Illuminating the Potential of Bioluminescence

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My brother and I ran through the fields full of flickering lights that dotted the night sky. I clasped my hand around any glimpse of light that I could see until finally, I caught a firefly. In my hands, I held a little light that could one day become the light of the world through the usage of bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light from living organisms. After years of research, scientists have been able to pinpoint the exact mechanism that allows for light to be radiated. This breakthrough discovery has made bioluminescence a potential solution to cancer, resource depletion, military development, pollution, and so much more.
The first step to using bioluminescence in our everyday world is to understand the process. The light from firefly, jellyfish, and hundreds of other species is produced by reactions that waste very little energy in the form of heat. This “cold light” is produced when an organic molecule called luciferin is oxidized with oxygen in the presence of an enzyme called luciferase. Biomedical research has allowed such luciferase systems to be harnessed for human usage.
From detecting diseases to creating glowing trees, the potential of bioluminescence is immense. In fact, some companies are trying to develop bioluminescent food. Imagine eating potatoes that glow! Something that is even more shocking than a world of glowing potatoes is a world without any potatoes at all. That means no mash potatoes, no French fries, and worst of all, no potato chips. This is life in many countries like Libya. Due to the scarcity of fresh water, crops like potatoes are unable to be cultivated. As of 2014, water scarcity is a problem that is affecting more than 2.5 billion people in over 43 countr...

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...ion of this plan into the potato fields will require a lot of time and thought, but it can be done.
Bioluminescent potatoes serve as an ideal solution to the increasing amount of water being wasted during irrigation. The genetically engineered potatoes allow just the right amount of water to be given to the crop and reduce the amount of water used for irrigation by approximately 70%. This is especially useful for the 800 million people who are starving due to the lack of this freshwater. Using GTP as a dehydration signal will triple the crop production and will allow for many more people to be fed properly. In fact, any crop that is correctly genetically modified with GTP can be a bioluminescent signal of dehydration to save money, water, and lives. The twinkling firefly in my hands reminded me that the smallest things can make the biggest difference in the world.

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