Biophysics and Quantum Limitation of Photoreceptive Processes
This entry paper is an attempt to explain how the discrete nature of light (energy discreteness in the form of photons) constrains the light detection process all along the evolutionary path, in the not-fully-understood photoreceptive systems of unicellular microorganisms (nonimaging systems) and in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Encyclopedia |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8392/4/1/3 |
| _version_ | 1827306432176848896 |
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| author | Laura Barsanti Paolo Gualtieri |
| author_facet | Laura Barsanti Paolo Gualtieri |
| author_sort | Laura Barsanti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This entry paper is an attempt to explain how the discrete nature of light (energy discreteness in the form of photons) constrains the light detection process all along the evolutionary path, in the not-fully-understood photoreceptive systems of unicellular microorganisms (nonimaging systems) and in the complex and well-known visual system of higher organisms (imaging systems). All these systems are perfect examples of the interplay between physics and biology, i.e., they are the perfect topic of research for biophysicists. The paper describes how photoreceptive and visual systems achieve the goal of photon counting, which information is conveyed by a finite number of photons, and which noise factors limit light-detecting processes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:21:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-74c7f062027b44c0b0a66cfdc5137f58 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-8392 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:21:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Encyclopedia |
| spelling | doaj.art-74c7f062027b44c0b0a66cfdc5137f582024-03-27T13:35:10ZengMDPI AGEncyclopedia2673-83922023-12-0141263510.3390/encyclopedia4010003Biophysics and Quantum Limitation of Photoreceptive ProcessesLaura Barsanti0Paolo Gualtieri1Istituto di Biofisica, 56124 Pisa, ItalyIstituto di Biofisica, 56124 Pisa, ItalyThis entry paper is an attempt to explain how the discrete nature of light (energy discreteness in the form of photons) constrains the light detection process all along the evolutionary path, in the not-fully-understood photoreceptive systems of unicellular microorganisms (nonimaging systems) and in the complex and well-known visual system of higher organisms (imaging systems). All these systems are perfect examples of the interplay between physics and biology, i.e., they are the perfect topic of research for biophysicists. The paper describes how photoreceptive and visual systems achieve the goal of photon counting, which information is conveyed by a finite number of photons, and which noise factors limit light-detecting processes.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8392/4/1/3rhodopsinretinaeye<i>Euglena gracilis</i>noiseinformation |
| spellingShingle | Laura Barsanti Paolo Gualtieri Biophysics and Quantum Limitation of Photoreceptive Processes Encyclopedia rhodopsin retina eye <i>Euglena gracilis</i> noise information |
| title | Biophysics and Quantum Limitation of Photoreceptive Processes |
| title_full | Biophysics and Quantum Limitation of Photoreceptive Processes |
| title_fullStr | Biophysics and Quantum Limitation of Photoreceptive Processes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biophysics and Quantum Limitation of Photoreceptive Processes |
| title_short | Biophysics and Quantum Limitation of Photoreceptive Processes |
| title_sort | biophysics and quantum limitation of photoreceptive processes |
| topic | rhodopsin retina eye <i>Euglena gracilis</i> noise information |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8392/4/1/3 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT laurabarsanti biophysicsandquantumlimitationofphotoreceptiveprocesses AT paologualtieri biophysicsandquantumlimitationofphotoreceptiveprocesses |