Quantum model of nerve pulse VI: Deducing the presence and basic properties of dark matter from the strange behavior or cell membrane

The strange findings about the behavior of cell membrane [1,2,3,4,5,6] had strong impact on the evolution of TGD inspired model of biosystems. One would expect that when cell is posed to metabolic deprivation, it soon ceases to function since ionic pumps require a lot of metabolic energy. This did not happen. Second absolutely amazing finding was that ionic currents through cell membrane are obviously quantal and even more: remain essentially same when cell membrane is replaced with an artificial membrane.

TGD based model for nerve pulse in its recent form explains all these findings. One can however ask what is the role of ionic pumps and channels if oscillatory Josephson currents make pumps un-necessary. The vision about dark matter and the model of nerve pulse formulated in terms of Josephson currents brings an additional perspective to the role of pumps and channels and allows to achieve harmony with the standard views about their role.

1. In long length scales visible matter forms roughly 5 per cent of the total amount of matter. In TGD Universe the dark matter would correspond to matter with large Planck constant including dark variants of ordinary elementary particles. In living matter situation could be the same and visible matter could form only a small part of the living matter. Dark matter would be however visible in the sense that it would interact with visible matter via classical electromagnetic fields. Hence one can consider the possibility that most of the biologically important ions and perhaps even molecules reside at the magnetic flux quanta in large hbar phase.

2. The function of pumps and channels could be same as in standard model since also in TGD Universe homeostasis and its control at the level of visible matter requires them. The metabolic energy needed for this purpose would be however dramatically smaller and a reliable estimate for this would allow an estimate of the portion of dark matter in living systems. Pumps and channels could also serve the role of sensory receptors by allowing to take samples about chemical environment.

For background see the chapter Quantum Model of Nerve Pulse of "TGD and EEG".

References

[1] G. Pollack (2001), Cells, Gels and the Engines of Life, Ebner and Sons.

[2] G. N. Ling (1962) A physical theory of the living state: the association-induction hypothesis; with considerations of the mechanics involved in ionic specificity. New York: Blaisdell Pub. Co.

Ibid(1978):Maintenance of low sodium and high potassium levels in resting muscle cells. Journal of Physiology (Cambridge), July: 105-23.

Ibid(1992): A revolution in the physiology of the living cell. Malabar, FL: Krieger Pub. Co.

Ibid, Three sets of independent disproofs against the membrane-pump theory.

G.N. Ling et al(1978): Experimental confirmation, from model studies, of a key prediction of the polarized multilayer theory of cell water. Physiological Chemistry and Physics, 10:1, 1978: 87-8.

[3] B. Sakmann and B. Neher (1983): Single-channel recording. Plenum Press, New York and London.

[4] W. K. Purves and G. H. Orians (1987): Life: The Science of Biology. Sunderland, Massachusetts: Sinauer.

[5] F. Sachs, F. Qin (1993), Gated, ion-selective channels observed with patch pipettes in the absence of membranes: novel properties of a gigaseal. Biophysical Journal, September: 1101-7.

[6] A. A. Lev et al (1993), Rapid switching of ion current in narrow pores: implications for biological ion channels. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences, June, 187-92.