Title: Biomolecules as spin dependent information pathways
When: Monday, November 24, 2025, 12:00
Place: Department of Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Module 5, Seminar Room (5th Floor)
Speaker: Dr. Mario Galante / Assistant research scientist School of Molecular Sciences, Tempe Campus, Arizona State University
Magnetic effects have been long considered to be only marginally relevant for biomolecular systems. Recently, a conductance measurement performed on an helical peptide proved that a molecular geometry with broken mirror symmetry, i.e. chiral, can induce a spin polarization of the electric current [Science 283 (5403), 814-816 (1999)]. Such discovery motivated enormous efforts in the exploration of geometry induced magnetic interactions that may provide a physical explanation to long range interaction and cooperation effects at the biological scale. In my talk I will discuss experimental and theoretical evidence that biomolecular systems can be effective media for the propagation of quantum mechanical information, relying on electron transfer reactions as primary example. Special attention will be dedicated to the steps required to develop a predictive physical modelling to relate electronic structure, chemical composition and molecular conformations to such phenomena towards biologically relevant systems.
