fleming, G. R., Olaya-Castro, A. & van Grondelle, R. Lessons from nature about solar light harvesting. Nature Chemistry 3, 763-774 (2011).
  2. Scholes, G. D. A molecular perspective on quantum information. Proc. R. Soc. A 479, 20230599 (2023).
  3. Winkler, J. R., Gray, H. B., Prytkova, T. R., Kurnikov, I. V. and Beratan, D. N. in Bioelectronics 15-33 (2005).
  4. Hardin, B. E., Snaith, H. J. & McGehee, M. D. The renaissance of dye-sensitized solar cells. Nature Photonics 6, 162-169 (2012).
  5. Xu, J. et al. Magnetic sensitivity of cryptochrome 4 from a migratory songbird. Nature 594, 535-540 (2021).
  6. Hore, P. J. & Mouritsen, H. The Radical-Pair Mechanism of Magnetoreception. Annu. Rev. Biophys. 45, 299-344 (2016).
  7. Turin, L. A Spectroscopic Mechanism for Primary Olfactory Reception. Chemical Senses 21, 773-791 (1996).
  8. Scully, M. O. & Svidzinsky, A. A. The Super of Superradiance. Science 325, 1510-1511 (2009).
  9. Proppe, A. H. et al. Bioinspiration in light harvesting and catalysis. Nature Reviews Materials 5, 828-846 (2020).
  10. Schrodinger, E. What is life?: With mind and matter and autobiographical sketches. (Cambridge University Press, 2012).
  11. Premi, S. et al. Chemiexcitation of melanin derivatives induces DNA photoproducts long after UV exposure. Science 347, 842-847 (2015).
  12. Idris, N. M. et al. In vivo photodynamic therapy using upconversion nanoparticles as remote-controlled nanotransducers. Nature Medicine 18, 1580-1585 (2012).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to have a strong mathematics background for this course?

Although the answer is ‘no’, an open-minded approach to learning fundamental mathematics (at the standard 11/12 level) is required. Previous experience with matrices, curve-fitting and the fundamentals of calculus will help greatly, but is not essential — these topics can be learned as one makes progress.

Do I need to have programming/coding experience before I start this course?

The ability to write basic code in MATLAB or MS Excel (for example, for-loops) will help but is not essential. Assignments assume no prior programming knowledge.

Do I need experience with quantum mechanics or quantum chemistry before I start?

Familiarity with quantum mechanics and chemistry will help, but is not essential.

Do I require a biology background for the class?

Familiarity with basic biochemistry (again, at the standard 11/12 level), including that relating to DNA, the cell membrane and other intracellular structures, will help, but is not essential.

Statement on Academic Integrity

Students are expected to uphold the policies of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi with regards to academic integrity. All forms of dishonesty (for example, cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts, and/or participation in an offense) are unacceptable at the Institute, and in this course. Any offense will be reported to the Dean (Student Affairs), who will determine the disciplinary action to be taken. Take care to avoid actions that look dubious and lead to questions about your integrity.