A review of some present molecular and submolecular physical concepts in biology

Increasing attention is being directed towards understanding cellular processes at the molecular and submolecular levels. This article describes some of the physical concepts, such as proton transport in membrane pores and at protein-water interfaces, tunnelling processes, electronic conduction and induction effects in membrane-associated protein structures, that are currently being investigated and developed in the study of such functions as energy transduction and the passive and active transport of ions in cell membranes.