The Quantum Cost of Extinction: Systematic Assessment of Irreversible Quantum-Critical Enzyme Loss Across 489 Critically Endangered Species

Key Points

• This research aims to systematically assess the relationship between quantum tunneling in enzymes and the risk of extinction in critically endangered species.
• 489 critically endangered species were scanned using TERRA, an automated risk assessment tool.
• Data sources included the IUCN Red List, UniProt, RCSB PDB, and the MEG-APSU Lindblad quantum dynamics solver.
• The study compared enzyme loss rates in critically endangered species with a control group of least concern species.
• Identified 866 enzymes across the studied species, with 220 having structural data in PDB.
• Found 67 quantum-critical enzymes, representing 30.5% of the total.
• Control group showed a quantum-critical rate of 17.8%, indicating a universal distribution of quantum-critical enzymes.