How can the concept of quantum tunneling be applied to explain spontaneous mutations in DNA?

Quantum tunneling can contribute to spontaneous mutations in DNA by enabling protons to move between different tautomeric forms of DNA bases. Tautomers are structural isomers of organic compounds that readily interconvert. The common DNA bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine) can exist in different tautomeric forms, with each form having slightly different hydrogen bonding properties. The standard, most stable tautomeric forms are involved in the usual Watson-Crick base pairing. However, rare tautomeric forms e....