Scientists at the University of Chicago have successfully engineered a biological protein into a functional quantum sensor, bridging the gap between quantum mechanics and biology. Published in Nature on August 20, 2025, this research introduces a "living" quantum bit, or qubit, by repurposing fluorescent proteins. This "inside-out" approach utilizes the inherent quantum properties of molecules within biological systems, suggesting that nature may have long employed quantum mechanics for biological functions.
The developed protein qubits offer significant advantages over artificial quantum sensors, such as those engineered into diamond lattices. Cells can naturally mass-produce these sensors when provided with the correct genetic code, allowing for precise placement within living systems. This method is akin to cultivating a self-replicating sensor network rather than constructing a single device. The potential exists to create self-organizing quantum networks within organisms for comprehensive internal monitoring of tissues or organs.
These bio-integrated sensors can detect signals thousands of times stronger than current technologies, enabling unprecedented observation of biological processes at the atomic level. A key application is "nano-scale quantum magnetic resonance," which could allow for real-time tracking of atomic structures, like protein folding, within a living cell. This contrasts with previous methods that required static snapshots of fixed cells.
The breakthrough could enable the detection of the earliest molecular indicators of disease, such as protein misfolding, potentially years before symptoms manifest. While the precision of these protein sensors is still developing and does not yet match advanced diamond-based sensors, their ability to operate directly within living systems represents a "much more radical" promise. This advancement could fundamentally redefine medical diagnosis, shifting the focus from identifying existing illnesses to detecting the molecular probability of their occurrence. This paradigm shift would allow for interventions before symptoms appear, heralding a new era of preventive, molecular-level healthcare. The research was co-led by David Awschalom and Peter Maurer at the University of Chicago.