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QuantumDNA: A Python Package for Analyzing Quantum Charge Dynamics in DNA and Exploring Its Biological Relevance

Biomolecules 2025-02-12 v1 Biological Physics Computational Physics Quantum Physics

Abstract

The study of DNA charge dynamics is a highly interdisciplinary field that bridges physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine, and plays a critical role in processes such as DNA damage detection, protein-DNA interactions, and DNA-based nanotechnology. However, despite significant advances in each of these areas, knowledge often remains inaccessible to other scientific communities, limiting the broader impact of advances across disciplines. To bridge this gap, we present QuantumDNA, an open-source Python package for simulating DNA charge transfer (CT) and excited states using quantum-physical methods. QuantumDNA combines an efficient Linear Combination of Atomic Orbitals (LCAO) approach with tight-binding (TB) models, incorporating open quantum systems techniques to account for environmental effects. This approach allows rapid yet accurate analysis of large DNA ensembles, enabling statistical studies of genetic and epigenetic phenomena. To ensure accessibility, the package features a graphical user interface (GUI), making it suitable for researchers across disciplines.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2502.06883,
  title  = {QuantumDNA: A Python Package for Analyzing Quantum Charge Dynamics in DNA and Exploring Its Biological Relevance},
  author = {Dennis Herb and Marco Trenti and Marilena Mantela and Constantinos Simserides and Joachim Ankerhold and Mirko Rossini},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2502.06883},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

16 pages, 10 figures, Appendix present

R2 v1 2026-06-28T21:39:11.623Z