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Most biochemical reactions, as studied in the test-tube, involve range of animal species, divided by the mean body weight of each. transactions of infrared quanta rather than light. This is one reason _—‘ This index, called by him the "Rubner constant", increases by why the importance of light in the living being is still not generally several thousandfold in a sequence starting with the primitive recognised in the West. It is a different story in Russia, where they coelenterates and ending with the primates. It stands, in fact, as the have benefited from the work of Alexander Gurvich—a scientist only known quantitative parameter which defines evolutionary who in due course will be counted as one of the world's great names _ progress. Note especially that for Homo sapiens, this parameter is in biology. As far back as the 1920s, he discovered that dividing at least 10 times higher than for other primates. cells produce an ultra-weak light radiation (now termed biophotons) This finding might suggest that as more highly develope which could stimulate mitosis in resting cells. Even then, it was organisms must have more complex control systems, they would clear to Gurvich that this light constituted an information-bearing need to store more light in their bodies. And for this, they would signal. This finding lent support to his field theories of biological need more oxygen to generate the necessary ROS. organisation—theories which had come so long before their time. The facts just stated are hardly consistent with the current Since then, scientists from many countries have contributed to the prevailing view that free radicals are merely noxious errors of development of what may be called quantum biology. While it has metabolism. That they are produced in such quantities can only not been entirely proved to the satisfaction of the mainstream, all mean that they have an important function. And although free this work is pointing to the conclusion that a living being is unified —_ radicals can in principle do damage, there are several means by by a single quantum wave function, in the same way that an atomor which this is almost completely avoided in vivo. One is that the molecule is. (For further reading, see Dr Mae-Wan Ho's excellent radicals are produced exactly where and when they are needed an book The Rainbow and the Worm.’) In this conception, light plays are used immediately, so that the concentration in the body at any a central role; and excited electrons, one time is extremely small. And then rather than being confined to single there is the fact that radicals can atoms or molecules, are understood to neutralise each other, and so any be de-localised and shared at least over unused ROS react preferentially with large molecular ensembles and » None of the usual biochemical each other rather than damaging probably the whole organism. r ions ij f sufficient ener biological macromolecules. Finally, a Moreover, as the EESs decay, they are eactions Is of sufficient ene gy back-up defence is provided by continually regenerated. Thus an to generate light. various anti-oxidants such as vitamins organism normally stores a lot of light. C and E. The efficiency of these This can only be done by the mechanisms can be seen in the fact Reactive Oxygen Species . . that, during some methods of ozone How is this light generated? It is reactions of free radicals. therapy, a sample of blood is mixed here that free radicals come onto the with ozone and re-injected into the scene. Professor Voeikov makes the body. This quantity of ozone, which critical point that none of the usual would play havoc with isolated blood biochemical reactions is of sufficient proteins in solution, has no adverse energy to generate light. This can only be done by the reactions of _ effect on living blood. free radicals. To begin to understand the main function of ROS, we must again All the radicals of biological significance are derived from emphasise the mysterious perfection of biological organisation, oxygen. Principal among these are the superoxide anion radical O, even of a single cell. The characteristic wholeness of an organism and the hydroxy] radical HO. In addition, there is an electronic re- _ must have been present from the beginning; that is, long before the arrangement of molecular oxygen called singlet oxygen, 'O,. While molecular signals, such as hormones and neurotransmitters, not a radical, it has a comparably extreme reactivity. Together, evolved. Such wholeness could not have been achieved by these are now termed reactive oxygen species (ROS). Also molecular signals alone, because these require time to diffuse important are certain molecules which can easily break down to towards their receptors. Instead, it would seem to require an become ROS—notably, hydrogen peroxide and ozone. All these are underlying network of essentially instantaneous communication. generated by a variety of enzymic and non-enzymic mechanisms This is what is now coming to be understood as a field of de- which were initially thought to be confined to cells of the immune localised electrons excited by light energy—now often termed a system—especially neutrophil leucocytes. For this reason, the only —_ photon field. function for free radicals was thought to be to kill microbes. Furthermore, as maintained by Dr Mae-Wan Ho, for all life's However, these mechanisms (and there is a growing list of them) processes to hang together they must also cohere into a single, were later found to be ubiquitous throughout the body. complex, rhythmic order in which the fastest rhythms (and these The body produces large quantities of ROS all the time. Indeed, _are very fast: resonant energy transfer between molecules takes it is a remarkable fact that some 10 to 20 per cent of all the oxygen —_ about 10’ seconds) are nested into progressively slower ones, such we breathe enters this pathway. Along with this, some other facts as brain waves, heartbeat and hormonal cycles, ultimately to the should be taken into account. Thus, in the human being, the brain slowest: the life cycle. Indeed, rhythmic oscillations are a uses some 20 per cent of the oxygen we take in, and yet it has hallmark of biological organisation since they indicate collective relatively few mitochondria. Since mitochondria are well known to —_ behaviour among molecules which, in isolation from each other, be the sites where oxygen is used to generate the energy molecule would behave randomly. ATP, most of the oxygen used by the brain must represent a different type of metabolic pathway. Oscillatory self-organising processes with biophotons Of further interest are observations by Erwin Bauer, another It turns out that sustained oscillations, indicating self- outstanding Russian biologist, in 1935. He collected data for the organisation, have been found in a number of proce: involving total oxygen consumption during the whole life of each of a great ROS. Studying the output of biophotons from isolated blood, This can only be done by the reactions of free radicals. effect on living blood. To begin to understand the main function of ROS, we must again emphasise the mysterious perfection of biological organisation, even of a single cell. The characteristic wholeness of an organism must have been present from the beginning; that is, long before the molecular signals, such as hormones and neurotransmitters, evolved. Such wholeness could not have been achieved by molecular signals alone, because these require time to diffuse towards their receptors. Instead, it would seem to require an underlying network of essentially instantaneous communication. This is what is now coming to be understood as a field of de- localised electrons excited by light energy—now often termed a photon field. Furthermore, as maintained by Dr Mae-Wan Ho, for all life's processes to hang together they must also cohere into a single, complex, rhythmic order in which the fastest rhythms (and these are very fast: resonant energy transfer between molecules takes about 10'* seconds) are nested into progressively slower ones, such as brain waves, heartbeat and hormonal cycles, ultimately to the slowest: the life cycle. Indeed, rhythmic oscillations are a hallmark of biological organisation since they indicate collective behaviour among molecules which, in isolation from each other, would behave randomly. Oscillatory self-organising processes with biophotons It turns out that sustained oscillations, indicating self- organisation, have been found in a number of processes involving ROS. Studying the output of biophotons from isolated blood, 24 = NEXUS APRIL — MAY 2006 ..None of the usual biochemical reactions is of sufficient energy to generate light. www.nexusmagazine.com