Special Feature on Quantum Biology

Quantum biology is not a new field of study: as the physicists' work on foundations of quantum theory matured, the question of linking it with the secrets of living organisms drew more and more attention. It was posed as a natural philosophy question as well, exploring the link of quantum randomness with the competing perceptions of the world, idealist and materialist. It also posed a question to what will later become known as systems theory: is reductionism ever warranted in complex systems? These first thoughts on quantum effects as underlying mechanisms of living organisms predate the modern molecular biology revolution.