Johnjoe creates a cold world in his explanation of quantum’s role in biology. He describes quantum theory as “weird,” but for good reason. His description essentially highlights the behavior of the world and makes it quite obvious to the reader when quantum theory is at play. His approach starts with a deep exploration of the role thermodynamics played in the transformation of the modern world. Interesting,y enough, an understanding of physics isn’t necessary for completing the book, as it merely provides color to the gray areas. For example, the technology that your headphones use utilizes subatomic particles that behave counterintuitively in their quantum state.

An important note I’d like to highlight before proceeding with my summary is that truly creating life from the subatomic level hasn’t been accomplished. Modifying an existing life form is not the same as truly creating new life.

Johnjoe further discusses a classic problem in physics, the two-slit experiment. He then poses a question to his readers: “How can we assess the legitimacy of the truth of an account of the phenomenon that we can never, even in principle, check?” The only right answer here is that we can’t be completely certain about the legitimacy. This is a great example of the weirdness quantum produces. If you’re thinking, “That doesn’t make sense,” you’d be perfectly right. It doesn’t, and that’s the reason quantum mechanics exists: to explore the phenomena of the unknown and build an understanding, so to speak.

The author then takes this concept of the unknown and ties it to the neo-Darwinian synthesis of mutation occurring randomly. “Variation is not generated in response to an environmental change.” When he says this, he is implying that when severe environmental changes occur, the organisms that contain beneficial mutations are able to reproduce. Changes don’t spring about because of a need or stimulus.