From: gts (gts@optexinc.com)
Date: Mon Sep 02 2002 - 22:55:42 MDT
John K Clark wrote:
> I don't see how quantum tunneling is relevant to
> immortality unless you think just one atom in the wrong
> state would destroy you.
Hmm. I think I could probably develop a theory of how a single atom in
the wrong state could destroy me, but I'll admit such an argument would
not be very germane to the discussion. :)
With respect to human life, the quantum tunneling problem pertains
mainly to the decomposition or distortion of whole molecules (not
atoms). However radioactive decay of individual atoms is controlled by
the same laws of quantum physics and is thus also at least somewhat
relevant to the problem.
The protein molecules that comprise our physical and mental structures
are very complex. So too are the proteins that make up the genetic
material that controls the construction of these structures. By virtue
of their complexity these structural and genetic proteins are far more
subject to random quantum effects than are individual atoms.
The biological properties of a molecule can change radically when an
electron from one atom in the molecule "tunnels" randomly into the atom
of an adjacent atom in the molecule, or even if only into a different
orbit or shell its own atom. While this kind of molecular damage happens
infrequently, there is no possible way to prevent it - not even in
theory.
The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, and thus all of the modern quantum
theory, would need to be overturned to allow for a technology capable of
preventing this kind of molecular damage. Such a revolution in physics
does not appear very likely: QM is considered by many to be the most
robust scientific theory ever devised.
> There will certainly be repair mechanisms so if a atom made
> an error change it.
Okay, but who is going to repair the repair mechanisms?
-gts
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