Human beings have been awed by the mystery of bioluminescence since before the time of Aristotle. And Charles Darwin himself described this phenomenon as puzzling. Why did some creatures evolve to produce light, while other similar creatures did not? Bioluminescence, by definition, seems boring and uninspiring. It is the chemical creation of light by living organisms. Seeing it, however, raises questions and sparks the imagination. How did these creatures evolve this ability, what is its function, what chemicals are responsible for this amazing show of lights and how can we use it to benefit humanity?
Curiously enough, not all creatures that luminesce are related. Their bioluminescence has evolved individually and it provides a whole array of different functions depending on the organism (Wilson.1998. p. 197). As far as knowledge surrounding why this ability was evolved, scientist can only speculate. The commonly excepted theory is that because the ocean, where most bioluminescent species live, is dim or in some cases completely void of light, these species adapted to their environment (cited).
While on land bioluminescence is rare, fireflies and glow worms for example, in the ocean it is business as usual. Over fifty percent of jelly fish are bioluminescent, the most common vertebrate in the sea, the benttooth bristlemouth, is bioluminescent and even some species of shark flash their lights to attract an easy meal (Widder. 2014. para 2).
Darkness is something we as human beings are uncomfortable with, but for bioluminescent creatures it can prove to be extremely useful. They use their lights for a variety of necessary activities, ranging from long distance communication, reproduction, protection and catching their prey. To ...
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...nd Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved from http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/biolum.html.
Wilson T., Hastings W. 1998. BIOLUMINESCENCE. Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.philau.edu:2430/pdf17_20/pdf/1998/2SZ/01Nov98/5366022.pdf?T=P&P=AN&K=5366022&S=R&D=aph&EbscoContent=dGJyMNHr7ESeqK44v%2BbwOLCmr0yep7RSrqi4SbCWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGqrlCyr7FNuePfgeyx34Tq5ewA.
Young, R. Oceanic Bioluminescence: an Overview of General Functions. : Bulletin of Marine Science, Volume 33, Number 4, October 1983, pp. 829-845(17). Retrieved from http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/umrsmas/bullmar/1983/00000033/00000004/art00003.
Yong, E. January 2013. What Bit This Great White Shark? National Geographic. Retrieved from http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2013/01/23/what-bit-this-great-white-shark-a-cookie-cutter/.
T. californicus is found from Alaska to Baja in small, shallow tidepools and tidal flats in the upper spray zone where they cannot avoid the full effect of visible and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Individuals assemble in areas of lower radiation at midday, yet have no preference to the intensity of light at dawn and dusk (Hartline and Macmillan 1995). These tiny arthropods inhabit all types of marine sediments from sand to fine mud and ooze. Along with plankton, T. californicus eats microscopic algae, protists, bacteria, diatoms, algae and microbes (McGroarty 1958). When the concentrations of the species in their habitats are high, T. californicus will turn to cannibalism for a food source. The nautilus eye present in the species is rich with fatty acids and provides a good food source for the animal.
Enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was originally isolated from a bioluminescent jellyfish called Aequorea victoria. As suggested by the name, this protein fluoresces green when exposed to light in the ultraviolet range. The ultimate goal of the following experiment was to successfully create a pET41a(+)/EGFP recombinant plasmid that was transformed into live E. coli cells. The success of this transformation could be evaluated based on whether EGFP’s fluorescence properties were displayed by the colony in question. The protein’s fluorescence properties “triggered the widespread and growing use of GFP as a reporter for gene expression and protein localization in a broad variety of organisms” (Ormo, et. al., 1996). Although EGFP and GFP differ for a few amino acids that make EGFP’s fluorescence mildly stronger, the basic principle that such a protein allows for the evaluation of transformation success remains intact.
Fluorescence measurement provides very important information about the photochemistry of a particular molecule. The first part of this experiment was dealing with the fluorescence behavior of a Leucophor PAF. Information from both spectrophotometry and fluorimetry was used to measure the quantum yield as well as to explain why Leucophor PAF was use as commercial optical brightener. The second part of this experiment dealing with fluorescence quenching of quinine bisulphate solution (QBS) is the presence of sodium chloride.
Glow sticks were first made in the 1960s when a scientist, Edwin Chandross tried to copy fireflies. He thought it was fascinating how they gave off a natural light. He made the first glow stick from oxalyl chloride and hydrogen peroxide. Since Edwin’s invention many scientist after made improvements to the invention. The United States Navy worked on creating glow sticks independently and received a patent in 1973. Glow sticks started to become popular in the 1980s and since then are still very popular today. The largest glow stick was made in 2009 and was 8ft 4 inches tall. Glow sticks can be used for entertainment when dancing they are very popular for raves, parties, night clubbing, special events etc. glow sticks are the safest light sources in emergencies, They are used because they are very efficient and do not require any batteries or electricity. Glow sticks are portable and waterproof can bear high pressure situations and that is why military forces and campers use them and have them on hand.
The plasmid pGLO contains the GFP gene which can only be activated while in the presence of arabinose. The plasmid also contains an ampicillin resistance gene, which explains why bacterial cells transformed with pGLO can survive when ampicillin is present. GFP is a protein that is found in jellyfish, and is known for emitting a green fluorescent light. In vitro, it is able to fluoresce this green color by releasing photons from being in an excited energy state. The energy was provided by a UV light at the end of this experiment. Jellyfish can fluoresce this green on their own because in vivo, GFP works with another protein that allows the GFP to fluoresce without being in an excited energy
Experiment #2: The purpose of this experiment is to test which colors work best and float while under a different light source.
Light sticks work in a similar way. When you “snap” a light stick, the chemical in the glass capsule mixes with a chemical in the plastic tube and creates light energy. Instead of the chemicals used by a firefly, other chemicals are used to create a glow. The light stick that you can buy at a store usually contains hydrogen peroxide, phenyl oxalate ester, and fluorescent dye (New York Times Company, 1 of 3). The light stick will glow the same color as the fluorescent dye placed in it. In luminescence, the chemical reaction “kicks an electron of an atom out of its ‘ground’ (lowest-energy) state into an ‘excited’ (higher-energy) state, then the electron give back the energy in the form of light so it can fall back to it’s ‘ground’ state (Fluorescent Mineral Society, 1 of 2).
Goldfish, like other cold-blooded animals, have pigment cells that are called chromatophores. Inside chromatophores are chromatosomes, which are the organelles which hold the pigment. The chromatosomes can absorb or reflect light. The color of a fish is dictated by what kinds of chromatosomes are in its cells, how many chromatosomes there are, and where in the cell the chromatosomes are located; these, in sum, control which chromatosomes absorb light and which ones reflect it, therefore affecting what color we see when we look at the fish. Chromatophores can change color in two ways: by the chromatosomes spreading apart inside the cells, making the color more apparent to the eye; or by the chromatosomes changing color, prompting a visual difference in color throughout the entire organism.
Dingle H, Fox SS (1966) Microelectrode Analysis of Light Responses in the Brain of the Cricket (Gryllus &mes~icus). J. cell physiology... 68: 45-60
What organisms perform it? Most plants, algae, and cyanobacteria perform photosynthesis; such organisms are called photoautotrophs.
Photosynthesis has slowly evolved as a non-linear process. Cyanobacteria hold some of the most responsibility for the process- they allowed for a more oxygenic atmosphere which facilitated the evolution of oxygenic photosystems in land plants. They alone cannot take full credit, and there are many other contributors to modern photosynthesis, from algae to simple pigments such as chlorophyll and bacterial rhodopsin. It has shaped the world around us, from our landscape to the species of animal we see, it could be said to have directly allowed for our own evolution. It can be sure however that it is an extremely successful evolution, a finely tuned process which each photosynthesising species has tailored to its needs, and perhaps may continue to evolve in its efficacy.
This experiment synthesized luminol (5-Amino-2,3-dihydro-1,4-phthalazinedione) and used the product to observe how chemiluminescence would work. The starting material was 5-nitro-2,3-dihydrophthalazine-1,4-dione, which was, after addition of reaction agents, refluxed and vacuum filtered to retrieve luminol. Using two stock solutions, we missed our precipitated luminol with sodium hydroxide, potassium ferricyanide, and hydrogen peroxide, in their respective solutions, in a dark room, to observe the blue light
Second, some corals in New Caledonia were found fluorescing with vivid colors. This is in fact a chemical sunscreen they secrete in order to protect themselves from the heat they are experiencing. In a way, their brilliance can be a tool for people to notice them and their current situation or as what one scientist said in the film, it is an “incredible and beautiful face of death”.
Light can be classified as a form of electromagnetic radiation, which includes visible light. The ‘light’ commonly referred to in everyday life belongs in this category. The electromagnetic spectrum includes other types of radiation such as gamma rays, radio waves and cosmic rays, all of which possess distinct wavelengths, frequencies and energy levels. These forms of electromagnetic radiation are not visible to the human eye but can be perceived by selected species of animals, such as bees. Figure 1 below displays the electromagnetic spectrum and provides a basic insight into the respective characteristics of different forms of radiation.