Bioluminescence

Light produces within the living organism by a chemical reaction is called bioluminescence. It is a type of chemi-luminescence which can define as chemical reaction that produces light. ^[1] Bioluminescent organism emits the light which is produce by the energy release from chemical reaction occurring inside the living organism. Bioluminescence is a cold light which means that light generates heat or thermal radiation less than 20%.

If you ever seen a firefly, you have encountered with bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is not that much rare in fact, most type of animals, from bacteria to shark, has few bioluminescent members. ^[2] Most of these organisms are found in ocean. These marine species include bacteria, jellies and fishes. Some bioluminescent organisms are found on land including fungi and fireflies; no bioluminescent organism is native to fresh water habitat. ^[1]

How bioluminescence produces

Organism produces the light energy through the chemical reaction this reaction occur when the specie contain luciferin, a molecule, that produces light when react with oxygen. There are different types of luciferin which vary specie to specie. Many organisms produce the enzyme luciferase, which help to speed up the reaction.

Animals can control when they have to light up depending on their needs whether a mate or a meal. Bioluminescence can control by regulating their chemistry or brain process. Some bioluminescent organism bundled the luciferin with oxygen which is called “photoprotein” (pre-packaged bioluminescence bomb) ready to light up when certain ion (typically calcium) becomes present. These organisms can even chose the color and intensity of light.

Why animals produce bioluminescence

For feeding:

Animals use bioluminescence to attract their prey towards their mouth. Or light up their nearby area so they can see their meal a bit better. Sometimes the prey being attract can be small plankton, like those attracted to the bioluminescence around the beak of Stauroteuthis octopus

For attracting mates:

Animals do not use bioluminescence only for searching food but it also uses their light for attracting their mates. A tiny crustacean, male Caribbean ostracod, uses bioluminescent signals on their upper lip to attract female. Syllid fireworms live on the seafloor, but with the commencement of full moon they move towards the open water, where the female of some species like Odontosyllis enopla, uses their light to attract males when moving around the circle.

Human connection with bioluminescence

Scientist can use bioluminescence as a tool to learn more about ocean and it’s mysterious. Edie Widder, a researcher specializes in bioluminescence, with a group attempting to film the giant squid for the first time. She assumed that giant squid could be attract to the light attached to a fake squid, not because it wanted to eat the fake small giant but because its flashing light burglar alarm which means that there was large prey in the surrounding area. ^[3]

Researchers are investing the chemicals and their phenomenon involved in bioluminescence to understand how it can be used to make life easier and safer.

Bioluminescence uses would be experimental for example bioluminescent trees could be use to light the streets and highways so it can reduce the use of electricity. Bioluminescent crop could luminescence when they need nutrients or water or when they are ready to harvest. This would reduce the cost associated with agribusiness. ^[2]

REFERENCES

1. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/bioluminescence/
2. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/biolum.html
3. https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/fish/bioluminescence

By: Aisha Mehak